Painswick Beacon Walk

This short walk following a section of the Cotswold Way, taking you from a small car park in the woods up to the Painswick Beacon. Breath-taking views of the Severn Vale, Forest of Dean and the Black Mountains at the top.

As the car park is quite far up the hill, it misses out a lot of the uphill trek, making it perfect for little legs.

NEED TO KNOW

2 k/ 1.2 miles

PARKING: Park in a small car park in the woods, Painswick Beacon Car Park GL6 6SU (Free). If you put that postcode in to Google maps you will be directed here.

FACILITIES: There are no public toilets near the beacon. The nearest can be found in Painswick Village, in the library opposite St Mary Church. GL6 6XH.

There are more public toilets at Stamaghes Lane Car Park in the Village, GL6 6UT.

EAT/ DRINK: We last visited on a Saturday in January and were disappointed to find most cafes and restaurants innthe village closed, although online advertised as open. Our advice would be to check before you leave if you want to eat or drink in Painswick.

However, one was open and served delicious coffee and this was the fabulous Meadows Cafe, GL6 6QG.

We did the last visit in January, I imagine lots more is open when it’s warmer.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? A breezy 20 minutes.

TYPE OF WALK: One way from the car park to the beacon, retrace your steps to return to the car. The path follows the edge of a popular golf course and is usually busy with runners and dog walkers as well. It has a moderate incline and stone step to the summit, which takes you along a wide ridge.

ACCESIBILITY: The trail follows a grassy path turning to gravel. About 2 dozen steps. No stiles or gates, however, can be quite rocky in places. Not suitable wheelchairs or pushchairs. Babies will need to be carried, although its not a long distance for adult to carry them up. Toddlers and pre schoolers should manage the short path with support from mum and dad. However, be mindful that it is steep as you approach the beacon.

STEP BY STEP:

Start in the car park. Follow the signposts marked the Cotswold Way uphill to Painswick Beacon. The main path heads towards Pope Woods. However take the grassy path to the left, which starts at a tree with a map stone underneath it.

Keep following the path and you will begin to head up some steps towards the beacon, where you will be met with panoramic views of the Cotswolds countryside and beyond all the way to Wales on a clear day.

VARIATIONS:

We found this walk rather short so, to make this walk longer next time we will park in the village at the Stamaghes Lane Car Park in the Village, GL6 6UT.

From the car park, make your way to St Mary’s Church in the village centre. From here you can follow the Cotswold Way Markers which lead you through the village to a small woodland, past a quarry then up to the golf course where you can pick up the trail from Step 1 above.

Another add-on to this walk would be to follow the path beyond the beacon until you reach Pope’s Wood and explore the circular path through the trees. Then retrace your steps back past the beacon and back to the car.

Whats nearby?

The historic St Mary’s Church in the village with its legendary 99 yew trees carved into sculptures, archways, and tunnels in the churchyard. It is well worth a walk around, it is very unique, and the information board on the myth of the 99 yews is fascinating!

The beautiful Painswick Rococo Gardens is a stonesthrow away and has a maze, and adventure playground and a cafe as well as beautifully landscaped gardens with carpets of snowdrops, feilds of daffodils and other flowers depending on which month you visit.