Rodborough Common butterfly walk
Follow this trail through natural grassy tracks and hillsides to Swellshill for the opportunity to spot more than 30 species of butterfly. The steep grassland slopes of Rodborough Common create the perfect habitat for the Adonis blue and Duke of Burgundy butterflies, as well as many other species. Look out for rare wild flowers and enjoy far-reaching views over the Severn Estuary on the route.
Start point
National Trust car park, grid reference: SO850035Trail information
*Grassy tracks, hillsides and a quiet tarmac lane. For further details, please see Terrain section.
**Use alternative quiet lane between points 2 and 3 for pushchairs and wheelchairs. For further details, please see section marked Access.
***Grazing livestock so please keep your dog on a short lead and under close control. For further details, please see section marked Facilities.
Butterfly species
Rodborough Common is one of the best places in the UK to see the Duke of Burgundy butterfly. The Adonis blue butterfly has also returned after an absence of 40 years, and feeds on the great variety of wild flowers here. Other species to spot include the green hairstreak, dingy skipper, marbled white, small blue and chalkhill blue. There are more details on when to see the butterflies within each step.
Total stages: 7
Total stages: 7
Start point
National Trust car park, grid reference: SO850035
Stage 1
From the car park, head south-west on a path skirting round the houses on the summit of the plateau. Keep the houses on your left.
Stage 2
When you reach the grassy outcrop of Rodborough Manor Spur, turn right, away from the houses (before reaching the busy Bear Hill Lane). Head down the slope of the spur. Pasque flowers grow above the road here. Duke of Burgundy and small blue butterflies can also be found on the lower, steep combe slopes. Follow the cattle tracks north, traversing along the bottom of the slope towards Kingscourt and Little London.
Adonis blue male | © National Trust Images/Matthew Oates Stage 3
Continue along the track. North of Little London, between the houses and the larch grove there's a good colony of Duke of Burgundy butterflies (best seen in mid-May).
Stage 4
Continue north, still across the steep lower slopes of the common. Before you reach Rodborough Fort, head uphill, towards the plateau road (the far north end of the common is not great for butterflies).
Pasque flower (Pulsatilla vulgaris) | © National Trust Images/Stephen Robson Stage 5
Cross the road and explore the slopes of Butterrow Hill for all three blue butterflies before returning south to the car park. Then, turn right on leaving the car park, and either walk along the grassy verges or drive to point six. To do this, take the first left off the plateau road and head straight over a crossroads, till you reach Winstone's Ice Cream Parlour.
Stage 6
After an ice cream, continue along this lane, soon coming to more open common. Keep on this route (don't turn left downhill) and look out for a cattle trough on the left.
Stage 7
Park here (if in your car) and walk downhill to Swellshill Bank. This is the best place to see the rarer butterflies. If on foot return back to the National Trust car park at Step 1.
End point
National Trust car park, grid ref: SO850035
Trail map
Rodborough Common butterfly walk map, Gloucestershire | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
More near here
Rodborough woodlands walk
Discover some of Rodborough Common's hidden treasures on this walk exploring the woodlands on the lower slopes, visiting Cotswold villages along the way.
Rodborough Common views walk
If you're pushed for time, you can still enjoy some of the best views the Cotswolds has to offer on this short walk.
Rodborough Fort walk
An easy 1-mile walk around Rodborough Fort, taking in the unique flora and fauna of the limestone grassland.
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