THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE WAY
Using the Guidebook by Gerry Stewart ISBN 0 9527870 08 and the
Ordnance Survey Maps No 14 and No 45 Outdoor Liesure and No 179 and No
190 Explorer. We started this walk on 18th September 1999 and finished it on the 3rd September 2000 by walking it in small circular sections on day trips from home, walking half the day on the Gloucestershire
Way then finding a different route to get back to the car in the afternoon. Therefore we have actually walked twice the distance of the 100 miles the route actually covers. The mileage recorded is that of the Glos. Way route and not the full walk of each particular day.
The Gloucestershire way in our opinion shows off some of the best countyside that Gloucestershire has to offer and would recomend it thoroughly.
CHEPSTOW TO WOOLASTON COMMON 6 miles 18/9/99
Parked the car in the Castle car park in Chepstow. Followed the same route as
the Offa's Dyke footpath for a short distance
branching off at the Mopla Road. Passed by a field of flowers which are often
for sale on the main road.
Had to pass under an electric fence near Bishton farm, then a muddy lane and a
field full of maize which is hard to walk through when it is higher than you.
Found the old railway tunnel entrance at Netherhope and passed the Victoria
Jubilee stone on Parsons Allotment. Nearly went the wrong way just before Slade
farm, the signposting was not so good. Old Lime Kilns can be seen near the tumps.
On reaching the road before Barnage Farm we left the route to find the
"Rising Sun" pub to have lunch. Nice surroundings, good beer, dogs allowed but
the food was not up to much.
Had a difficult time route finding our way back over little used footpaths and
maize fields through High Woolaston, Stroat, and Tidenham. Walked part of the
dismantled railway back to Tutshill then back to the car. Had threatened to rain
all day.
WOOLASTON COMMON TO CANOP PONDS 6miles 19/9/99
Poured with rain all day. Parked the car in a layby at Woolaston Common. Just
passed Clanna Lodge and into Rodmore Grove we spotted the trees that Alastairs
father had grafted nearly 40 years ago. The maize field we walked through today
had a proper path left through it. Very muddy corner of a field just before Bream.
Easy walking through Parkend Walk and Nagshead Nature reserve to Canop Ponds.
We left the Glos. Way here and followed the Cycle trail back to Parkend where
we had the best Sunday Roast we'd ever tasted at the "Woodman".
Used the railway to walk to Whitecroft, road to Brockhollands and footpaths to
Birch Wood where we used the road to Clanna. Never been out in such heavy rain
as this afternoon. Got lost near Home farm and took a short cut over someones
garden all due to bad signposting
CANOP PONDS TO LONGHOPE 8 miles 3/10/99
Parked in the layby at the southern end of Canop Ponds. Lots of forest walking
through the Forest of Dean. Alastair saw a large black panther type cat cut
across our path. I missed it due to map reading. We both saw lots of deer though
and one magnificent Stag. Joined up with the "Wysis Way" at Birchwood. Had a very
good value lunch at the "Yew Tree" in Longhope.
Found our way back to the car through Hope wood, Tanners hill and Cinderford.
Got onto the family cycling trail to Reform bridge, Acorn patch, Boysgrave oak,
then finally Russells enclosure
LONGHOPE TO A48 8 miles 10/10/99
Lovely Autumn day, trees just turning colour. Heard lots of church bells ringing this
being Sunday morning. Steady climb up to May hill and well worth it for the
views. Down past Glasshouse but too early for the "Glasshouse" pub. Through
woods where chestnuts were falling on our heads. Very skittish bullocks in a
field near Birdwood.
Nearly at the A48 we turned left towards Oakle Street only to find the pub
marked on the map is not open any more. Luckily I'd made some sandwiches as it
was too late for the pub at Blaisdon on the way back to the car
A48 to GLOUCESTER 5 1/2 miles 6/11/99
Parked the car just off the A48 on the road to Oakle Street on the side of the
road.
