Cotswold Little Explorers

5 k / 3.1 miles

HIGHLIGHTS: See Chipping Camden Town, views from Dover’s Hill of the Vale of Evesham and beyond, walk through the lovely woodland of Lynches Wood. In spring, the wood is carpeted in bluebells.

NEED TO KNOW

PARKING: Park your car in Chipping Camden, parking is free on the street although spaces are limited. You can use the Chipping Camden School Car Park, GL55 6HT during weekends and school holidays (chargeable) or Market Hall Car Park, GL55 6AW (chargeable).

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? 2 hours 50 minutes with the kids taking their sweet time! I estimate would take an adult without the stops for play, etc, about 1.5 hours.

FACILIITIES: Public toilets just off the high Street in Chipping Camden.

EAT/ DRINK: Loads of options in Chipping Camden. Great Pubs, restaurants, and cafes to choose from. On a Sunday morning, we had a delicious pastry and coffee to go from the Bantam Tearooms.

TYPE OF WALK: Circular through the village up onto the hill, through pastures and woodland.

DOGS: Yes

ACESSIBILITY: Moderate inclines and declines, wide grassy tracks on the hill and muddy paths through the woods. Some steep steps in sections. Kissing gates, no stiles.

STEP BY STEP:

Start in Chipping Camden Town Centre and see the old market hall, complete with the marker as the official start of the Cotswold Way.

Walk straight down the high street, turning right at the St Mary’s Church and continue down the lane, past some lovely cottages. At the junction continue straight (Hoo Lane). This is waymarked as Cotswold Way.

At the end of the road, continue forwards up the track past the farm buildings, upwards along the path. You will soon reach the road. Cross the road. Great views of the village from here! Going left, walk a little way along the road. Pick up the trail marked the Cotswold Way on the the other side.

Follow the path up. Then through the gate and on to Dover’s Hill. Follow the grassy track straight ahead ( ignoring the other tracks in different directions). There is a line of trees and a stone wall to your right.

At the end of the field, ignore the gate at the end of the stone wall. Instead, take the path just ahead a little bit. Walk down some steps.

Turn left before the next gate, following the path down the hill. Keep the fence to your right.

Approaching Lyches Wood, go through the gate in front of you, keeping close to the fence still ignoring other pathways.

Keep following the path straight on marked National Trust/ Cotswold Way Circular.

Follow the clearly defined path through the woods.

Towards the end of the woods, you will see some steps. This is quite a steep section.

At the top, you will turn right and head towards the edge of the wood, go through the gate to re-enter the pasture.

Walk straight ahead across the field, along the main grassy track.

Keep on ignoring all paths branching off, and follow the way markers through the pasture (there are two) until you reach the top of Dover’s Hill, marked with a National Trust trig point stone. Walk left along the top of the hill, admiring the magnificent views.

Keep walking, and you will see the first gate you passed through to enter Dover’s Hill. Go through the gate and retrace your steps back to Chipping Camden.

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