Winchcombe to Sudeley Castle (Cotswold Gateway Winchcombe Walk 1) - Circular Walk

A short circular Winchcombe walk taking in pretty Vineyard Street, Sudeley Castle and the river.

Distance

2 miles / 3.22 km

Duration

1 to 1.5 hours

Difficulty

Unsurfaced paths, basic fitness

Mobility aid rating

Stile free

Shape

Circular

Route description

This route has been delivered in partnership with Winchcombe Welcomes Walkers www.winchcombewelcomeswalkers.com

Start

Address

Willow Cottage, Cowl Ln, Winchcombe, Cheltenham GL54 5RA, UK
View start on Google Maps

OS Grid Ref

SP025285

What3Words

surprise.insist.automatic

Public toilets

Back Land car park near the library.

Refreshments

Various options in the village.

Travel Info

Back Lane car park (charges apply).

Navigation

Leave Back Lane car park via the far corner access into Cowl Lane. Turn right and follow the road to the High Street. Turn right and follow Abbey Terrace until you see Vineyard Street on your left. Carefully cross the main street and continue down Vineyard Street (also known as Duck Street), over the bridge spanning the River Isbourne and up the slope to the entrance of Sudeley Castle A. Continue ahead along the drive, passing the unusual Almsbury Lodge (1).

Walk down through the avenue of lime trees to the bridge over the lake. Carry straight on along the driveway, passing the children’s play fort on your right towards the car park. Follow the drive and pass in front of the tree and continue on to the car park (2). Go through the gate and turn right along the road, until you reach the gatehouse.

Turn left and carefully cross the road into Rushley Lane. (Be careful of traffic along here). Follow the lane past Laundry Cottage, taking in the views across the valley to Winchcombe.

Eventually the lane turns left at the junction with Stancombe Lane. Follow the road as it turns left and walk down to the main Broadway Road and then turn left.

(3) From here there are two options to return to the town centre.

Option 1: Just before the bridge, go through the gate on your left and follow the surfaced path alongside the river. At the far end of the third field go through the gate and walk along the alley between the cottages to Castle Street (4).

Turn right and follow road over the the bridge and uphill to the High Street. Carefully cross the road and turn left to the end of the shops and turn right into Cowl Lane and follow this to Back Lane car park.

Option 2: To stay on a hard surface follow Broadway Road back into town with its variety of different style houses. Follow the road into Winchcombe, go past North Street, continue ahead into High Street until the end of the shops. Here turn right into Cowl Lane and follow to Back Lane car park.