This was a lovely sunny day but this part of the route was not the most scenic.
We came across 3 electric fences crossing our path which I believe is actually
illegal. They were not the kind you could just duck under as they were comprised
of 3 strands of wire each. There was nothing for it but to trample them down.
They were on the driveway to Moorcroft House and at Murcott farm.
Bullocks were also a problem today too, kicking their heels up because of our dogs.
Had an excellent lunch at the Fountain Inn in Westgate Street in Gloucester.
very friendly bar staff and landlady. Food very reasonably priced. Had an hour
looking around Gloucester before returning to the car by the same route that we'd
come.
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GLOUCESTER to A40 near CHURCHDOWN 6 1/2 miles 5/02/00
Birds sang as if spring was here already as the weather was so mild. The first lambs have been born. Parked the car at the dock area in Gloucester and followed the river Severn out of the city. Huge willow trees have suffered badly in the previous bad weather, split and fallen over the path.
Good easy walking across fields, well signposted with no problems from animals or fences. We were kept entertained by small aircraft and helicopters practicing their take off and landing at Gloucester airport. Left the route at the A40 and had a pleasant walk on footpaths through Churchdown and more fields into Gloucester. Had lunch at the "Double Gloucester" and stopped to listen to the street musicians in the city centre.
CHURCHDOWN to COBERLEY 7 miles 26/2/00
We had a particularly beatiful sunny day for this section. Parked the car at the council offices in Churchdown and crossed the playing field to rejoin the route where we ended it last time. Badgeworth was a lovely village to pass through with its Tudor buildings and village green. The daffodils were just about to flower. Crossed lots of fields before the steep climb up Birdlip Hill. Fabulous views today especially of the Malvern Hills in the distance. Stopped at the Iron age hill fort on the top to admire the view. Passed the "Air Balloon" pub but unfortunately it was too early to venture inside. This section of the Gloucestershire Way crosses the Cotswold Way at this point. Eventually managed to cross the very busy Cirencester to Stroud road when a brief break in the traffic allowed it. Beautiful shallow valley at Coldwell Bottom before Coberley. Left the route here and headed for Cowley and Cockleford to find a pub for lunch.
Came across the "Green Dragon Inn" dating back to 1675. All furniture inside the pub had been carved by the "Mouseman" of York with his trademark of a mouse carved onto each piece. Had an excellent lunch here, a little expensive but well worth it.
Found a good route back to the car but a little problem of crossing under the M5, its three slip roads and then the A417.
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COBERLEY TO SHIPTON 5 miles 4/3/00
Typical Cotwold countryside of rolling hills and pale stone cottages. Beautiful sunny day again. Fabulous views. Passed through the very sleepy village of Foxcote and paused to watch a black swan on a pond near Shipton. Left the route here to walk south to the village of Withington to find a pub for lunch. Had the choice of two pubs here. The Kings head was not open and looked very much like the "locals" pub. The Mill Inn was open and serving very good, reasonably priced food in a lovely old world atmosphere. Excellent route back to the car made this a good choice for a circular days walk of 12 miles by itself.
SHIPTON to COLD ASTON 6 miles 12/3/00
Our friends, Nik and Jen, from Audax cycling days joined us on todays walk. Parked the car just outside Shipton. Fantastic walking yet again, rolling hills, blue skys and mild. Stopped for elevenses in Notgrove in view of a nobbly line of trees. Had lunch at the "Plough" in Cold Aston. Very good food and atmospheric pub but sadly dogs not allowed. The route back was just as good as coming so this would make another good circular walk on its own of about 12.5 miles. Saw a hare on the Old Road Coppice just before the "Pusedown Inn" where we stopped for more refreshment. In wide open fields we saw a herd of deer some with huge antlers.
