Cotswold Way

DAYS OUT AND SHORT BREAKS ALONG THE COTSWOLD WAY

FROM CHELTENHAM
Here’s a great idea for a day’s walking or a short walking holiday along the attractive northern part of the Cotswold Way. Stay in Cheltenham
for a few days and walk up to seven attractive sections along 53 miles of one of Britain’s most popular long distance paths between Chipping
Campden and Painswick. Sections vary from 5.5 to 11.5 miles (9.5 to 18 km) (including links to and from public transport), but strong
walkers may prefer to combine two or more section to make a single longer day’s walk, where return transport services permit.
You can, of course, stay one or more nights in a choice of
village inns or B&Bs along the route (details via the National
Trail web site – see below). But by staying in Cheltenham and
using local buses for each day’s walk, you can avoid having to
pack and unpack your luggage each day and carrying a heavy
pack during the day on each stage of the walk.You can come
to Cheltenham the “green” way by train or bus, or leave your
car parked safely there to make the most of good public
transport links to and from Cheltenham. Generally, if you
have a car, parking it on or close to the Cotswold Way does
not work well in terms of ease of return by public transport,
and is almost invariably better to park in a central point, in
this case Cheltenham.
For exact details of the route, which is waymarked
throughout, we recommend the National Trail Guide
“The Cotswold Way” by Anthony Burton with maps, route
description and points of interest. If you prefer to walk with a map, you could use either the Harvey’s Cotswold Way Map at
1:40,000 scale, covering the whole route, or OS Explorer Sheets and 179 and OL45 at 1:25,000 scale for this section.There are
also several other guidebooks available. For further details & to check for any route changes see the Cotswold Way National Trail
web site at www.nationaltrail.co.uk
Cheltenham Tourist Office (tel: 01242 522 878 or www.visitcheltenham.com) will give details of available hotel or B&B
accommodation in Cheltenham.
This leaflet contains only a summary of key services to and from the Cotswold Way from Cheltenham. For more comprehensive
information on access to the Way, see the Walk and explore the Cotswold Way National Trail by Public Transport
booklet available at local TICs or from the Cotswolds Conservation Board (tel: 01451 862000).
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this leaflet is accurate, we cannot accept
responsibility for accidents, losses, delays or difficulties resulting from the use of information in this leaflet. As service times can
change before your visit, it pays to check the travel information before you set out with Travel Line – telephone: 0870 608 2 608

DAY 1: CHIPPING CAMPDEN TO BROADWAY (6 miles – 9.5km)

Getting to Chipping Campden from Cheltenham Mondays to Saturdays

From Royal Well bus station, catch the 801 bus at 9:00.This gets you to Moreton-in-Marsh at 10:00 on Mondays and Wednesdays
and at 10:20 other days.The 22 bus leaves Budgens superstore, next to the railway station at 10:45, calls at the Corn Exchange
in Moreton High Street 2 minutes later and will drop you in Chipping Campden High Street, at the start of the Cotswold Way,
at 11:14. For a later start, catch the 606 bus from Royal Well bus station at 10:00 and alight in Broadway High Street at 10:47.
From the same stop, hail the 21 bus at 11:55 to alight in Chipping Campden High Street at 12:14.The official start of the
Cotswold Way begins at the Market Hall and continues along the Main Street to the Catholic Church and then turn right up the
side street, Hoo Lane.
Returning from Broadway to Cheltenham Mondays to Saturdays
From the bus stop in the High Street, outside the Post Office and newsagent, hail the 606 bus at 15:05 or at 17:30.These will get
you back to the centre of Cheltenham at 16:00 and 18:05.
Taxi back-up: In Broadway – Cotswold Horizons,Tel: 01386 858599 Elite Taxis Mob: 07917 128114
Meon Private Hire and Courier Services – Chris Peak,Tel: 01386 859078; Mob: 07765 200237 Tempus Taxis Mob: 07825 398844

DAY 2: BROADWAY TO WOOD STANWAY (8 miles – 13km)

