Gloucestershire & the Cotswolds

Ebworth Centre Cotswolds walk

Large wooden sculpture of man's head in woodland clearing — Wood carving, Ebworth Woods, Gloucestershire | © National Trust Images / David Noton

This circular walk through the countryside near Gloucester gives you the chance to explore all the features that make the Cotswolds so special – steep valleys, exhilarating views, beautiful limestone grassland, magnificent beech woodlands and two honey-coloured villages where time seems to stand still.

Near to

Crickley Hill

Start point

Cranham Common, grid ref: SO893125

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 4 (km: 6.4)

Duration2 hours to 3 hours

Dog friendly***

*Uneven paths with some steep gradients. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Uneven paths; several kissing gates along the route. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Dogs on leads welcome. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.

Bring sensible footwear

The ground in the woods can be very muddy, even in summer, so wellies or sturdy boots are advisable.

Address
Cranham Common, Cranham, Gloucestershire, GL4 8HS
Directions via Google Maps
On foot
Wide network of public footpaths in the area; the Cotswold Way and Wysis Way are both close by.
By bus
Buses from Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud stop at Cranham.
Please see Traveline for more information.
By road
From Gloucester, Cheltenham or Stroud take A46 (or B4070) and turn off for Cranham. Park to the east of the village on edge of Buckholt Wood, or on roadsides on the common. Postcode for the satnav is GL4 8HS.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Cranham Common, grid ref: SO893125
Stage 1
From Cranham School, take the path upwards to the left of the school, then bear right, following the stone track. Reaching a bend, follow the path straight on into a wooded area until you reach a cottage.
Grassland commons
St George's Field, Cranham and Sheepscombe Commons are all first class examples of unimproved limestone grassland, featuring an array of grasses and wild flowers, including pyramidal orchids and common rock-rose. They are teeming with wildlife in spring and summer and are an excellent place to spot butterflies. Cranham Common has recently been purchased by the Cranham Common Trust on behalf of the residents.
Stage 2
Turn right out of the gate, then take the path to the left into a woodland. Cross the brook at Gladys Leap, head diagonally to the right over a field to a kissing gate, then through one more field, straight across to another kissing gate.
Gladys Leap
Gladys Leap is the spot where former postwoman, Gladys Hillier, used to jump over the little brook in order to avoid a 2-mile (3.2km) detour on her post round. The place was officially named in her honour by Ordnance Survey in 1977, following a request from the villagers. The story also attracted attention after the folk band Fairport Convention named an album after the spot. A few years ago, the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens built a small footbridge to allow everyone to cross the brook dry-shod.
Stage 3
Go right and continue following the tarmac track. Take the path on the left, heading towards the woods. Once in the woods, turn right and follow the footpath signs along the edge of Saltridge Wood.
Stage 4
At the crossing, take the right fork then keep right, following the path and bearing right again at the next fork. Turn left at the third fork, go up a short slope and follow the bridleway to the right.
Stage 5
Enter Sheepscombe Common and continue on the bridleway. Ignoring the gate to the left, follow the track, then take a path on the left leading up into St. Georges Field. There, follow the direction of the footpath arrow straight over the field.
Stage 6
On entering the wood, follow the path for a good while. Eventually it veers uphill to the left and leads out of the woods. Head left to the National Trust Ebworth Centre.
Stage 7
Head straight on through the yard of the Ebworth Centre, and continue following the footpath up through two fields and a small patch of woodland. Go straight over the next field. There are two gates in the hedge here: take the one to the right. Go straight across the next field, through the gate then follow the waymarker posts for the bridleway. This takes you down through another field, then over a little brook to the right.
Stage 8
Turn left into the woods. You are now back on Cranham Common. Continue straight on, back to the school.
End point
Cranham Common, grid ref: SO893125
Trail map
Ebworth Centre Cotswolds walk, Gloucestershire | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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