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Winchcombe is set in the heart of the beautiful Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It has a timeless quality about it which makes it an attractive centre for walkers. A walled town in Saxon times, the town became prosperous as a result of the wool trade.
The town has “Walkers are Welcome” status which means we will endeavour to make your stay and experience memorable. Each May we hold a Walking Festival which attracts people from all over Britain and international visitors.
Transport to Evesham. We then walk from the confluence following the trail to Winchcombe. The fairly level walk passes through meadows with views of distant hills and old water mills. Bring a picnic lunch.
Date: Friday, 20th May
Distance: 13 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 9.00
End Time: 16.45
(Cost is per person)
13 places available
We walk across the wolds, passing Salperton, Haqzelton, Turkdean and Hampnett by the valley of the River Leach to the market town of Northleach with its prison. (Northleach, the setting for the TV programme ‘This Country’ which focusses on young people’s lives in the Cotswolds). Transport back to Winchcombe. Bring a picnic lunch.
Date: Friday, 20th May
Distance: 13.5 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 9.15
End Time: 17.00
(Cost is per person)
16 places available
A unique walk, probably a world’s first! Led by the guy who found the Winchcombe meteriorite on his drive. The walk is hilly and explores the area where debris fell over Langley Hill, Prescott and Nottingham Hill. Scientists believe there are still other fragments out there waiting to be found! The last half mile of the walk detours to take you to the spot where the meteorite actually landed. It is now on display in the Natural History Museum in London. After the walk, there is the optional to visit Winchcombe Museum to see some of the meteorite. Bring a picnic lunch.
Date: Friday, 20th May
Distance: 8.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 9.30
End Time: 14.30
(Cost is per person)
11 places available
Transport to a local private estate for an intriguing visit where we hear about the environmental work taking place. We walk with the estate manager who will explain how they manage wildlife and their habitats. After, we walk back to Winchcombe through the Sudeley Valley. Bring a picnic lunch.
Date: Friday, 20th May
Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 9.45
End Time: 14.30
(Cost is per person)
Sold Out
Transport to Stanway quarry for a tour by the site manager of this recently re-opened quarry. Limestone is sought after and some has been exported to the Far East. We then walk on and our route passes a drystone wall restoration project. Along the top of the escarpment we enjoy some great views of Stanway Estate before dropping into Hailes valley and its fruit farm, before walking on to Winchcombe. Bring a picnic lunch.
Date: Friday, 20th May
Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 10.30
End Time: 15.00
(Cost is per person)
Transport to Brockhampton and the start of the walk. We walk close to the source of the River Coln and go through Wardens Wood before approaching Cleeve Common from the east. We then take an old drovers’ route to the abandoned Wontley Farm and on to Hill Barn before descending to Winchcombe. Bring some refreshments.
Date: Friday, 20th May
Distance: 7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 12.30
End Time: 16.45
(Cost is per person)
A pleasant circular walk towards Postlip, nestling in a quiet valley with Cleeve Common as its backdrop. We pass the large country house of Postlip Hall and its medieval tithe barn. Along the way we see views of lakes, a farmyard and hopefully some lambs.
Date: Friday, 20th May
Distance: 5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 13.00
End Time: 16.00
A popular walk. We take a short ride up Sudeley Hill to the Salt Way with airy views before we descend Dunn’s Hill with its beautiful views towards Cleeve Common and Sudeley Castle nestling below in the trees. Please be aware that there are a few slightly steep descents. Hopefully, we may see some wildlife and the setting sun over Nottingham Hill. A lovely time of day to walk.
Date: Friday, 20th May
Distance: 3 miles
Difficulty: Relatively easy
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 17.45
End Time: 19.15
A popular evening which gives festivalgoers the chance to meet up and enjoy a two-course meal followed by coffee and a fun quiz in the convivial surroundings of the Corner Cupboard Inn situated in Gloucester Street. Car park at rear.
Date: Friday, 20th May
Meeting Point: Corner Cupboard Inn, Gloucester Street, Winchcombe
Start Time: 19.45 (Dinner 20.00)
End Time: 22.15 (approx)
This is a self-guided walk along the western loop of the Winchcombe Way, a signposted route with finger blades and way markers along the route. The walk heads out through Gretton, Dumbleton and Prescott before climbing Nottingham Hill to Cleeve Common. Cross the common to Belas Knap before descending to Winchcombe. Entrants will receive a copy of the Winchcombe Way Guide for navigating plus a pen and certificate for finishing. Bring a picnic lunch and plenty of water. There will be one checkpoint and water stop by the Hobnails Inn approx halfway round.
Date: Saturday, 21st May
Distance: 21 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 8.00 to 9.00
End Time: 18.00
Transport to Overbury on the southern side of Bredon Hill. We skirt Bredon Hill to Ashton under Hill before walking across the vale with views towards the Cotswold Hills. We pass through the villages of Alderton and Gretton on our return to Winchcombe. Bring a picnic lunch.
Date: Saturday, 21st May
Distance: 12 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 9.00
End Time: 16.30
A circular walk from Winchcombe to a traditional Cotswold pub in the quintessential Cotswold village of Guiting Power Book early to avoid disappointment. (Lunch extra).
Date: Saturday, 21st May
Distance: 12 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 9.15
End Time: 17.00
A circular walk to seek out the source of the River Isbourne nestling on the eastern side of Cleeve Hill. From the spring we follow the river back past an old sheep wash as the river heads north, downstream to Winchcombe. Bring some refreshments.
