The Winchcombe Way

The Winchcombe Way is a new 42-mile figure-of-eight trail centred on Winchcombe. The way marked trail is designed to show walkers the hidden gems of the northern Cotswolds. The landscape is constantly changing and reveals the charm of the Cotswolds.

The trail has been featured on the Chris Baxter morning show on Radio Gloucestershire. Chris walked the 42-mile trail over a weekend. You can listen to a clip, courtesy of BBC Radio Gloucestershire, by clicking below on the play button to the left of the panel below.

Country Walking magazine write:

"Can anything make the Cotswolds more beautiful? Meet the brand new trail that's aiming to try".

The eastern loop climbs out of Winchcombe and follows the Farmcote valley before entering Guiting Wood. From here it passes through quiet valleys and the tranquil villages of Cutsdean, Taddington and Snowshill. The route turns and follows the Cotswold escarpment through the villages of Buckland, Laverton and Stanton nestling at the bottom of the hill. The trail passes Stanway House and the recently restored watermill before passing Hailes Abbey on the return to Winchcombe.

The western loop ascends Langley Hill with splendid views before dropping down into Gretton and across to Alderton. From here the trail skirts around Dumbleton Hill with ever changing views before heading to Alstone. From Alstone the views ahead of wooded hills inspires one to climb Nottingham Hill and onto Cleeve Common. The vast common has rare plants and spectacular views before you head to Belas Knap long barrow and descend towards Winchcombe with fine views of Sudeley Castle and the surrounding countryside.

An official guide is available to accompany the route. The guide has detailed maps showing paths and refreshment stops together with clear instructions on following the way marked route. The route is broken down into sections allowing many parts of the route to be walked as a circular walk.

Please send a cheque for £5:60 (including P&P), payable to "Winchcombe Walkers are Welcome", c/o

• 31 Delavale Road
  Winchcombe
  Gloucestershire
  GL54 5YL

Alternatively, copies may be obtained from the following locations:

To view some maps, aerial photography, pictures and elevations:
please click here to see the GPS Cycle & Walking Resources website

Two GPS files are available for the trail - one each for the Western and Eastern loops.
Please click on the relevant link to download the free file

• Western Loop: Sections 1 - 6
• Eastern Loop: Sections 7 - 11

	Section 1 - Winchcombe to Gretton
	The route starts in Abbey Terrace, Winchcombe and ascends Langley Hill with fine views before dropping down into Gretton, situated where natural springs emerge from the hillside.
Distance	2.5 miles (4km)
Duration	1.25 hours
Difficulty*	Steep ascent then easy
Ascent	530ft
Descent	560ft
Refreshments	Bugatti Inn / Royal Oak pub in Gretton and several pubs, restaurants and teashops in Winchcombe
Accommodation	Please refer to the "Where to Stay" section for accommodation in Winchcombe Elms Farm Gretton Fields, Gretton, GL54 5HQ Tel: 01242 620150 Approx 0.5 mile from the route

	Section 2 - Gretton to Alderton
	The route follows Working Lane, passing under the steam railway and across agricultural land with hills either side, to Winchcombe Camping & Caravanning Site. The route follows a stream before arriving at Alderton church. There are fine views of Dumbleton Hill and Langley Hill.
Distance	2.25 miles (3.6 km)
Duration	1 hour
Difficulty*	Easy
Ascent	36ft
Descent	129ft
Refreshments	Gardeners Arms public house in Alderton & local shop, Alderton & Dumbleton Hall Hotel
Accommodation	Elms Farm Gretton Fields, Gretton, GL54 5HQ Tel: 01242 620150 Approx 0.5 mile from the route Gantier 12 Church Road, Alderton, GL20 8NR Tel: 01242 620343 or 07787 504872 www.gantier.co.uk Situated on the route Tally Ho Beckford Road, Alderton Tel: 01242 621 482 Approx 400 yards from the route Corner Cottage Stow Rd, Alderton Tel: 01242 620 630 Approx 800 yards from the route

	Section 3 - Alderton to Dumbleton
	The route leaves the village and flirts with the foot of Dumbleton Hill, often referred to as Alderton Hill, depending where you live. The route has fine views northwards to the Vale of Evesham before reaching Dumbleton.
Distance	2.75 miles (4.4km)
Duration	1.5 hours
Difficulty*	Easy
Ascent	236ft
Descent	194ft
Refreshments	Gardeners Arms pub & local shop in Alderton, otherwise none on route
Accommodation	Elms Farm Gretton Fields, Gretton, GL54 5HQ Tel: 01242 620150 Approx 0.5 mile from the route Gantier 12 Church Road, Alderton, GL20 8NR Tel: 01242 620343 or 07787 504872 www.gantier.co.uk Situated on the route Tally Ho Beckford Road, Alderton Tel: 01242 621 482 Approx 400 yards from the route Corner Cottage Stow Rd, Alderton Tel: 01242 620 630 Approx 800 yards from the route Dumbleton Hall Hotel Dumbleton Tel: 01386 881240 Entrance adjacent to the route (Approx 600 yard drive).

