Berkeley Walks
This small Gloucestershire town has some nice local river and canalside trails to try. It's also close to the wonderful Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is a walkers paradise. The town is also notable for its historic castle and the Edward Jenner musueum, known as the birthplace of vaccination.
This walk from the town visits Berkeley Castle before following the Severn Way to the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal at Sharpness. It then follows the canal to Purton where you can enjoy refreshments and visit the unusual Purton Hulks.
The route starts at the historic castle which dates back to the 12th century. The route then follows footpaths west along Berkeley Pill to Oakhunger where you pick up the Severn Way. Follow the waymarked footpath north west and it will take you down to the river. The trail then heads north along the river to the docks at Sharpness. You can then follow a waterside path along the canal before finishing at Purton where you can see the Purton Hulks. These decaying boats were deliberately beached beside the river to reinforce the river banks between 1909 and 1965.
Postcode
GL13 9BA - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsBerkeley Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Berkeley Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Berkeley OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Berkeley Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Walks near Berkeley
- Severn Bridge - Cross from England into Wales on this walk across the Severn Bridge
- Severn Way - Follow the River Severn from its source at Plynlimon in Powys, to Bristol, the mouth of the river
- Severn Beach - The village of Severn Beach is located in a lovely spot on the Severn Estuary
- Chepstow - A splendid circular walk around Chepstow making use of the Wye Valley Walk and Offa's Dyke Path to visit some of the highlights of the area
- Tintern Abbey - Visit the fascinating ruins of this 12th century monastery and then explore the surrounding area on this walk on the England-Wales border
- Wye Valley Walk Chepstow to Tintern - A walk from Chepstow through the Wye Valley to the wonderful Tintern Abbey
- Purton Hulks - This walk visits the abandoned boats and ships on the banks of the River Severn at the village of Purton in Gloucestershire
- Thornbury - This Britain in Bloom award-winning town is located a few miles from the River Severn in South Gloucestershire
- Gloucester and Sharpness Canal - Enjoy cycling and walking along the towpath of this lovely canal in Gloucestershire
- Oldbury on Severn - This little village is located in a lovely spot, near the mouth of the River Severn in South Gloucestershire
- Stinchcombe Hill - This walk climbs to the lovely viewpoint at Stinchcombe Hill in the Cotswolds
- Tyndale Monument - This is a climb to the Tyndale Monument from the popular Cotswolds town of Wotton-under-Edge
- Wotton-under-Edge - A circular walk around this pretty Cotswolds town using the Cotswold Way and other public footpaths
- Coaley Peak - This walk takes you to the Coaley Peak viewpoint from the village of Uley in the Cotswolds
- Woodchester Park - This National Trust owned park in the Cotswolds is the perfect place for a peaceful afternoon stroll.
- Kingswood - This pretty Gloucestershire village is located just south of Wotton-under-Edge in the Cotswolds.
- Uley Bury - The Gloucestershire village of Uley sits in a scenic location in the Cotswolds escarpment.
Pubs/Cafes
The Malt House does a find Sunday carvery and can be found on Marybrook Street at postcode GL13 9BA.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
The The Edward Jenner Museum is a must see in the town. The museum is the former home of the country doctor who pioneered the concept of vaccines including creating the smallpox vaccine, the world's first vaccine. You can find the site on Church Lane at postcode GL13 9BN.
Head south along the river and you can visit one of the local highlights at the iconic Severn Bridge. Here you can also pick up the Severn Beach Walk. This is a popular route taking you along the sea wall to the village of Severn Beach.
You could also cross the famous bridge into Wales and visit Chepstow and the historic Tintern Abbey.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Gloucestershire Walks and Cotswolds Walks pages.
Photos
Berkeley Castle viewed from the terraced garden. In the early 14th century Edward II was held captive and murdered in the castle.
Market Place & Town Hall. Although only the size of a small village, Berkeley is actually a town with a Mayor and Town Council. The hub of the community is the Market Place.
Castle garden
Berkeley Pill. This is the tidal section of the river downstream of the sluice. The pylon in the distance marks its junction with the Severn. Berkeley nuclear power station is just out of shot to the left.
Sharpness Docks
Timber wharf and swing bridge on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal
.jpg)
Remains of a wooden barge at Purton.
View across the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal at Purton, Gloucestershire, to the Bridgekeeper's house (ahead) next to the swing-bridge (left)