Painswick Beacon Walk

Visit the delightful Cotswolds village of Painswick and climb the nearby Painswick Hill on this walk near Stroud.
The walk starts from Painswick known as the 'Queen of the Cotswolds' because of its picturesque cottages, pretty churchyard with yew trees and the splendid Rococo Gardens.... You can then follow the Cotswold Way National Trail north to the beacon. The trail is well signposted and takes you through the local golf course and past the aptly named Paradise valley. You soon come to the beacon where you will find an Iron Age Hill Fort and fabulous views over the Severn Vale, the Forest of Dean and the Welsh Mountains.
From the top of the hill you can descend back to the village or if you'd like to extend your walk, you could continue along the Cotswold Way to the nearby Pope's Wood and Kites Hill. A little further on is Coopers Hill where the annual Cheese Rolling event is held on the Spring Bank Holiday. It involves locals chasing a large round cheese down a near-vertical grass slope.
If you enjoy this walk you could head a couple of miles south west and visit Haresfield Beacon for more great walking trails and panoramic views of the Cotswolds.
You could also follow the Wysis Way long distance trail south and visit the beautiful Slad Valley.
The area is famous for its associations with the author Laurie Lee, who based his book 'Cider with Rosie' on his own life in the village. You can reach the area from Painswick on the Painswick to Slad Valley Circular Walk.
Postcode: GL6 6SU
Pubs and More Info
Back in Painswick head to the excellent Painswick Hotel for some post walk refreshments. The fine hotel is set in an attractive 18th century Palladian house and includes cosy fires indoors. Oustide there's a lovely veranda where you can enjoy views of the Painswick Valley. You can find the hotel on Kemps Lane with a postcode GL6 6YB for your sat navs.
For a shorter walk you could start from the Painswick Beacon car park, located just to the south of the beacon at a postcode of GL6 6SU. The free car park is only a short climb for the hill top.
The walk passes the beautiful Rococo Gardens which are well worth a visit. The gardens include woodland trails, a maze, a widlflower meadow and several attractive follies. You can find it in the town on Gloucester Road at postcodfe GL6 6TH.  

Ordnance Survey Map OpenStreetMap OS Map (Mobile GPS) OpenStreetMap (Mobile GPS)

Interactive Map

Route Video

Nearby Routes

Wysis Way Slad Valley Rococo Gardens Haresfield Beacon Cotswold Way Cranham Woods Buckholt Woods Painswick to Slad Valley Circular Walk

Photos

Sheepehouse Cottage, Painswick. Rather a grand cottage with its many gables and mullioned windows, on the steep Stepping Stone Lane south of Painswick.

Trig point on Painswick Beacon View to the east from the trig point on Painswick. Part of the earthworks of the hill fort can be seen in the background as well as the golf course. The wooded hill in the background beyond Sheepscombe in Saltridge Hill.

Painswick Beacon Hill Fort. The western defensive ramparts and ditches of Painswick Beacon Hill Fort, also known as Kimsbury Camp. The fort dates from the Iron Age from around 400bc - 43bc. The trig point can be seen on the skyline to the right and on the distant horizon are the Malvern Hills.

The Cotswold Way Skirts Painswick Beacon

Rococo Garden, Painswick town. Originally the town grew from the wool trade, but it is now best known for its parish church's yew trees and the local Rococo Garden pictured here. The garden is the only surviving garden of the rococo period which is open to the public. It was designed and laid out in the 1740s. The garden has been restored since 1984 having been abandoned in the 1950s. It includes woodland, flower and vegetable plots, garden buildings, charming follies and a maze. Several snowdrops, particularly Galanthus 'Atkinsii' are found in the grounds. There are a series of ponds and streams on the slopes of the valley with small waterfalls.

The information board at the beacon.

Town Hall, Painswick

Tibbiwell Lane in the town

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Painswick Beacon.gpx