Walking in the Cotswolds

The last sentence says to cross the A46 back to the start point. If traffic is very busy, follow a minor road under the A46 (GR 762 682) bearing left, then taking a track north for a very short distance, before picking up a bridle path and the original footpath back to the layby.

There have been reports of damage to the bridge and there's the possibility of wet feet.

Walk 21 Nailsworth and Avening

We have been informed that there is a slight discrepancy between the map and route description. The amended description is below.

From the car park, cross the A46 with care, go right and slightly further uphill, then left up Tetbury Lane. Continue uphill past an Unsuitable For Motors sign at 0.5 miles. After the gradient flattens out turn left at a junction and soon after go straight ahead to leave the tarmac and go over a stile and into a field straight ahead, ignoring options to right and left.

Stick to the right as you follow the edge of three fields, gradually bending right and descending. Look for a yellow waymarker to go through a gap in a wall and carry on round to the right following the wall as you descend between trees, ignoring a couple of stiles and taking the one that goes directly through a hedge and into woods, briefly, before emerging by a house and onto a lane. (If in doubt, simply follow the stream to the lane.)

Turn right and follow the lane as it bends left and goes downhill into Avening by The Bell. Turn left on the B4014, pass some houses and turn left up steep Woodstock Lane. Go right at the first fork, going uphill, and right again at the second fork. The lane flattens out and turns into a bridleway, then a grassy path, with lovely views to your right; of Gatcombe Wood, Princess Anne's Gatcombe House and Minchinhampton (Walk 20). It can be a riot of colour in autumn along here. And hilariously muddy in winter.

Pass through a couple of gates to the left of a farm and continue uphill. Go through a gate into woods and take the path on the right. Ignore forestry tracks and a kissing gate on the left. At a junction of paths turn left, slightly uphill, between a wall and fence. At a junction of several paths, turn right into a field by a bridleway sign, and downhill past an old stone barn.

Go through a metal gate and back into the woods. Emerge from the woods and follow a fairly obvious path down the field, with promising views of Nailsworth ahead. Towards the bottom of the field head for the bottom left corner to take a track through a gate and out onto the road.

Continue in the same direction, past tennis courts. Turn left at a busier road, into the centre of Nailsworth and go left and uphill to get back to the car park.

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New Inn in Dursley Opening hours are limited to Thur from 5pm and Fri-Sun 2.30pm until 11 pm and not to be confused with another pub named New Inn, which is off route.