Leckhampton Hill and Cobberley

Cobberley

Directions

From the Car Park at Crickley Hill go past Visitor Centre and toilets, up steps, following red arrows.

Route turns left then right into woodland. Turn right where another trail crosses and go down hill through woods. Follow arrows with Red BACKGROUND from here on. At the edge of the wood continue straight ahead through gate and across a field through another gate to the road. Cross beside roundabout and follow metalled path beside the Air Balloon public house.

Cross road after the pub and pick up Gloucestershire Way footpath via a kissing-gate at the top of the bank. Go up through woods to a field and up to a stile (notice Birdlip radio mast on right).

Cross another path and through middle of field then go through gap into corner of another field. Follow hedge on your right, up to a road. Turn left and follow road down towards trees (avoid the right fork). Road runs out in a field next to a mobile phone mast.

Turn right past Barber Wood towards Cuckoopen Barn following a well laid track (notice on gate celebrates the world's biggest straw rick!)

Continue at Top of next column

Continue straight down grassy lane along ridge. Go through gate (Woodland Trust) and past seat at viewpoint. Path continues down past Long Barrow (on left) to a gate leading to a road.

Turn right along road, which soon bears right. Our path goes straight ahead along a track marked Public Footpath. 80 metres down path take left fork. Coberley church is visible through trees. Go through gate along narrow path beside Close Farm and down into village. Just after farm buildings go over a stile along field edge, through kissing gate, down a shallow valley and across a tiny stream on a bridge consisting of a single stone slab. Go up into the village through a wooden kissing gate, across road, up a metalled path beside Rose Bank Cottage to Cobberley village green.

Follow road slightly left past village green and half-right at the corner. In a short way take the bridle way signposted Seven Springs and Leckhampton Hill. Track runs in a hollow then comes out to a field where you turn left and walk along the hedgerow towards the ridge (Long Barrow and Birdlip radio mast come into view on left). Turn right towards road then turn left and cross to a footpath beside a golf course (the steepest part of this walk). Go alongside Hartley Wood and follow path left (overlooking Hartley Bottom) to walk round 3 sides of a large field then left to pass Hartley Farm and come out to a small road at Hartley Hill.

Turn right and follow road between farm buildings, then left across farmyard following sign to Leckhampton Hill. Cross stile, pass ruined cottage then cross another stile to walk along field edge, through a gate and down a slope to come out at Charlton Kings Common, a commanding height overlooking Cheltenham. Follow path left along the top of the hill.

PUBLISHED MAPS

Path runs slightly back from the edge behind trees and gorse. Ignore alternative path to left but continue straight ahead. At next fork go right, down through trees. There are a lot of criss-crossing paths here, with some running between the mounds and grass ramparts of an iron age hill fort. Follow the most prominent path right to the top of Leckhampton Hill, a sharp bluff facing the Severn valley.