Getting to Broadway from Cheltenham Mondays to Saturdays

From the Royal Well Bus Station, catch the 606 bus at 10:00.This will get you to Broadway High Street at 10:47.You are right on the
Cotswold Way here.Turn right to walk up the main street and turn left onto Snowshill Road. Immediately beyond the church, turn
right, crossing the road to take a rough track between houses.
Getting back from Wood Stanway to Cheltenham
To get a bus or train to anywhere from Wood Stanway, you have to walk to Toddington roundabout, the junction of B4632 and
B4077.This is about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) away along minor roads and across fields (allow 45-50 minutes). From Wood Stanway, take
the road out to the west of the village for 300 metres or so and turn left at the road junction. Continue into Didbrook where you
take the right hand fork at the junction. Just before this road turns a corner and goes under the railway, there is a public footpath off
to the right. Follow this until it brings you on to the main road (B4077) where you turn left – beware of the lack of footways.The
roundabout is 300 metres along the road.
1 Mondays to Saturdays
Catch the 606 bus near the Toddington roundabout. Just where the bus stops depends upon the route it is taking. Hail the 15:15 at the
bus shelter about 20 metres from the roundabout on the Tewkesbury road. Hail the 17:36 outside the car park of the Pheasant p.h.
2 Saturdays from April to end of November and some Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during the summer – via
Gloucestershire Warwickshire heritage railway.
An alternative is to catch the steam train from Toddington station which arrives at the Racecourse station about half an hour after
departure.You then have to walk 0.75 miles (1km) through the ground of the racecourse to the Park & Ride.There you can catch
the D bus every 10 minutes to the centre of Cheltenham, to Queen’s Road next to the main railway station and on to Hatherley
and Warden Hill.There are regular services from Toddington but it is advisable to check with the operator as services run to
different timetables during the season. In addition whilst ordinary passengers can be carried on special event days, this will incur an
addition cost. Contact Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Heritage Railway on 01242 621405, or download their timetable on
www.gwsr.com for further details.
Taxi back-up:
The nearest are at Winchcombe: Amiga Cars,Tel: 01242 603060 Taylor Private Hire,Tel: 01242 603651

DAY 3:WOOD STANWAY TO WINCHCOMBE (7 miles – 11km)

Getting to Wood Stanway from Cheltenham

1 Mondays to Saturdays
Catch the 606 bus from Cheltenham Royal Wells bus station at 10:00 or from Winchcombe (Abbey Terrace, opposite Lloyd Bank)
at 10:20.Tell the driver when you board that you want to be set down at Didbrook, where you will arrive around 10.35.You then
need to walk eastwards for about 0.5 miles (1 km), past the church and school. At the road junction, turn right and another 300

