Stanton, Snowshill and The Edge walk - Why go?
Snowshill is a quintessential English, and more specifically Cotswold village, hewn from buff coloured sandstone, perched majestically among the gently undulating Cotswold Hills. The best views to be had in the Cotswolds are along the escarpment where the land rises dramatically, albeit only for a short way onto the plateau. This walk takes on one such view with Wales and the Severn Vale to be seen in the distance.
Stanton, Snowshill and The Edge walk - What to expect?
A mixed bag of hilltops, valleys and woodlands with one steep descent, this walk requires a moderate level of fitness, but a little effort is rewarded with fantastic scenery. There are two pubs along the way, one conveniently situated at the start/finish and the other halfway around, making for ideal rest and recouperation stops. As with any Cotswold walk if the ground is particularly wet the clay mud beneath your feet can become claggy so we recommend a decent pair of walking boots.
Stanton, Snowshill and The Edge Walk - The Route, Part 1
9.7km / 3-4 hours
Start in the pretty village of Stanton (postcode WR12 7NG) where you can park in the village car park.
Turn right out of the village car park and find a left turn around 50m up the road onto Stanton main street. Walk on until you find a Cotswold Way signpost towards the top of the village, take this turning and follow the Cotswold Way signposts past a thatched cottage.
Follow the Cotswold Way footpath down to the right and through two gates. Walk on past a small pond on your right following the trail to the top, crossing two stiles on your way.
Walk through the kissing gate to the left of the house, following the track across the field to the cattle grid at the end. Turn right along the road to Snowshill (this takes you off the Cotswold Way for a little while) and after around 50 metres turn sharp left down a wide path. Follow the trail, keeping right to enter Littleworth Wood, where some 50 metres further down you turn right. This peaceful little woodland is owned and managed by the National Trust. Keep following the path through the woodland until you reach the gate at the end. Continue down across the next field and aim towards the kissing gate at the far left corner. Over the kissing gate turn right onto the road and then take a left at the T junction. Take another left turn which takes you down into Snowshill.
Stanton, Snowshill and The Edge Walk - The Route, Part 2
Snowshill is a delightful village, passing between the pub and the church gives you the perfect opportunity for a rest stop, treat yourself to a pint! After a break keep walking through the village and turn left when you reach the entrance to Snowshill Manor.
Walk through a kissing gate immediately on your right then down through the field, passing a line of trees. Head through the next field and through the kissing gate at the far side, then turn left following the fence line downhill.
Go through the gate at the bottom and into the woods. Turn right just before the next gate, continuing up along the edge of the woods, keeping the fence on your left. Head to the top and walk through the gate and steeply left up the field towards the trees until you reach another kissing gate.
Turn right and follow the farm track for about half a mile (0.8km) until you reach a farm gate situated between the two woodlands.
Head through a kissing gate on your left and the footpath meanders down across a field, terminating at a track at the bottom. Here you take a left back onto the Cotswold Way, continuing on the path for about a mile (1.6km). This part of the route takes you past a house and old quarry on your left, and on to the waymarker post at the top. You might notice that this is right next to where you left the Cotswold Way nearly four miles earlier.
Turn right and walk along the track down to a field gate. Continue downhill along a steep path, taking care with your footing. This part of the walk opens up into vast vistas across the Severn Vale and all the way into Wales on a clear day. Passing through the last gate at the bottom of the track, you emerge next to another potential refreshment stop, Mount Inn. Continuing down to the left of the pub takes you back to the start point of this wonderful Cotswold walk.
Want more? Take a look at our full rundown of the best walks in the Cotswolds.
