Our favourite walks in Gloucestershire
1. Castle Combe and Nettleton Mill walk
Distance 9.5km
Allow 2hrs
Easy to moderate terrain
Good for dog walks
Tucked away in the sleepy Cotswold valley, Castle Coombe is often referred to as the ‘prettiest village in England’. Where crooked chocolate box cottages in classic Cotswold stone lead you into the heart of the village to the Bybrook river babbling through its centre. This is one of the most charming circular walks in Gloucestershire.
You’ll set off from the free car park on Dunns Lane just outside the village. As you make your way down the hill, take note The White Hart pub to your left and The Castle Inn just around the corner on West Street. This route could easily be classed as a Gloucestershire pub walk if you choose to stop off on the way home for a well-earned drink by a crackling log fire, or even stay on to sample their delicious menus.
Continuing down The Street, the Instagrammers among us may recognise the famous bridge that offers an idyllic view of the village. After a little time walking along quiet country roads, the route will veer off on to a short section of immaculate parkland golf course. If you’re planning to make this a dog walk, this is the only section where it’s advised to keep them on a lead.
The next part of the route holds a relaxing riverside walk and surrounds you with the peace of the English countryside. In the height of summer, the narrow path is full of wildflowers and nettles so take care to wear suitable trousers. The tree-shaded path will then lead you past the 18th century buildings of Nettleton Mill.
Throughout this picturesque trail there are steady climbs and descents with the occasion steep section that can be a little slippery in wet weather. The route is peppered with kissing gates, foot bridges, the occasional stile and a short set of steps that add to the all-round joyfulness of this quintessential Gloucestershire countryside walk.
You can find a helpful and easy-to-follow guide to this walk, on the AllTrails App. From step-by-step waypoints and pictures of best views along the route, this app has everything you need. Best of all, it’s free to download and available for iPhone and Android.
FAQS
Where are the nearest toilets to Castle Coombe?
There are public toilets in the village centre.
What time of year is best for this walk?
Walks in South Gloucestershire are stunning all year round, but this route is particularly beautiful between April and October.
Most suitable footwear?
In general, for hiking in Gloucestershire a pair of sturdy trainers will be fine. But if you have them, trail shoes or hiking boots would be best for the terrain on this walk.
2. The Old Couthouse and Regency and Cheltenham Walk
Distance 4.5km
Allow 1.5hrs (not including pub time)
Easy terrain
Options available to extend the walk
If you’re searching for a pub walk in Gloucestershire where your step count will match the number of historical facts you will learn along the way, look no further. Cheltenham sits on the edge of the Cotswolds and is steeped in stories. This walk will take you back in time to Cheltenham’s hay-day as one of 19th century Britain’s most celebrated spa towns. Visited by King George III, Queen Victoria and literary royalty, Jane Austen, Samuel Johnson and Lord Byron who would come to ‘take the waters’ to cure their ills. Or so they believed.
This easy-going circular walk will take you on a tour of this regency town beginning and ending at The Old Courthouse pub. Why not whet your whistle before you set off with one of their elixir-like local ales, carefully selected wines or perhaps a local gin? With high vaulted ceilings and marble pillars this grand old building certainly sets the scene for the walk that lies ahead.
As you step out of the The Old Courthouse you’ll turn left and make your way to Trinity Church. This Anglo-Saxon style church was built in 1817 with beautiful floral stained-glass windows that are well-worth popping in for a peak.
For classical music lovers, the birthplace of world-famous Gustav Holst, composer of The Planets is next on the hit list. The walk will lead you on to the lush rolling greens of Pitville Park with its many lakes and ornamental features that offer plenty of opportunities to extend the walk if you want to really work up an appetite. The Park is also home to the magnificent Pump Room, the original source of the spa waters. If you’re feeling brave, wander inside to see the original interiors and ‘take the water’ as they did over 200 years ago, for free.
The route winds on to reveal more examples of fine regency architecture including Clarence Square where rows of pristine white Georgian terraces frame a shared square garden at its centre. After passing the medieval St Mary’s Minster and Neptune’s fountain, you’ll arrive back at the Old Courthouse full of facts, but hungry for something delicious. And you won’t be disappointed.
Each waypoint of the walk is on the AllTrails app where you can also find all the information and stories of the sites along the route. Download it for free and leave your muddy boots at home.
FAQS
Where is the nearest car park to The Old Courthouse?
The NCP Car Park on Portland Street is an 8minute walk from The Old Courthouse pub opposite Trinity Church which is on route. As a Gloucestershire circular walk you’ll simply retrace your steps back to the car park.
Is The Old Courthouse pub dog-friendly?
Well behaved dogs are welcome.
Are there any public toilets in Cheltenham?
You will pass some public toilets on the route on Waypoint 4 after Pitville Park. As a fine Gloucestershire pub walk, you can always pop in at The Old Courthouse, too.