Cotswold Way
metres will bring you to Wood Stanway and the Cotswold Way. It should be no more than 15 minutes’ walk after leaving the bus.
Continue along the lane through the village.
2 Saturdays from April to end of November and some Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer - via
Gloucestershire Warwickshire heritage railway).
Catch the D bus from anywhere in Cheltenham to the racecourse Park and Ride.The suggested service leaves Clarence Street at
10:35. From the Park and Ride, walk 0.5 miles (1 km) along the sign-posted racecourse internal road to the Racecourse Station of the
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.Take the train to Toddington Station, a trip of around 30 minutes later.There are regular
services from Toddington but it is advisable to check with the operator as services run to different timetables during the season. In
addition whilst ordinary passengers can be carried on special event days, this will incur an addition cost. Contact Gloucestershire &
Warwickshire Heritage Railway on 01242 621405, or download their timetable on www.gwsr.com for further details.
From Toddington station, there is then a walk of around 1.5 miles (2.5 km) along minor roads and public footpaths – allow 40-45
minutes. Leave the station by the main entrance and turn right onto the road (no footways). After crossing the bridge and at the
end of the cottages, turn right onto the public footpath.This will lead you about 0.25 miles (400 metres) to a minor road where you
turn left, past Didbrook Farm to Didbrook. Continue through the village, as for (1) above.
3 Sundays from April to end of November - via Gloucestershire Warwickshire heritage railway.
Catch the D bus at 10:29 from Clarence Street and ask the driver to set you down at the stop nearest the racecourse which is on
Evesham Road south of the roundabout. From there, walk forward, cross the roundabout and go into the racecourse site and find
the internal road on the left. Walk the 0.75 miles (1 km) along the sign-posted internal road to the Racecourse Station of the
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway. According to the timetable being operated on your chosen day, trains depart the
Racecourse station either at 11:15 or at 11:20. Note that on Special Event days there are additional services, but there is an
additional premium on all fares and single tickets are not available; contact Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Heritage Railway on
01242 621405, or check their website www.gwsr.com for further details.
Take the train to Toddington Station, a trip of around 30 minutes later. From Toddington station, there is then a walk of around 1.5
miles (2.5 km) along minor roads and public footpaths – allow 40-45 minutes. Leave the station by the main entrance and turn right
onto the road (no footways). After crossing the bridge and at the end of the cottages, turn right onto the public footpath.This will
lead you about 0.25 miles (400 metres) to a minor road where you turn left, past Didbrook Farm to Didbrook. Continue through
the village, as for (1) above.
Returning from Winchcombe to Cheltenham
1 Mondays to Saturdays
From the war memorial near the Plaisterer’s Arms p.h., hail the 606 bus at 15:31, 16:50 or 17:43 direct to the centre of Cheltenham.
The journey will take you half an hour.
2 Saturdays from April to the end of November and some Tuesdays,Wednesdays and Thursdays during the summer - via
Gloucestershire Warwickshire heritage railway
From the junction of High Street and North Street in Winchcombe, take North Street as far as its junction with Greet Road, by the
police station.Turn right there and walk a mile (1.5 km) to Station Approach on your right. Go down Station Approach and book a
ticket to Racecourse Station. Allow yourself about 40 minutes from the centre of Winchcombe to get onto the platform, having
bought your ticket.There are regular services from Winchcombe but it is advisable to check with the operator as services run to
different timetables during the season. In addition whilst ordinary passengers can be carried on special event days, this will incur an
addition cost. Contact Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Heritage Railway on 01242 621405, or download their timetable on
www.gwsr.com for further details. Arrival at Racecourse Station is 21 minutes after departure.You then have to walk 0.5 to 0.75
miles (1km) through the ground of the racecourse to the Park & Ride.There you can catch the D bus every 10 minutes to the
centre of Cheltenham, to Queen’s Road next to the main railway station and on to Hatherley and Warden Hill.
3 Sundays from April to end of November - via Gloucestershire Warwickshire Heritage railway.
From the junction of High Street and North Street in Winchcombe, take North Street as far as its junction with Greet Road, by the
police station.Turn right there and walk a mile (1.5 km) to Station Approach on your right. Go down Station Approach and book a

Cotswold Way
ticket to Racecourse Station. Allow yourself about 40 minutes from the centre of Winchcombe to get onto the platform, having bought
your ticket. Note that on Special Event days there is an additional premium on all fares and single tickets are not available; contact
Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Heritage Railway on 01242 621405, or check their website www.gwsr.com for further details.
From Racecourse Station you then have to walk 0.75 to 1 mile (1-1.5km) through the grounds of the racecourse to the entrance,
across the roundabout to Evesham Road heading towards the town centre. A short way along here is a bus shelter and stop. From
there you can catch the D bus at 7 and 37 minutes past the hour to the centre of Cheltenham, to Queen’s Road next to the main
railway station and on to Hatherley and Warden Hill.
Taxi back-up: Winchcombe: Amiga Cars,Tel: 01242 603060 Taylor Private Hire,Tel: 01242 603651

DAY 4:WINCHCOMBE TO CLEEVE HILL (7 miles – 11 km)

