Walking the Cotswold Way in May
May is National Walking Month, and walking quite frankly is synonymous with the Cotswold way of life.
Our stunning backdrops, rolling hills, and wonderful nature have served as muse for many an artist, perhaps most notable Laurie Lee and his enchanting ‘Cider With Rosie’.
Taking 3 walks we wanted to encapsulate all the wonders of our county and their variety- no mean feat!
1. There really is no better way to begin than with our aforementioned author, Laurie Lee.
The Slad Valley is heavily connected to Laurie- so much so there is the eponymously named ‘Laurie Lee Wildlife Way’. It’s a five mile circular walking trail that passes verdant slopes, small woodlands, and involves crossing rivers and streams.
Why not head into Stroud for a delicious bite to eat and use your Cotswold Collective Membership Card after such a magical meander?
We recommend Woodruffs Organic Cafe if you like your coffee- they are passionate about it and buy from long established roasters James Gourmet who work with farmers at Fairtrade prices.
We also love award winning Little Ginger Deli Cafe, a family run, dog friendly space whose homemade cakes and quiches are second to none.
After a bite to eat, make a whole day of it and visit the site of Laurie Lee’s final resting place. Lee died in 1997 and is buried in Slad churchyard.
Length: 5m / 8km
Time: 3-5 hrs
Difficulty: Moderate (with one steep section)
2. Winchcombe to Bellas Knap
Known as the Walking Capital of the Cotswolds, to not include Winchcombe in our top three would be criminal!
Top Fact: Winchcombe has official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ status and is the starting point for many of the best routes in the area.
We love the ramble from Winchcombe to Neolithic burial mound with 5,000 year old tombs: Belas Knap.
Passing you can’t miss the 16th century Sudeley Castle which regularly hosts epic holiday activities for families, as well as art and sculpture trails, and yearly serves as the ground hosts to the world famous Giffords Circus. The history and culture positively oozes from the hillsides.
All that walking is thirsty work so head into town to The Old Bakery a gorgeous coffee shop and wine bar.
We love that it dutifully sticks to the historical remit, because should you take a seat in their ‘Vine Room’ you’ll be in an conservatory sharing company with a two hundred year old vine that comes alive every summer.
Length: 5.25m / 8.4km
Time: 3-4 hrs
Difficulty: Moderate (some steep sections)
3. The final contender for our top three is Broadway and The Tower.
Broadway inspired the likes of William Morris and JM Barrie- the latter with his Pooh Bear perhaps inspired by all Broadways honey-coloured cottages.
The cobbled streets lead to a wealth of independent boutiques, with particular mention to the newly launched Royle Collective which perfectly captures Broadway’s creativity by championing emerging independent designers, creatives, and artisan products. We also can’t not buy flowers from independent florist Bloomery when we’re in town- allowing us to take a slice of countryside to brighten up our homes.
Continue your ramble through town and you’ll end up at Broadway Tower, discover a folly set in 50 acre parkland and climb to the tower’s top to enjoy a view covering up to 16 counties as you officially reach the highest point in the Cotswolds.
Length: 4m / 6.4km
Time: 2.5-3 hrs
Difficulty: Moderate (some steep sections)
Can you see we tried to end on a high…we couldn’t resist the cliche 😉 Don’t forget, Members get exclusive perks at the local businesses included in this guide.