3. Kennet & Avon Canal to Bath Skyline Circular
- Distance 12.3km
- Allow 4hrs
- Easy terrain
- Great for dog walks
This winding route is beautifully gentle, yet the distance offers more of a challenge. This really is the crème de la crème of circular canal walks in South Gloucestershire. You’ll be guided along the Avon Canal where hand painted long boats pop with colour against the cool green waters. Stone bridges, swing bridges, railways and old pumping stations offer picturesque distractions. Spot castle-like houses nestled in the hills that surround the higher sections of the canal and the occasional rush of gushing weirs break the otherwise sleepy calm of the route.
Your journey begins at the ivy-wrapped, grade II listed pub, The George. From the car park, you’ll climb a handful of steps and drop straight down on to the tow path and turn left. Unlike many canal walks in Gloucestershire, this route has so much variety. After a stunning stretch of tow path, the route turns away from the canal, taking you through fields and kissing gates, crossing railway tracks towards the sublime feat of Georgian engineering, the Claverton Pumping station. This rather charming building is a living museum where £10 will get you a 90 minute tour. You’ll see first-hand how the giant water wheels pump water 48ft up from the Avon river and into the canal above.
More canal-side walking awaits with more bridges to cross and wildflowers to admire along the way. You’ll pass the lock-keeper’s cottage to reach the Dundas Aqueduct which has incredible views from the top. Some quiet country roads, woodlands and open fields lead you on to join the popular National Trust Bath Skyline route before winding back on to the canal path towards The George for a well-earned libation.
Step-by-step route guidance for this gem of a walk in South Gloucestershire is available on the easy-to-use GoJauntly app. Just enter the title of this walk in the search bar for easy-to-follow directions as well as pictures of each step so you always know you’re in the right place. The app is even has audio sound bites to tell you more about all the interesting things you’ll see along the way. And best of all, it’s completely free to download.
FAQS
Are canal walks in Gloucestershire dog friendly?
It’s best if your dog is a strong swimmer should the worst happen but there is no livestock on this route and your dog is free to wander along with you.
Is The George pub in Bathampton dog-friendly?
Well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Where can I get refreshments on this walk?
This hike in South Gloucestershire isn’t for the faint-hearted, so make sure you buy some snacks for the journey. Along the canal, there is The Café on the Barge selling cakes and sandwiches, fizzy drinks, teas and coffees. Or of course, The George pub has a great selection of pub classics and seasonal dishes as well as all the usual drinks you’d expect from an old English pub.
Our favourite walks are close to two of our most distinguished hotels. The 17th century mansion house, De Vere Tortworth Court and De Vere Cotswold Water Park with it calming lakeside views. Both are an ideal base for walks in Gloucestershire, each with their own luxury comforts, charms and treats to offer the weariest of walkers. Book your stay today and dust off your hiking boots.
A quickfire guide to walking in Gloucestershire
Are there any circular walks in Gloucestershire?
There are lots of beautiful circular walks in Gloucestershire to choose from. Some in the countryside where you’ll see everything from windswept hills and sparkling streams to those in towns where you can learn all about the history of the place as you go. Find a fantastic selection on the free AllTrails App today.
Is it good for dog walks in Gloucestershire?
Most walks in Gloucestershire are fit for our four-legged friends to happily trot alongside us. On route, you’ll see helpful signs on gate posts and fences that tell you when your dog needs to be on a lead. These are usually only for short sections of the walk. The county’s gentle landscape means most walks are great for dogs of all shapes and sizes, just be sure to choose a distance that best suits your dog.
Are there any longer walks in south Gloucestershire?
You can find a huge selection of guided walks with a range of distances on many walking apps. AllTrails and GoJanutly are free to download and are super easy to use, even offline. One of our favourite walks in South Gloucestershire is a touch over 12km and will take you around 4hrs. It will take you in a circular route in and around Bathampton, starting at the majestic pub, The George.
Where can I find river walks Gloucestershire?
Perhaps the two most famous rivers in Gloucestershire are the mighty River Severn and its left-bank tributary sister, The Avon. You can wind along with these rivers, as well many delightful streamside paths by following beautiful routes on the free and easy-to-use AllTrails App.
What are the best pub walks in Gloucestershire?
Most of our favourite walks start and end with a pub. And thankfully, most routes mapped you can find on the AllTrails and GoJanutly apps do just that. They usually offer free parking, too, which means more money for a bag of crisps to go with that well-earned pint.
Where can I find canal walks Gloucestershire?
Thanks to the days of industry and the wealth of rivers in Gloucestershire, the county is also rich with canal walks. Just enter the name of the canal nearest to you in the AllTrails and GoJanutly apps and a selection of walks of varying distances will pop up for you to choose from.
Where’s good to go hiking in Gloucestershire?
If you want to get the real hiking experience, you’ll need a good pair of hiking boots and a challenging route that shows you some of the county’s best kept countryside secrets. The AllTrails App rates the routes with an ‘easy’, ‘moderate’ and ‘hard’ ranking so you can pick the route that suits your hiking ambition.