Getting to Winchcombe from Cheltenham

1 Mondays to Saturdays
From Royal Well Bus Station, catch the 606 bus at 9:00 (not Saturdays), 10:00 or 10:30 direct to the centre of Winchcombe. Alight
at Abbey Terrace 20 minutes after setting off.You are right on the Cotswold Way here. Head off along High Street and Hailes Street.
2 (Via Gloucestershire Warwickshire heritage railway). Saturdays from April to the end of November, and some Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout the summer) Get the D bus from anywhere in Cheltenham to the racecourse Park and
Ride. For most of the day, this bus operates a 10-minute frequency. From the Park and Ride, walk 0.75 miles (1 km) along the sign-
posted racecourse internal road to the Racecourse Station of the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway. Allow 15
minutes for the walk and for booking your ticket.Take the train to Winchcombe Station which is actually at Greet. According to the
timetable being operated on your chosen day, some trains depart Racecourse station at 11:15 and others at 11:20. Arrival at
Winchcombe is 22 minutes later. Note that on Special Event days there are additional services, but there is an additional premium
on all fares and single tickets are not available; contact Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Heritage Railway on 01242 621405, or check
their website www.gwsr.com for further details.
From Winchcombe station, walk up Station Approach to the main road.Turn left and walk a mile to the junction with North Street,
by the police station.Turn left into North Street and walk the 300 metres to High Street.You are now on the Cotswold Way. Go
right for Cleeve Hill.
3 (Via Gloucestershire Warwickshire heritage railway. Sundays from April to the end of November)
Hail the D bus in Cheltenham.The suggested service leaves Long Mynd Avenue, Hatherley at 10:01,Warden Hill at 10:08, the railway
station forecourt at 10:17 and Clarence Street at 10:29.The stop you need is on Evesham Road south of the roundabout which
gives access to the racecourse. Ask the driver to set you down at the nearest stop to the racecourse. Make your way across the
junction and into the racecourse grounds. Follow the signposted internal road to the Racecourse Station of the Gloucestershire and
Warwickshire Steam Railway.Your total walk from the bus stop to the station is less than 0.75 miles (about 1 km) and you have
about 35 minutes from the time the bus drops you till the train departs.Take the train to Winchcombe Station which is actually at
Greet. Note that on Special Event days there is an additional premium on all fares and single tickets are not available; contact
Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Heritage Railway on 01242 621405, or check their website www.gwsr.com for further details
From Winchcombe station walk up Station Approach to the main road.Turn left and walk a mile (1.5 km) to the junction with
North Street, by the police station.Turn left into North Street and walk the 300 metres to High Street.You are now on the trail.
Go right for Cleeve Hill.
Returning from Cleeve Hill to Cheltenham
The Cotswold Way takes you to the summit of Cleeve Hill where there is a trig. point and a topograph.The guidance for getting
back to the bus starts from here. Retrace your steps in the Chipping Campden direction, following the waymarkers down the hill
and turning right along the line of slope. In about 300 metres, you will be able to see (and probably hear) the road below to your left.
You should also be able to see a red telephone kiosk on the road and, to the right of it, a gate off the common. Make your way down
across the old quarried area to the gate and over the stile. From the summit to the stile will probably take you 10 to 15 minutes.

Cotswold Way
1 Mondays to Saturdays
From the stile, go left to the lay-by. Here, hail the 606 bus at 15:37, 16:55 or 17:47 to Cheltenham Royal Well.
2 Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays
From the stile, cross the road and go down Stockwell Lane.This drops 430 feet (130 metres) in its 1.25 miles (2 km) length. Allow
yourself 20 to 25 minutes for this walk in spite of it being downhill. At the bottom, turn right to the bus stop opposite
Woodmancote Post Office. From there, hail the D bus at 26 and 56 minutes past the hour every hour until 18:56.The bus will take
you to Pittville Street in the centre of Cheltenham and to Queen’s Road next to the railway station.
Taxi back-up:
The nearest are at Bishops Cleeve (2 miles away)
B.J Private Hire,Tel: 01242 674525 Churchfield Cars,Tel: 01242 676769
Cleeve Private Hire 01242 697133

DAY 5: CLEEVE HILL TO LECKHAMPTON (11.5 miles – 18.5 km)