	Section 4 - Dumbleton to Alderton (Hobnails Inn)
	The route passes Dumbleton Church and the cricket pitch before heading slightly uphill and following the base of the hill with ever changing views. The route passes through some woodland before skirting the edge of Alderton village and emerging adjacent to the beer garden of the Hobnails Inn!
Distance	3.13 miles (5km)
Duration	1.5 hours
Difficulty*	Easy
Ascent	248ft
Descent	325ft
Refreshments	Hobnails Inn on route, Gardeners Arms in Alderton village
Accommodation	Dumbleton Hall Hotel Dumbleton Tel: 01386 881240 Entrance adjacent to the route (Approx 600 yard drive). Gantier 12 Church Road, Alderton, GL20 8NR Tel: 01242 620343 or 07787 504872 www.gantier.co.uk 800 yards from the route Tally Ho 20 Beckford Road, Alderton Tel: 01242 621 482 Approx 400 yards from the route Corner Cottage Stow Rd, Alderton Tel: 01242 620 630 Approx 950 yards from the route Teddington Hands Alstone Fields Farm, Stow Road, Teddington Hands, GL20 8NG Tel: 01242 620592 Approx 1 milefrom the route

	Section 5 - Alderton (Hobnails Inn) to Cleeve Common
	The route heads along field boundaries to the picturesque village of Alstone. Cross fields heading for the lovely wooded slopes near the Bugatti Hill Climb. Oxenton Hill appears to have its fair share of birds of prey with buzzards patrolling the sky. Pass the GWR railway station at Gotherington Halt before climbing up Nottingham Hill to Cleeve Common.
Distance	4.5 miles (7.2km)
Duration	2.5 hours
Difficulty*	Moderate
Ascent	964ft
Descent	245ft
Refreshments	Hobnails Inn at the start and Cleeve Hill Golf Club at the end of the section
Accommodation	Gantier 12 Church Road, Alderton GL20 8NR Tel: 01242 620343 or 07787 504872 www.gantier.co.uk 800 yards from the route Tally Ho 20 Beckford Road, Alderton Tel: 01242 621 482 Approx 400 yards from the route Corner Cottage Stow Rd, Alderton Tel: 01242 620 630 Approx 950 yards from the route Alstone Fields Farm Stow Road, Teddington Hands GL20 8NG Tel: 01242 620592 Approx 1 mile from the route Pardon Hill Farm Prescott, Gotherington, GL52 9RD Tel: 01242 672 468 Approx 800 yards from the route Heron Haye Petty Lane, Cleeve Hill, GL52 3PW Tel: 01242 672516 Approx 500 yards from the route Cleeve Hill Hotel Cleeve Hill, GL52 3PR Tel: 01242 672052 Approx 800 yards from the route Malvern View Hotel Cleeve Hill, GL52 3PR Tel: 01242 672017 Approx 800 yards from the route Rising Sun Hotel Cleeve Hill, GL52 3PX Tel: 01242 676281 Approx ¾ mile from the route Upper Hill Farm B&B Beechfield House, Upper Hill Farm, Cleeve Common, GL54 4EU Tel: 01242 235128 or 07825 396449 Approx ½m from the radio masts on Cleeve Common Transport is available for pickup and drop off by arrangement and to local pub for evening meals

	Section 6 - Cleeve Common to Winchcombe
	The landscape changes here to a wide expanse of common with hidden valleys and the source of the River Isbourne. Cross this SSSI area to Belas Knap, a Neolithic long barrow. Descend into the Sudeley valley with glimpses of Sudeley Castle, before entering Winchombe by a pretty street lined with trees.
Distance	6 miles (9.7 km)
Duration	3 hours
Difficulty*	Moderate
Ascent	390ft
Descent	956ft
Refreshments	Cleeve Hill Golf Club or several places in Winchcombe
Accommodation	Please refer to the "Where to Stay" section for accommodation in Winchcombe Heron Haye Petty Lane, Cleeve Hill, GL52 3PW Tel: 01242 672516 Approx 500 yards from the route Cleeve Hill Hotel Cleeve Hill, GL52 3PR Tel: 01242 672052 Approx 800 yards from the route Malvern View Hotel Cleeve Hill, GL52 3PR Tel: 01242 672017 Approx 800 yards from the route Rising Sun Hotel Cleeve Hill, GL52 3PX Tel: 01242 676281 Approx ¾ mile from the route

