Cotswold - Horsley & Kingscote

Binley Farm set in a typical Cotswold valley  

Directions

Walk towards the pub and turn left beside the former Post Office (letter box in wall) down a steep road called Priory Field. Almost immediately turn off the road, following the Bridle Path sign, onto a roughly metalled road, which soon downgrades to a stony track leading down into woodland. The track gradually curves right then left, past some garages, then some cottages and up to a wooden gate at Grid Ref 836977. The track continues through Horsley Wood - a beech wood.

Where the path forks, take the left hand route (close to some overhead power lines) and follow the route downhill. You are now walking parallel to Horsley Stream (down in the valley to your left) - but the stream may be dry in years of low rainfall. At the junction of paths at the foot of the hill continue ahead and slightly right, following the light blue arrows (Grid Ref 832972).

Continue along the flat for a while (this section is sometimes churned up and muddy). The stream crosses to the right of the path, which then climbs moderately (the stream may not have been noticeable before, but at this point it has cut a steep valley through the woodland to the right). You are now passing into Kingscote Wood (beech wood with bluebells and wild garlic). The path leads up to a metal gate crossing into a field (Grid Ref 821973).

Directions (continued)

Go through the gate, following the path uphill and slightly to the left, following the light blue arrow. Follow the well indented but grassy path past a single holly tree and up the slope till it joins a track, with clearly defined vehicle tracks.

Follow the track to a metal gate (white arrow) at grid Ref 818971. After the gate notice Binley Farm on the right. When you reach the gravelled farm track turn left and follow the track uphill, with your back to the farmhouse. The views from this hill remind you why people come from around the world to see the Cotswolds.

Pass through a gateway at Grid Ref 819969 and turn left onto a diversionary footpath. The path is waymarked with arrows of several colours, and goes through a gate then right along the edge of a field behind Hill Barns. Follow the field edge round back to the track, where you turn left and walk towards the village of Kingscote. Pass a cottage, following what has now become a metalled road, through a gateway and into Kingscote. At the junction (Grid Ref 819963) our route turns left (turn right if you want to see Kingscote village and church, then return to this spot).

The road from Kingscote towards Horsley is quiet, in fact you may see no traffic at all. Follow the road through wonderful Cotswold scenery, go past a large house called Lower Hazlecote then, as you walk up the next hill, you will see a metal gate ahead (at the junction with a small private road on the left). Cross a stile beside the gate at grid Ref 830963, then walk across a field parallel to the ridge aiming for a small round yellow marker on the opposite fence. Cross the stile beside the yellow disc and continue ahead following vehicle tracks. Go through a metal gate and immediately turn left and cross a stile against the fence. Follow the fence at the left side of the field and shortly notice a pond on the other side of the fence. Continue alongside the fence until you reach a stile leading left into woodland. Cross the stile (Grid Ref 834970) and follow the path down through the trees. The path heads down until it reaches a cross track at Grid Ref 833971, where you turn right, following the yellow arrow.

The path gradually drops down to the valley floor and comes to a wooden stile. Cross (following the yellow arrow). Walk across the bottom (left) of this steep field.

PUBLISHED MAPS

Where the field narrows, head roughly to the middle of this section and find a gap under the trees, leading to a stile. Cross the stile and follow the yellow arrow left onto a track leading alongside Masons Wood. Where the path comes to an open field veer left down following the well-marked path leading down into the valley and behind the gardens of some cottages.

Cross a stile opposite Hartley Bridge Cottage (Grid Ref 838977) to turn left onto the lane. Walk up the steep hill back into the centre of Horley. Opposite the pub turn right and walk back to the Car Park.