Jewel of the Cotswolds - a walk around Blockley

Jewel of the Cotswolds a walk around Blockley

This is fantastic circular walk provides wonderful views of Blockley and the area of outstanding natural beauty which surrounds it. The walk can take 2-3 hours for moderately fit walkers but there are several short cuts back to the village which mean you can trim it according to the time that you have available. Much of the walk is pretty steady going, but there are one or two uphill sections which are rewarded with panoramic views of the village. Taking the walk in the early morning provides exceptional views of the honey-coloured church and village, whilst an evening saunter offers delightful photographic vantage points to admire the local area. There are some lovely shady sections to provide shelter, as well as opportunities for observing the local wild and birdlife. As always I would recommend walking boots and being prepared for muddy sections particularly after a heavy downpour.

Start the walk by turning right out of the cottage away from the village. Turn right into the field just after the row of cottages and follow the footpath across the field and again turn right following the edge of the field with the fence to your left. There are often livestock kept in this field so be careful to keep dogs on the lead. At present there is a beautiful herd of deer which are also visible from the back of the cottage. If you look back up the hill you will see the cottage above the tree line. The deer can be quite inquisitive but if you turn and face them they are less brave. They respond well to gently being asked to stay back!

At the far corner of the field there is a stile leading into a shaded copse. Keep on the footpath and at the end take the right hand fork diagonally across the field (currently planted with potatoes). Climb over the stile and turn right onto station Road heading back towards the village.

Short cut: (If you do continue to the village you will be back by the church within less than 10 minutes).

Turn left when you see the sign for Snugborough Mill (about 100 yards or so after the cemetery gates, given to the village by Captain Churchill in honour of some local men who lost the lives in the war). Follow the footpath to the left of the mill and continue until you reach a small bridge. Turn right here keeping the brook to your left and a fence to your right. A pair of pheasants seem to live most of the year here alongside the sheep.

At the end of the footpath turn left onto a track taking you up the hill.

Short cut: (If you turn right on the track you will be back by the church in less than 10 minutes).

The track is called Pasture Lane and becomes a steep bridleway leading up to the ridge above Blockley. A short way up , leave the track to pass behind the barn, keeping it to your left; be sure to glance over your shoulder from time to time to take in the excellent views of Blockley. At the top of the hill, by a fallen tree you will see a parallel path to your right but you will have to turn left and circle back to join it.

Keep a sharp look out for a gate hidden amongst the trees to your right as you can’t see the entrance to the footpath until it is behind you! You will then find yourself doubling back along a parallel footpath (known locally as Holly Drive) leading into narrow avenue of elegant chestnut and beech trees. Walking west along this elevated ridge is a wonderful experience, and one which bears repeating as often as possible to see the sublime effects of the seasonal changes on the Cotswold landscape. Blockley can be seen in all its honey-coloured glory to your right and the fields leading the Batsford Arboretum to your left.

The Jewel of the Cotswold bench offers a lovely place to sit and contemplate the scenery. Continue along the path until you see a Heart of England way marker to your right. Climb over the stile and take care with the local livestock. Again gentle persuasion seems to work well whether the local inhabitants are either cows or sheep. This field can be exceptionally muddy in wet weather!

Follow the waymarkers down towards the village, crossing another stile into a field with a large pond to your left. Continue over the stile at the bottom and follow the track down towards the village.

Short cut: (At the end of the track you can turn right into the road and be back at the church within 10 minutes).

At the end of the track follow the sign marked Quiet Lanes to your left. This runs parallel to the road and brings you out at junction at the top with Mill Lane in front of you. Cross the road and taking care locate the footpath just beyond the junction, on the right. It can be a bit difficult to find if the hedgerow is overgrown.

Follow the footpath along the side of an arable field up to a stile at the top of the field. You find yourself following a track (Brook Lane) down into the village.

Short cut: At the bottom of the hill you can turn right and walk past a mill run and will be back at the church in 5 minutes.

Walking straight ahead you will find yourself in the High Street. Turn right and continue for about 100 metres and then turn left into Day’s Lane. Continue up the hill to the end of the lane and cross the stile into a field, keeping to right and following the footpath back to Chapel Lane. Turn left and continue down the road, crossing Greenway Road. Keep the doctor’s surgery to your left, follow the footpath across the fields parallel to Park Road.

At the end of the footpath, turn right keeping the Northwick Park fence to your left until you find yourself back in Park Road itself, opposite the footpath that you took at the beginning of the walk. Honeysuckle Cottage is a couple of cottages down to your left.

Blockley - the Jewel of the Cotswolds