ark in the long stay car park off Gloucester Street, behind the Civic Centre. (Map ref 756934, maps: Pathfinder 1132, Landranger 162). See note at end.

Out of car entrance, turn left uphill. Pass the petrol station, cross Bradley Street, keeping on. Stay on left hand side, take care when the pavement disappears. 50m, pass Old London Road on right.

30m, cross to footpath with railing (the 'nipnap'), climbing diagonally up past sign to Wotton Hill and Cotswold Way. Steep for 30m, then turns back, through gate and easier.

Past seat to tarmac drive. Cross to steps up to kissing gate (enjoy!). Through, and left to post with waymark.

Right, up through bushes, then bear right along bottom of steep (not up yet unless very energetic) to another post and waymark. Now left and up to trees with wall round. Wotton Hill. Read plaque on gate!

	The plaque on the gate to the enclosure of trees on Wotton Hill reads:
	Trees were planted here in 1815 to commemorate the victory at Waterloo. They had become thin by the end of the Crimean War and were felled for a bonfire. This walled enclosure was erected and the site replanted with trees to commemorate the Jubilee of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria (1887), following the burning on this spot of one of a chain of celebration beacons which then spanned the country. Interplanted with new trees in 1952 by subscription of :- The family of the late Rev James Hardyman, the family of the late W J Williams Esq., Mrs A G Bury, Brig & Mrs Alan Durrant, A H Jotcham, Esq., Wotton-under-Edge Traders Association, Wotton-under-Edge Town Trustees.

View from second bench - Wotton below, with nearest village (south) Kingswood, just beyond Katherine Lady Berkeley's school and playing fields, and site of new sports complex. The Cotswold edge along left horizon runs down to Bath; the monument is at Hawkesbury Upton. Half right, half a mile away, is a prominent old mill, now Renishaws, Wotton's multimillion success story.

Further right is the Severn, with the bridge, elecricity pylons and second Severn crossing just visible. Now move to fourth bench! On Severn, seen over close oak tree is Oldbury Nuclear Power Station (NPS), and further right just before trees, Berkeley NPS, now decommissioned. When recovered from climb...

Keep on clockwise round trees to fifth bench. With back to Wotton, take path up to kissing gate. Once away from trees, wind will reduce!

300m end of field, right between hedges (not into NT land, Westridge Wood) 50m to road.

Left, 30m, before end of layby, cross to footpath sign, right into wood over stile. Down 5m and left along path.

Keep level, with fence on left hand side. About 400m, passing scout buildings and field on left, kissing gate into lane.

Left, up road 40m to grass triangle. Follow right, then immediately right over stile, sign to Coombe Hill.

100m, right at path T-junction. Keep straight on where a path drops away right.

100m to reservoir (grass covered) and metal stile. (Part of the next section is a permissive path, courtesy of Mr D Newman, the landowner)

Take faint path to right about 100m for view - don't go down steeply. This is Coombe Hill. To right is Wotton Hill and woods you have just come through; Wotton below, and to left is Tyley Bottom (valley!). On left three big copper beeches, and just to right of them, Coombe hamlet. You'll soon be there.

Go back towards metal stile, but go down to electricity pole. Take obvious path with hedge/fence on left. After 20m look down right to strip lynchets in field above road (remains of strip farming days).

Wotton Hill.   Photo: Andrew Cope

250m over wobbly stile, right and down 'Sheep Track' 150m to road.

Straight across into lane (or rest on bench!). 150m keep straight, and past stone wall on left.

200m, fork right down on tarmac, 30m and sharp right and down. 100m to Patchy Cottage opposite. Left and down. This is Coombe.

150m, left, but keep blue painted pumping station on your left. 10m, Cotswold Way sign to right. Squeeze stile and down to stream. Follow stream 150m to stile, and on again 150m to road.

Right and 10m left on to path (hidden Cotswold Way sign). Stream now on right but soon over bridge and on left. 200m over bridge by buildings, and on to road.

30m at junctions, footpath sign to left under chestnut tree and over stream. Marchesi Walk. Follow stream on right. 200m take footbridge over stream on right, past yellow warning sign, through Berkshire Gravure yard and up.

Left at path T-junction, follow up to main road by church at 'Bearpackers Almshouses' notice.

Left on narrow pavement past (or into) church to war memorial.

The Falcon Inn.   Photo: George Way

Keep straight ahead on level into Church Street. Perry Dawes alms houses on left, have a look inside the courtyard. The Falcon, next door, offers coffee, tea, food and real ales if you are in need of refreshments.

Return to war memorial, left up Old Town, Cross bear Street, and left into car park.

Alternatively, continue on in Church Street then follow right into Long Street and shops. 300m, crossroads with Bear Street, Civic Centre facing half right. Cross road, up Bradley Street 20m, right behind Civic Centre into car park.

Note - On a warm day, it would be a good idea to take a drink along. In Winter some of the walk can be quite muddy - stout shoes or boots with grippy soles recommended. It can be an overcoat colder on the top than in the town!

Enjoy!

Walks Around Wotton

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