THE FRIENDS OF CHURCHDOWN HILL introduce two interesting, waymarked circular walks round CHURCHDOWN HILL (also known as CHOSEN
HILL).
to the right of an iron gate. Negotiate the stile and walk up the wide pathway
through the wood, following the fence, crossing the stream from MUSSEL WELL to
the stile on your left, at the large oak tree.
Turn right and walk up the road, noting the wide views over the countryside to the
north and east. Just past the STABLES, bear right at the bridleway signpost up to
the CAR PARK and the end of the walk.
Please note, this map and accompanying notes are in the process of revision. Some
waymarkings are no longer visible; hopefully they will be replaced shortly. We apologise for any confusion caused!
For panoramic views over GLOUCESTER, CHURCHDOWN and STAVERTON
AIRPORT, cross this stile and walk up the slope to the waymark post on the brow
of TINKER'S (formerly RABBITS') HILL. Retrace the path to the oak tree and
cross back into the woodland.
To avoid the steep climb up the bridleway, omit JUBILEE WALK, returning to the
CARPARK via the CHURCHYARD at its north gate.
The lower walk of about three miles takes a route round the lower slopes of the hill,
through farmland and woodland, with extensive views over the surrounding countryside.
The upper walk of about one mile takes a route on the top of the hill round a reservoir up to the TOPOGRAPHIC POINT, along the historic SOLDIER'S WALK and
the northern escarpment to JUBILEE WALK.
Both circular walks are marked by white-topped post and yellow arrows with black
spots. Linking paths have plain yellow arrows.
If you encounter any problem areas, please bring these to the attention of The
Friends of Churchdown Hill via email: [email protected]., or at the Parish
Council Office tel: 01452 713528. Many thanks.
GUIDE TO THE LOWER WALK
Start the walk from the FREE CAR PARK off CHURCH ROAD, behind the
Churchdown Club, almost opposite the BAT AND BALL INN.Take the waymarked
footpath from the top of the car park to the kissing gate. Cross DREW'S COURT
(beware of fast traffic) and walk up GREEN LANE, past CRIFTYCRAFT LANE to
THE GREEN. Turn left at the signpost "TO THE CHURCH AND WATERWORKS".
Take the signpost stile facing you at the right-hand bend (beware of traffic). Cross
the field to the right of the clump of trees, noting the extensive views across the village to the MALVERN HILLS on the left, BREDON HILL in front, and the
COTSWOLD ESCARPMENT on the right. Proceed to the stile behind the gardens
off CRIFTYCRAFT LANE. Climb the stile and cross the field to the waymark post,
enjoying the wide panorama over the countryside towards CHELTENHAM and the
COTSWOLDS. Continue over the stile at the rear of the spinney on the left, and
walk straight ahead to the waymark post. Turn half right and walk up to the waymark post at the corner of the field above CHOSEN HILL HOUSE.
Take the stile on the right at the end of the green lane and enter the woodland
known as THE BRAKE. Climb the steps and turn left through the woods, following the path which bears left. Cross the stile in the boundary fence into an open
field below the pine trees on the right known as THE COOMBS (waymark post).
Descend the grass slope to the stile at the bottom corner of the field. Turn right over
this stile and walk up the private road (STUMP LANE) towards the former OYSTERSHELL COTTAGES for about 200 yards.
Then, EITHER:
For extensive views over HUCCLECOTE and BROCKWORTH to COOPER'S
HILL to the South, take the signposted V stile on the right and follow the path up
the slope behind the left-hand tump, known as the HOT CROSS BUN or KISSING
TUMP, from the top of which the views are revealed. Continue on the path; do not
cross the iron gate stile into the trees, but bear left down to a stile leading into the
field above the cottages. Over the stile, walk down the field towards the farthest
cottage and turn right. (Do not cross the stile into the private road).
OR: Those wishing to avoid the climb should continue past the V stile along the private road to the cottages, take the stile into the field and turn left, rejoining the
Lower Circular Walk.
Staying in the lower part of the field continue across to the stile into the woodland,
Turn sharp left and take the wide pathway which follows the boundary fence, passing the large metal gate and the stile on the left. The path continues down an old
sunken lane into open ground, and thence to a stile on the right of the field gate at
the bottom of the slope. (This last section of the route within the woodland, was
opened up again in January 1990 after it had lain concealed for many decades).
Crossing the stile, walk straight ahead to the waymark post. This post marks the
site of one of the tees of the old Churchdown Golf Course.
Turn left at the post and walk down the centre of the field to the stile in the
hedgerow on the left of the farm building. (There are usually farm animals in this
field). Cross the stile into THE GREEN, cross the grass and the road to the signposted stile in the corner.
Cross the stile out of THE GREEN and, turning right, walk straight down the field
to the stile next to the bottom gate. (There are usually farm animals in the field).
The stile leads to a green lane between the bungalows: cross over the second stile
into PIRTON LANE.
Across the road a short walk down the right-hand pavement of STATION ROAD
leads to the metal entrance gates of the RECREATION GROUND just above the
CHURCH HALL drive. The path across the RECREATION GROUND leads to the
VILLAGE CAR PARK and the end of the walk.
