Winchcombe Walking and Cycling Guide
The walking capital of the Cotswolds
In the Northern Cotswolds, Winchcombe is a walkers’ paradise. Hosting an annual award-winning walking festival and proudly a ‘walkers are welcome’ town, Winchcombe not only offers access to the best-known trails in the area, it is also home to Sudeley Castle and wonderful country pubs. A lot of the walks pass local historic sites of interest from the remains of a long barrow to a 13th century abbey. Head up to the top of Cleeve Hill, the highest point in the Cotswolds or stay local and discover the flora and fauna on your doorstep. A stay in Winchcombe won’t disappoint. Why not book a Sudeley Castle property with us which also provides free access to the castle and gardens during the open season?
Suggested Winchcombe Walks
Choosing which walk to follow first is the challenge in Winchcombe. No matter your abilities you will find something to suit and you can always take advantage of local public transport to get you home again!
You can’t stay in Winchcombe and not visit Sudeley Castle. A short walk from the village centre along Vineyard Street takes you past the Castle Gatehouse along a tree-lined avenue where you will reach the castle ticket office and entrance. After exploring the history of the castle and beautiful gardens, head back into the village along Rushley Lane before stopping off at The Lion Inn for a drink.
Take a day to head further afield to Stanton for a five-hour circular walk where you can include a pub lunch on the way. When you reach the small village after walking along the Cotswold Way and passing woodlands, take time to explore this hidden beauty spot and stop off at The Mount Inn to catch your breath.
The climb up to the summit of Cleeve Hill is worth it for the view out across to Cheltenham and the Malvern Hills in the distance. You can also follow the famous Cotswold Way from Winchcombe right to the top. Leaving Winchcombe along the marked trail from Vineyard Street. Keeping an eye out for the signs, you will pass Belas Knap long barrow, walk through Breakheart Plantation and reach Postlip Hall (why not stay at Paddock Cottage in the grounds of the hall? Skirting the side of Cleeve Hill, the Cotswold Way takes you right around to the far end of Cleeve Common before heading past Cheltenham. Once you have reached the summit, you can always turn back and catch a bus on the B4632 to head back to Winchcombe and save your legs for another day.
Take advantage of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway which passes through villages from Broadway to Cheltenham Racecourse. Hop on at Winchcombe station (check the timetable before you head off) and enjoy the leasurely journey down to the next station at Gotherington. From here you can walk back to Winchcombe through the fields, maybe spotting alpacas along the way. This walk will take up to three hours, but you could get the steam train down to the Cheltenham Racecourse station before returning to Gotherington and beginning your walk.
Winchcombe Cycling Routes
Home to ‘Hell of the North Cotswolds’, an endurance cycling event which isn’t for the faint of heart, Winchcombe also has some easier to manage routes, though you will face some hills!
Leaving Winchcombe, you can follow a moderately hilly route to Beckford and Dumbleton, two Cotswold villages which are well worth passing through. At Beckford pop into the café at The Old Post Office to refuel for the next stretch of your journey. When you cycle through Dumbleton make sure to keep an eye out for Dumbleton Hall, an impressive 19th century manor house which is now a hotel.
If you’re comfortable riding on the road, there are a number of villages which you can cycle to, including Bishop’s Cleeve, Gotherington or up to Hailes and its abbey. Get away from it all and book Outbak Shepherds Hut for a quiet break right by Hailes Abbey and the steam train station. There is lovely countryside in this area of the Cotswolds and with your map at your side you will enjoy heading out and forging your own route. Just be aware, whichever way you go you are likely to meet some hills.
Winchcombe Cycle Hire
If you want to travel a bit further than you can on foot, leave the car behind and hire a bike so you can stay up close to nature and still have time to take in the sights as you sail by. Cheltenham Bike Hire offers a range of electric, hybrid and children’s bikes, or even a tandem if you’re feeling brave! Based in Cheltenham, delivery and collection to Winchcombe is available for an additional charge.
