Stinchcombe Hill Leaf & Ground – Cotswold Way Circular Walk

A traverse of Stinchcombe Hill offering stunning views over the Severn Vale. A descent from the escarpment on hard paths offers the reward of delicious refreshments at café. This walk is suitable for families but not for pushchairs and buggies.

Distance

3 miles / 4.83 km

Duration

1.5 to 1.75 hours

Difficulty

Unsurfaced paths, basic fitness

Mobility aid rating

Stile free

Shape

Circular

Start

Address

Stinchcombe Hill Car Park
View start on Google Maps

OS Grid Ref

ST743983

What3Words

lodge.flute.invoices

Refreshments

Leaf & Ground’s café.

Travel Info

Public car park on Stinchcombe Hill (not the Golf Club car park) GL11 6AQ

Navigation

After parking 1 take a moment to admire the view towards Bath, noting the monument on the escarpment above North Nibley to William Tyndale, who translated the Bible into English.

Return to the tarmac road, turn left to walk along the road for 300m to a pair of waymark posts on your left. Take this level path in a south westerly direction following the marker posts for approximately 600m. In the summer look out for skylarks along the path, with their wonderful soaring flight and song.

As the path starts to ascend head for a pair of waymark posts and a gap between trees on the skyline beyond. Watch out for golfers on the ascent. At the summit take a track to the right leading to the OS trig point 2 and nearby topograph overlooking the Severn Vale.

On reaching the trig point there is an option to walk to your left to Drakestone Point, passing the memorial stone bench to Sir Stanley Tubbs, who purchased the Hill in 1929, to be held in trust for the benefit of all.

From the trig point looking over the Vale take the defined path to your right along the escarpment to the Tubbs memorial shelter. Pass in front of the shelter then take the path through woodland, eventually emerging at the edge of the golf course. Follow the path ahead to cross the golf fairway with care; check there are no golfers teeing off to your left.

Ahead of you is a stone track, the old coach road from the Vale. The mounting stone 3 immediately before the coach road was used when changing horses at the top of the climb. Turn right along the stone track for approximately 200m then bear left towards Stinchcombe Hill House on your left. Pass in front of the entrance to the house.

Shortly after passing the entrance gate take the track to your left at a marker post down to a tarmac road. There is a steepish section just before reaching the road, which can be slippery if wet. Walk down the road a short distance to a field gate with pedestrian access. 4

After passing through the pedestrian access follow the wide track down to ‘Leaf & Ground’ for well earned refreshments from ‘The Hut’ within the complex or more substantial fare in the café (requires prior booking).
Retrace your route through the grounds back to Stinchcombe Hill and the car park.