GUIDE TO THE UPPER WALK
The path starts from the CAR PARK on top of the hill, adjacent to
ST.BARTHOLOMEW'S CHURCHYARD, which is reached by a steep, narrow and
twisting lane, signposted from THE GREEN. Allowances should be made for traffic, walkers and animals, as there is no pavement.
From the car park, walk down the road and turn right, then up to the waymark post
near the NO ENTRY sign. Turn left beside the reservoir and through the kissing
gate. Continue, keeping the fence on the right, then down the steps, and turn right.
The area of pine trees at the end of the reservoir is known as THE COOMBS and
has extensive views to the south. Continue along the path, still following the fence,
through the kissing gate and back on to the road.
Now turn left and walk up to the end of the road, passing CHOSEN COTTAGE,
(formerly YEW TREE COTTAGE) on the left. Turn right and through the stile on
the left by the waymark post, opposite the RADIO MAST. Turn left up the steep
path to the Topographic Point for views to the south. Turn back and walk past the
same stile, turning left before an old iron gate is reached. Walk down the slope for
a short distance, then turn right into SOLDIER'S WALK (waymark post). Follow
this wide, level path around the hill, past occasional view over GLOUCESTER,
through a large clearing above MUSSEL WELL and on to the end of the path (waymark post).
Turn right. The path leads up through the woods and along the escarpment on the
northern edge of the hill. Just before the rear entrance to the new burial ground is
reached a steep gulley on the left marks the site of the ROMANSTEPS. The path
continues round the outside of the churchyard to the north gate. Take the old steps
down from the gateway and cross kissing gates to the steep path called JUBILEE
WALK. Halfway down, the path bears to the left at a short waymark post, in zigzag
to the bottom of the steep slope (second waymark post), and then down to the road
at a row of posts (beware of traffic).
OTHER FOOTPATHS; LINKS AND FEEDERS
1.From the stile in Criftycraft Lane, opposite No.10, the path leads straight up the
field, to the right of the trees, to the stile on the road opposite Jubilee Walk. This
path meets the lower walk in the middle of the field, and the upper walk at the roadway.
2.From the stile at Barrow Hill, opposite the Brockworth Road, the path leads half
left up to the lower walk at the waymark post, then climbs to the upper walk at the
stile opposite the Stables.
3.Just past the Hucclecote boundary on Churchdown Lane, take the signposted
footpath over the stile and up the Water Board drive. Turn right at the top (stile),
then left (stile); bear right at the boundary hedge and cross the old stone stile (the
last one on the hill) to meet the lower walk in the field below The Coombs.
4.From Hucclecote, follow the twisting lane past The Noake farm, up to the stile on
the lower walk, at the corner with the private road. Take the path straight up the
hill over the stile and past the garden fence of Chosen Cottage to the stile leading
to the upper walk at the roadway.
5.The path from Hucclecote across the fields meets the lower walk at the private
road. Cross the road and follow this walk over a V stile, up the path, past The
Tumps, and over the stile in the iron gate. Climb the steep path and steps on the
right, to the Topographic Point and the upper walk.
6.From Zoons Court, cross the field and stile on to the lower walk, then up the field
above the cottages, and over the two-step stile into the woodland. Take the wide
path half right up the slope to the waymark post at the south end of Soldier's Walk
on the upper walk.
7.From Sugarloaf Bridge in Pirton Lane the path leads across the fields and over
Tinker's Hill, meeting the lower walk at the waymark post. Follow the walk over
the stile at the large oak tree, then sharp left as far as the iron gate, and turn right.
Go up the slope to meet the upper walk at the north end of Soldier's Walk (waymark
post).
HISTORICAL NOTES
The top of the hill is thought to be an Iron Age Fort. Parts of St Bartholomew's Church date from
the twelfth century. Until 1851 it served both Hucclecote and Churchdown parishes.
The top of the hill is 511 feet above sea level, and is a few yards south of the Topographic Point,
which was moved to its present, owner, position some time between 1923 and the 1960's.
Soldier's Walk was cleared and opened in 1989 for the first time since the early years of the century. Legend has it that it was used as an outpost by the Royalist Army during the siege of Gloucester
in 1643.
Jubilee Walk was planted with Austrian Pines in 1898 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond
Jubilee.
The Roman Steps used to lead down the northern escarpment to the field below. They were removed
a few years ago, but their traces are just visible.
The former Yew Tree Cottage (now called Chosen Cottage) near the Topographic Point used to be
Mr & Mrs Fishlock's Tea Garden.
One of the Oystershell Cottages (Buscombe Noake) was also a tea garden at one time. The two reservoirs to the right of the road to Yew Tree Cottage were built in 1938, and the third in 1963.
Mussel Well was also called the Roman Well: its history is obscure.
The Churchdown Golf Course, which existed up to the outbreak of the First World War, was on the
hillside above the railway line and the Clubhouse was off Pirton lane, close to Sugarloaf Bridge.
We gratefully acknowledge sponsorship by the following bodies:
Gloucestershire Rural Community Council - Churchdown Parish Council
Gloucestershire County Council, County Surveyor's Dept.