*This walk can be shortened by finishing at Dowdeswell Reservoir (7 miles) or at Seven Springs (10 miles).
Getting to Cleeve Hill from Cheltenham
1 Mondays to Saturdays
From Royal Well Bus Station, catch the 606 bus at 8:25, 9:00 (Mondays to Fridays only) or 10:00 to Cleeve Hill. Ask to be set down
at Stockwell Lane.The journey takes about 15 minutes. From there, cross the road, go over the stile next to the gate and make your
way up across the common. For Winchcombe, you need to turn left but if you want to visit the topograph and trig. point at the
summit, they are up and slightly off to your right as you stand at the gate.
2 Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays
From Clarence Street at 8:59, 9:29 or 9:59, catch the D bus towards Bishops Cleeve. Ask to be set down opposite Woodmancote
Post Office, where you will arrive half an hour later. All buses call at Cheltenham Station forecourt 7 minutes before departing from
Clarence Street. From Woodmancote, stay on the same side of the road and walk forward to the road junction with the triangle of
green.Turn left into Stockwell Lane.This is 1.25 miles (2km) long and climbs 430 feet (130m), reaching a gradient of 1 in 4 (25%) at
one place. Where the lane divides after about a mile, take the left fork. At the top of Stockwell Lane and to your left is a viewpoint,
if you need to stop and catch your breath. Otherwise, cross the main road, go over the stile next to the gate and make your way up
across the common. For Winchcombe, you need to turn left but if you want to visit the topograph and trig. point at the summit,
they are up and slightly off to your right as you stand at the gate.
Returning from Leckhampton, Seven Springs and Dowdeswell Reservoir to Cheltenham
The climb down from the top of Leckhampton Hill by the direct route to catch service F is rather steep in places and the path is
inclined to be slippery when wet. We have, therefore, also given you two other routes back to the centre of Cheltenham.
1 All week
Starting from the topograph on Leckhampton Hill, head in the Bath direction for 100 to 200 metres.You will find a waymarker
which also has a finger pointing to Devil’s Chimney. Follow this path down, past Devil’s Chimney, cross the first road you come to
and continue going down. Go straight across the scrub land and at the far side you will find a stile onto an unmade residential street.
At the end of this (Pilford Road), you are on Old Bath Road.The bus stop is across the road, less than 60 metres to your
right.You should give yourself at least 20 minutes for a walk without stopping from the topograph to the bus stop. On weekdays, hail
the buses (service F) from this stop at 19 and 49 minutes past the hour until 15:49 then at 16:20, 16:55, 17:25 and 18:00.There
are later buses but the times and frequencies change. On Sundays, the buses are at 14:09, 16:09, 17:09 and 18:09.
2 Mondays to Saturdays
You finish the walk at Seven Springs where the Cotswold way crosses the A435, shortening the walk by 1.75 miles (2.8km) Cross
the road to the bus stop and layby. From here, hail the 51 bus back to Cheltenham at 21 minutes to each hour until 18:39.

Cotswold Way
3 Mondays to Saturday and Summer Sundays
You can also chose to finish the walk at Dowdeswell reservoir shortening the walk by 4.5 miles (7 km). As you pass below the
dam wall of the Dowdeswell Reservoir climb the signed path up to the main road (A40). Cross the road (be careful, it is a fast road.
There is not an official bus stop here but the operator has agreed that provided you stand in a place where the bus can safely stop
(the entrance to the pub car park is the best), the driver of the 801 will pick you up if you hail the bus.The buses are due at 16:20
and 17:35. Between 6th May and 30th September the 17:35 service runs on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
Taxi back-up: None in Leckhampton, Seven Springs or Dowdeswell, but many in Cheltenham – A 2 B Private Hire (Cheltenham)
Ltd Tel: 01242 580580, Andycars Tel: 01242 262611, Astra Cabs,Tel: 01242 252233, Bridges,Tel: 01242 706323, Central Taxis
Tel: 01242 228877, Prestbury Independent Taxi,Tel: 01242 231362, Spa CarsTel: 07968 273164, Starline Taxis,Tel: 01242 250250,
Tony's Taxi Service Tel: 01242 260260, 7-2-7 Car Co.LtdTel: 01242 523523 and at Charlton Kings (for Dowdeswell) – Connections
Travel,Tel: 01242 239939

DAY 6: LECKHAMPTON TO BIRDLIP (5.5 miles, 9 km)

