The next three sections involve some hill climbing and spectacular elevated views across Cheltenham.
This section from Charlton Kings via Colgate Farm to the A40 London Road is a well walked route, but the least well-marked section of the Circular. Rule of thumb is to keep heading up hill towards Colgate Farm and before you reach it, arc back towards the Dunkerton Cider complex which you will see on the A40 below.
Starting at the River Chelt at the end of Chase Avenue, with your back to the footbridge, bear right and start heading up hill. (Do not go straight ahead as this will take you back to Ham). You will be crossing some scrubland and a post with an oak tree sign is lying in the ground. Do look back at the view across Ham to the Eagle Tower.
Soon you will join a path alongside some trees, with fields to your left. At one place the route is marked with some homemade signage to ensure that you stay on the footpath.
Next you will reach a stable courtyard and there is a gate taking you towards the right. This stable is not marked on the OS map. Go through the gate and after several metres of level walking turn left through another gate that leads uphill. You will now pass alongside several paddocks and there are trees to your right. The views across Cheltenham continue behind you as you climb.
Towards the top of the hill you will reach a kissing gate. The fence post on the right has an oak tree marker and a yellow footpath sign indicating that the path bears to the right, but this is not necessarily the easiest route to follow.
The post to the left of the gate just has a yellow footpath sign pointing straight ahead. If you were walking in an anticlockwise direction downhill, an oak tree marker brings you towards this left side, which is an easier route to find. Either way, you need to work your way around a clump of trees until you see a farm on the other side.
The next gate downhill will be visible from here. Notice a line of veteran trees in the field to your right. As you make your way downhill look for the tall ash tree ahead with a white oak tree disc on the truck clearly visible from the path above.
Eventually you will come to a wide track to your left. Cross this track, and climb over the stile with the oak tree marker. On the other side take the footpath to the left that follows the field boundary, crosses the River Chelt and takes you to the A40 London Road. Cross the road, heading to the left and after several metres on your right there will be a narrow surfaced road. This is Capel Lane.
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The next three sections involve some hill climbing and spectacular elevated views across Cheltenham.
This section from Charlton Kings via Colgate Farm to the A40 London Road is a well walked route, but the least well-marked section of the Circular. Rule of thumb is to keep heading up hill towards Colgate Farm and before you reach it, arc back towards the Dunkerton Cider complex which you will see on the A40 below.
Starting at the River Chelt at the end of Chase Avenue, with your back to the footbridge, bear right and start heading up hill. (Do not go straight ahead as this will take you back to Ham). You will be crossing some scrubland and a post with an oak tree sign is lying in the ground. Do look back at the view across Ham to the Eagle Tower.
Soon you will join a path alongside some trees, with fields to your left. At one place the route is marked with some homemade signage to ensure that you stay on the footpath.
Next you will reach a stable courtyard and there is a gate taking you towards the right. This stable is not marked on the OS map. Go through the gate and after several metres of level walking turn left through another gate that leads uphill. You will now pass alongside several paddocks and there are trees to your right. The views across Cheltenham continue behind you as you climb.
Here is the view:
Towards the top of the hill you will reach a kissing gate. The fence post on the right has an oak tree marker and a yellow footpath sign indicating that the path bears to the right, but this is not necessarily the easiest route to follow.
The post to the left of the gate just has a yellow footpath sign pointing straight ahead. If you were walking in an anticlockwise direction downhill, an oak tree marker brings you towards this left side, which is an easier route to find. Either way, you need to work your way around a clump of trees until you see a farm on the other side.
Soon you will reach the crest of the hill with views across the valley to the south.
With the farm to your left start walking downhill in an arc through sheep fields to a double kissing gate.
The next gate downhill will be visible from here. Notice a line of veteran trees in the field to your right. As you make your way downhill look for the tall ash tree ahead with a white oak tree disc on the truck clearly visible from the path above.
From here, follow the path over a stile until you reach a hay field.
Eventually you will come to a wide track to your left. Cross this track, and climb over the stile with the oak tree marker. On the other side take the footpath to the left that follows the field boundary, crosses the River Chelt and takes you to the A40 London Road. Cross the road, heading to the left and after several metres on your right there will be a narrow surfaced road. This is Capel Lane.