	Section 7 - Winchcombe to Farmcote (Lynes Barn)
	Leave Winchcombe and ascend Dunn’s Hill to the Salt Way with elevated views towards the Vale of Evesham and Toddington Manor. Go through Little Farmcote looking across to Farmcote and the orchards in the valley below.
Distance	3 miles (4.8km)
Duration	2 hours
Difficulty*	Moderate
Ascent	690ft
Descent	215ft
Refreshments	Various pubs, restaurants and teashops in Winchcombe, none on route
Accommodation	Please refer to the "Where to Stay" section for accommodation in Winchcombe North Farmcote B&B North Farmcote, GL54 5AU Tel: 01242 602304 Approx 1 mile from the route

	Section 8 - Farmcote (Lynes Barnes) to Temple Guiting
	The route continues down a quiet lane in remote countryside before heading off into Guiting Wood where deer can often be seen. Follow a narrow lane beside a stream before emerging into open countryside. Look out for unusual stone carvings before entering Temple Guiting.
Distance	3.7 miles (6 km)
Duration	2 hours
Difficulty*	Moderate
Ascent	567ft
Descent	690ft
Refreshments	Village shop open mornings only in Temple Guiting
Accommodation	North Farmcote B&B North Farmcote, GL54 5AU Tel: 01242 602304 Approx 1 mile from the route Tall Trees Temple Guiting, GL54 5RP Tel: 01451 850 467 Approx 200 yards from the route The Plough Inn Ford, GL54 5RU Tel: 01386 584215 Situated on the route

	Section 9 - Temple Guiting to Snowshill
	This section follows along the edge of a valley before reaching Ford and gallops. The route takes you through Cutsdean, a quiet village tucked away. Cross open countryside with undulating views before descending into Snowshill with its fine manor house and cottages clustered around the church.
Distance	5 miles (8 km)
Duration	3.5 hours
Difficulty*	Easy
Ascent	577ft
Descent	444ft
Refreshments	Village shop open mornings only in Temple Guiting. The Plough Inn, Ford / Snowshill Arms &?National Trust, Snowshill
Accommodation	Tall Trees Temple Guiting, GL54 5RP Tel: 01451 850 467 Approx 200 yards from the route The Plough Inn Ford, GL54 5RU Tel: 01386 584215 Situated on the route Sheepscombe House Snowshill, Broadway, WR12 7JU Tel: 01386 853769 or 07976 921 905 Situated on the route Snowshill Hill Estate Snowshill Hill, GL56 9TH Tel: 01386 853959 Approx 2 miles from the route

	Section 10 - Snowshill to Stanton
	The walk begins in a tranquil valley before transforming into elevated views. The route descends and passes some tranquil villages at the foot of the Cotswold escarpment.
Distance	4 miles (6.4 km)
Duration	2.25 hours
Difficulty*	Moderate
Ascent	467ft
Descent	804ft
Refreshments	Snowshill Arms &?National Trust, Snowshill or The Mount Inn, Stanton
Accommodation	Sheepscombe House Snowshill, Broadway, WR12 7JU Tel: 01386 853769 or 07976 921 905 Situated on the route Snowshill Hill Estate Snowshill Hill, GL56 9TH 01386 853959 Approx 2 miles from the route The Old Post House Stanton, WR12 7NE Tel: 01386 584398 Situated on the route The Vine Stanton, WR12 7NE Tel: 01386 584250 Situated on the route Shenberrow Hill Stanton, WR12 7NE Tel: 01386 584468 or 07811381067 Situated on the route

	Section 11 - Stanton to Winchcombe
	The route emerges in Stanton High Street and follows the Cotswold Way through the Stanway Estate to Wood Stanway where the route heads towards Hailes, where you pass the abbey and medieval Hailes church. Further on there are views of the steam railway before joining up with the Cotswold Way again into Winchcombe.
Distance	6 miles (9.7km)
Duration	3.25 hours
Difficulty*	Easy
Ascent	367ft
Descent	440ft
Refreshments	The Mount, Stanton or Hayles tearooms
Accommodation	Please refer to the "Where to Stay" section for accommodation in Winchcombe The Old Post House 01386 584398 Situated from the route The Vine Stanton, WR12 7NE 01386 584250 Situated on the route Shenberrow Hill Stanton, WR12 7NE Tel: 01386 584468 or 07811381067 Situated on the route Wood Stanway Farmhouse Wood Stanway, Nr. Didbrook, GL54 5PG Tel: 01386 584318 eMail: greensbedandbreakfast@hotmail.com Situated on the route North Farmcote B&B North Farmcote, GL54 5AU Tel: 01242 602304 Approx 1 mile from the route

• Easy: length may vary but terrain mainly flat (level)
• Moderate: includes some hills and some rough ground
• Strenuous: may be rough underfoot and ascents and descents may be steep