* This walk can be extended by beginning the walk from Seven Springs (8 miles) or Dowdeswell Reservoir (10 miles)
Getting there from Cheltenham
The climb to the top of Leckhampton Hill from the bus stop on Old Bath Road is strenuous: there is a rise of about 600 feet
(180metres), the top 300 feet (90 metres) of which is at a gradient of 1 in 3.5 (29%). We have, therefore, also suggested two
otherpoints nearby at which you may wish to consider joining the Cotswold Way.
1 All week
From the town centre, catch bus F to Leckhampton. It leaves Clarence Street half-hourly at 10 and 40 minutes past the hour
throughout most of the day on Mondays to Saturdays, and hourly on Sundays and Bank Holidays from 11:00 (except 15:00) and
takes around 10 minutes to reach the stop you need. At the furthest point of its run, the bus makes a sharp left turn onto Old Bath
Road. Do not get off at the stop immediately round the corner but go on to the next one, about 200 metres further on. Cross the
road and walk back 60 metres or so to Pilford Road. Walk up Pilford Road, over the stile at the end and just keep going up for the
next 0.5 mile (1 km). Near the summit you will find waymarkers.Take the Bath direction.
2 Mondays to Saturdays
From the town centre, catch the 51 bus at 8:10, 9:10 or 10:10 for a 15-minute ride. Ask to be set down immediately before the
Seven Springs roundabouts.The bus stop is at the point where the Cotswold Way crosses the A435, at the traffic island. Cross
over via the traffic island, then turn sharp right to pass Windmill Farm.
3 Mondays to Saturdays
From the Royal Well Bus Station, catch the 801 (for Bourton-on-the-Water or Moreton-in-Marsh) at 9:00 or 10:30 or, on Saturdays
only, at 11:45. Ask to be set down at the Reservoir Inn at Dowdeswell reservoir. This is not an official stop but the operator has
agreed to stop to let walkers alight.The trip is less than 10 minutes. Cross the road (be careful!) and take the signed path next to
the entrance to the pub car park
Returning from Birdlip Mondays to Saturdays only.
Where the Cotswold Way crosses Birdlip hill road, turn uphill and walk about 450 metres up into the village, past the Royal George
Hotel and on to the village stores. From the bus stop outside the village stores, hail the 852 for Gloucester at 13:26 or 17:41.
The journey to Gloucester bus station takes less than half an hour. Walk the 350 metres to the railway station where you can catch
the train for the 15 minute ride to Cheltenham station.The departures are at 14:41 and 18:44. From Cheltenham station forecourt,
bus D will take you to the centre every 10 minutes until 18:00 and half-hourly thereafter.
Taxi back-up: The nearest are at Longlevens, Gloucester (over 6 miles away) -
A J’s Private Hire,Tel: 01452 532564 and at Charlton Kings (also over 6 miles away) -
Connections Travel,Tel: 01242 239939:

Cotswold Way
DAY 7: BIRDLIP TO PAINSWICK (7 miles – 11km)

Getting to Birdlip from Cheltenham Monday to Saturdays only

From Cheltenham Spa railway station, take the 11:02 departure for Gloucester on Mondays to Fridays, 11.00 on Saturdays.
At Gloucester, walk the 350 metres to the bus station, where you can catch the 11:30 852 bus for Cirencester. Alight in Birdlip
opposite the village stores. When you alight, walk back through the village, past the Royal George Hotel and straight down the hill.
Within 300 metres, you will find waymarkers where the Cotswold Way crosses Birdlip Hill.Turn left to go down the hill.
Returning from Painswick Monday to Saturday
The parish church in Painswick sits in its own grounds next to the main road, A46, through the town.The Cotswold Way runs along
the road at this point.The bus stop and shelter are outside the church (Mondays- Saturdays) Hail the 46 from opposite the bus
shelter for a direct half-hour run to Cheltenham Promenade.The times are 15:49 (SO), 15:56 (M-F), 16:49 and 17:49. On Sunday
the times are 15.19 and 16.19.
Taxi back-up:
Painswick J W Goddard 01452 812240

All images ©Countryside Agency/Nick Turner

Cotswold Way