Date: Saturday, 21st May
Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 9.30
End Time: 13.00
(Cost is per person)
Transport to Hawling where we start exploring the Salt Way. Along this historic route, one of the medieval tracks around Winchcombe, we learn about salt and all things salty. The walk criss-crosses the Salt Way to Hailes Abbey, at one point climbing up Salters Hill. After a short talk about the Abbey there is time for refreshments at the nearby Hayles Fruit Farm. The walk returns to Winchcombe on a track used by pilgrims. Bring a picnic lunch.
Date: Saturday, 21st May
Distance: 9 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 9.45
End Time: 16.00
Transport to pretty Stanton nestling at the foot of Shenberrow Hill before we follow a low level route through the hamlets of Stanway and Wood Stanway to Hailes. We visit a fruit farm to hear about growing soft fruit and apples for apple juice. We enjoy a sample before returning to Winchcombe. Bring a picnic lunch.
Date: Saturday, 21st May
Distance: 7 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 10.45
End Time: 15.15
Transport to Southam before a climb up to Prestbury Hill Butterfly Reserve with its glorious views across the Severn Vale. Here we will meet a butterfly expert who will help us look for rarities such as the Duke of Burgundy. Fingers crossed for a sunny day! Then we move onto Cleeve Common where the Conservation Officer will show us some of the rarer wildflowers growing on the common. We catch the service bus back to Winchcombe. Bus fare is extra or bring your bus pass. Bring a picnic lunch.
Date: Saturday, 21st May
Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 11.15
End Time: 16.15
By popular demand, we revisit Sudeley Castle to learn about the castle’s history during the 17th Century: the Civil War, Oliver Cromwell and Charles I. We take an easy route to Sudeley Castle.
Date: Saturday, 22nd May
Distance: 2 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 13.00
End Time: 15.30
An interesting and illustrated talk about how stone, water and wool influenced the landscape of The Cotswolds.
Date: Saturday, 21st May
Meeting Point: Winchcombe Working Mens Club, Abbey Terrace, Winchcombe
Start Time: 20.00
End Time: 21.30
Meet at the war memorial on Abbey Terrace, Winchcombe at 5am for a walk along the Sudeley Valley. Listen to birds singing and lookout for wildlife on the search for breakfast. Option to purchase a cooked breakfast afterwards at the White Hart Inn.
Date: Sunday, 22nd May
Distance: 4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: War memorial on Abbey Terrace, Winchcombe
Start Time: 5.00
End Time: 8.00
A circular walk starting on the Gloucestershire Way up to Monk’s Hole, through tranquil countryside. We visit the less frequented hamlets of Temple Guiting, Ford and Cutsdean before descending to Hayles Fruit Farm for a refreshing ‘cuppa’ and return to Winchcombe. Bring a picnic lunch.
Date: Sunday, 22nd May
Distance: 14 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 9.00
End Time: 16.45
A circular walk in the Sudeley valley. We pass Sudeley Castle, to Waterhatch where we hear about Waterhatch, a working farm until the 1950’s and then visit the remains of Spoonley Roman Villa situated in a wood. Along the way we learn a little about the flood defence system including leaky dams, being set up in the valley to stem the flow of rain water after storms. Bring some refreshments.
Date: Sunday, 22nd May
Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 9.15
End Time: 12.45
We meet at Abbey Fields community Centre in Back Lane before walking to the GWSR station in Greet to catch a diesel train to Cheltenham Racecourse. We then have the exhilaration of a walk up the escarpment on to Cleeve Common and enjoy the airy views as we join the original Cotswold Way before heading back to Winchcombe. Bring a picnic lunch.
Date: Sunday, 22nd May
Distance: 11.5 miles
Difficulty: Strenuous
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 9.30
End Time: 16.15
Meet at Postlip Hall (GL54 3AD) courtesy of the owners from where we will walk up to the golf club too meet a local historian. We walk across the common to look at the archaeolgical sites from the Bronze Age and the possible foundations of the grandstand of Cheltenham’s first racecourse to a First World War practice shooting range. Refreshments and toilets are available in the golf club house.
Date: Sunday, 22nd May
Distance: 3 to 4 miles approx
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 10.00
End Time: 12.00
Please park considerately in the village of Naunton and we meet outside the Black Horse in Naunton (GL54 3AD / SP 118234) once a farming and quarrying community, located on the River Windrush. We find out from a local breeder about the famous Cotswold Lions often found grazing here before we climb out of the valley to see present day quarrying for stone and roof tiles. Bring some refreshments.
Date: Sunday, 22nd May
Distance: 5.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Black Horse pub, Naunton
Start Time: 10.00
End Time: 13.30
We meet at Winchcombe Station, Greet (GL54 5LD) to enjoy a pleasant Sunday afternoon steam train ride to Toddington. We then head for the village of Toddington to meet a local crafter who creates art from willow. From here we head south with lovely views of the scarp and hills as we return to Winchcombe Station. Please park considerately in Greet near the railway station.
Date: Sunday, 222nd May
Distance: 4 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Winchcombe GWSR station, Greet (GL54 5LD)
Start Time: 12.50
End Time: 16.30
Back by popular demand, we take a steep walk over Gretton Hill to Gretton to meet a local bee keeper. While tea is served in the garden, the brave can put on bee suits for a closer look at the hives. The walk also includes the opportunity to see some alpacas close up.
Date: Sunday, 22nd May
Distance: 6 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Start Point: Abbey Fields, Winchcombe
Start Time: 12.30
End Time: 16.15
