Queen of the Cotswolds
16 people attending
4 places left
We'll meet in Painswick (known as Queen of the Cotswolds) at 9:45 and set out at 10am, heading west along the Cotswold Way trail. Shortly into the walk, we embark on a steady climb, up to the high woods that lead us all the way to Haresfield Beacon. From here, we'll get a wonderful view of Gloucestershire and the Severn River, with views of the Severn Bridge and Wales on a clear day. It'll be a perfect lunch stop if the weather's ok. We leave the Cotswold way just after our halfway point, cut just north of Whiteshill, then loop back up to Painswick. Once we're back, there'll be a choice of pubs, and a chance to explore the 99 yew trees of the beautiful local churchyard.
You'll often find cows and bulls on the trail, so this one won't be ideal for dog walking.
What to bring
Water: bring at least two litres
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Day rucksack: typically 20-30 litres, they are comfortable to wear and allow you to use your arms freely
Boots: waterproof and breathable and designed for hiking, trainers are OK if the ground is dry and there’s little chance of rain
Socks: proper walking socks will keep your feet dry and help prevent blisters
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally no jeans as they become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: essential when hiking in all but the calmest of weather, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Gloves: Windproof, or better still, waterproof gloves are the best choice, bring a spare pair if expecting rain
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch!
Food & drink
We'll eat lunch at Haresfield Beacon, so bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink. There's not a shop in the vicinity of the meeting spot, but there's a nearby pub to celebrate the end of the walk with a local ale!