20 mile walk starting from Middleyard following the Cotsway Way to Hawkesbury.
The stretch of the Cotswold Way between Middleyard and Hawkesbury Upton is a beautiful and varied section that takes hikers through rolling hills, pretty villages, and historic landmarks. Here’s a brief description of what you can expect on this section of the trail:
Starting in Middleyard, the trail leads you through pretty farmland and pastures, with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. As you follow the Cotswold Way signs, you’ll pass through the charming village of Tormarton, with its historic church and pretty cottages.
From here, the trail takes you up onto the Cotswold escarpment, where you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the Severn Valley and the Welsh Mountains in the distance. The climb up to Dyrham Park is challenging, but the views from the top are well worth the effort.
As you continue along the trail, you’ll pass through beautiful woodland and pastures, with the occasional steep climb and descent to keep things interesting. Along the way, you’ll encounter historic landmarks like the Iron Age hill fort at Little Sodbury and the medieval castle ruins at Oldbury Court.
The final stretch of this section takes you through the charming village of Horton, with its pretty cottages and historic church, before arriving in Hawkesbury Upton. Here, you can explore the village’s rich history and culture, including the beautiful St. Mary’s Church and the historic Fox Inn.
Distance: 20 miles
Time: 7 hours
Elevation: 2716 foot
Terrain: footpaths and tracks.
OS Map: OS Explore OL45 – The Cotswolds
Start Point: Middleyard
End Point: Hawkesbury
Route map for Middleyard To Hawkesbury by Walking Rambler on plotaroute.com