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COLD ASTON to STOWE ON THE WOLD 5 miles 18/3/00
Parked the car in a free car park in Stowe on the Wold. Walked the Gloucester way section during the afternoon and spent the morning getting to Cold Aston via Icomb Hill, Bourton on the Water(too touristy) and Fox Hill farm where we met with two Lamas in a field. Also spotted a whole flock of yellow hammers. Lunched again at the "Plough" in Cold Aston. Another lovely section, especially at Lower Slaughter with its water wheel and stream.
Back at Stowe we found the camp site at the Rugby Club(£4 per night) and went in search of a Chinese Takeaway. Ate in the car on the camp site then as it was getting dark and we hadn't enough money to go to the pub for the evening we crawled into our sleeping bags just to keep warm and fell asleep in no time.
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STOWE ON THE WOLD to FORD 7.5 miles 19/3/00
Woke to a hard white frost but although cold we had a clear sunny day. Packed up the tent and parked again in Stowe on the Wold. Good easy walking on lanes and bridleways today with wide open views. Passed the Donnington Brewery and through the very quiet village of Condicote. Daffodils and blossom everywhere, the tree buds almost ready to burst open. Lunched at another "Plough" Inn this time at Temple Guiting. Good Sunday roast, busy pub and they allowed dogs in the small bar.
There are not many footpaths in this area so in the afternoon we followed lanes and paths almost along the same line as this mornings walk through Cutsdean, Cutsdean Lodge through a beautiful wooded valley to Hinchwick Manor. Heard somebody practising his Clarinet to his hearts content in the middle of nowhere. From here we continued on the same route as this morning but staying on the B4077 all the way back to Stowe on the Wold.
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FORD to LANGLEY HILL 6 miles 3/9/00
Alastair cooked a breakfast of fried wild mushrooms in olive oil which we ate sat outside the van parked just outside Gretton on a beautiful sunny morning. Delicious. Climbed Gretton hill again to join the Gloucestershire Way at Langley hill and headed for Winchcombe a place we had been to several times whilst walking the Cotswold way.
Climbed Flukes Hill getting a clear view to the Malvern hills and the patchwork of golden feilds. This year is a very good one for fruit, blackberries, hips, haws, sloes,apples etc. Came across some strip lynchets in a field near Lynes Barn. These we have since found out are Saxon in origin and created by being ploughed up and down the field, the plough turning the earth to the centre of the strip creating this ridging effect.
Passed fields full of poppies and racehorses then a huge quarry to our left which was not marked on our map. Finally came to "The Plough" at Ford in perfect time for Sunday lunch.
found our way back through Cutsdean where the whole village had turned out for it's Millenium photograph. Followed the Cotswold way until Hailes Abbey then took a direct route across fields to Greet and finally back to the van at Gretton.
LANGLEY HILL to TEWKSBURY 8 miles 2/9/00
Parked the van just outside the village of Gretton and climbed Gretton hill to join the Gloucestershire way on Langley Hill. Followed the contours of the hill through very well behaved cows with views over golden fields after the recent harvest. Dropped down to a road before climbing Dixton hill where we could hear the racing going on at the Prescot hill climb (Bugatti Club).
Alastair had forgotten to bring his walking boots and was only wearing sandals that were coming apart. Found a bundle of wire in a hedge with which to mend them on Crane hill.
Ten tied up dogs barked furiously at us as we passed a farm entrance at Oxenton. The terrain was flat from here on into Tewksbury crossing a railway line and the Motorway. A Marching band could be heard practising their routine and music near Walton Cardiff. They were still at it when we passed by in the afternoon. Finally finished the Gloucestershire way at Tewksbury Abbey where we sat in the park and had a picnic even though there are plenty of eating houses etc.
Had problems route finding a way back due to blocked up path entrances at Walton Cardiff and unsignposted paths. Picked wild mushrooms.
Ate this evening after returning to the van at the "Royal Oak" in Gretton but as this was mainly geared for eating we went to the "Bugatti" down the road for a drink to a much more relaxed athmosphere in strange surroundings of very mixed styles.
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