From Timbercombe Lane, cross the Cirencester Road at the Clock Tower Hotel and turn left. The narrow footway leads out of Charlton Kings and up the hill. Soon you are walking alongside a dense wood. Part way up the hill, on the right, is a fingerpost marked Charlton Common. Turn right into the wood.
This path is fairly steep and often muddy. At the top of this section is Lillybrook golf course and you emerge by a green. Walk between the greens, turn right and follow a small green almost to the end. Here the footpath turns left and then left again alongside a wood. Keep the wood on your right and walk around its edge. In the spring the bluebells here are plentiful.
At the end of the wooded section is a tangle of brambles and the well signed footpath goes through the middle! If you are lucky, this will have been cleared by a keen walker, but at other times it is impassable. However, further along you can walk around the bramble stack and start climbing up a grassy slope towards the scarp. Here there are many wild flowers on the rich limestone grasslands.
At the top, a bridle gate leads to access land on Leckhampton Hill. Turn right and at the junction of paths, where you can start to see Cheltenham, turn left. There are several converging routes here. Take the right fork and follow the undulating path until you arrive at a drystone wall with a big open view across Cheltenham.
Stop for a while to enjoy the view. Then pass through the next bridle gate on to Daisybank Road. This section passes beside a fenced area of conservation grazing. You are free to roam on any part of the land to the left as this is access land. Several gates and stiles provide a way in. However, to stay on the Circular, follow Daisybank Road all the way to Leckhampton Hill Road.
In this section there was once a series of tramways leading to the quarries above.
Cross the road, turn left and walk along the footway up the hill. Pass a footpath on your right, follow the oak tree markers and at the second footpath sign turn into the field. The path turns back on itself for a short way and then goes down the long hill towards Leckhampton. There are marker posts through the field and some kissing gates.
Eventually you will see Leckhampton church with its tall steeple below. The footpath passes through fields towards the large Sue Ryder Hospice facility and alongside the church. When you reach Church Lane, spend a few minutes enjoying the framed map of the location that is next to the footpath. Opposite the church entry, the next section begins.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
10 comments
Skip to comment form
From Timbercombe Lane, cross the Cirencester Road at the Clock Tower Hotel and turn left. The narrow footway leads out of Charlton Kings and up the hill. Soon you are walking alongside a dense wood. Part way up the hill, on the right, is a fingerpost marked Charlton Common. Turn right into the wood.
This path is fairly steep and often muddy. At the top of this section is Lillybrook golf course and you emerge by a green. Walk between the greens, turn right and follow a small green almost to the end. Here the footpath turns left and then left again alongside a wood. Keep the wood on your right and walk around its edge. In the spring the bluebells here are plentiful.
The spring also brings wild garlic.
As you look back, there are far reaching views across the golf course towards Wistley Hill.
At the end of the wooded section is a tangle of brambles and the well signed footpath goes through the middle! If you are lucky, this will have been cleared by a keen walker, but at other times it is impassable. However, further along you can walk around the bramble stack and start climbing up a grassy slope towards the scarp. Here there are many wild flowers on the rich limestone grasslands.
You may also see roman snails.
..and butterflies.
At the top, a bridle gate leads to access land on Leckhampton Hill. Turn right and at the junction of paths, where you can start to see Cheltenham, turn left. There are several converging routes here. Take the right fork and follow the undulating path until you arrive at a drystone wall with a big open view across Cheltenham.
Stop for a while to enjoy the view. Then pass through the next bridle gate on to Daisybank Road. This section passes beside a fenced area of conservation grazing. You are free to roam on any part of the land to the left as this is access land. Several gates and stiles provide a way in. However, to stay on the Circular, follow Daisybank Road all the way to Leckhampton Hill Road.
In this section there was once a series of tramways leading to the quarries above.
Cross the road, turn left and walk along the footway up the hill. Pass a footpath on your right, follow the oak tree markers and at the second footpath sign turn into the field. The path turns back on itself for a short way and then goes down the long hill towards Leckhampton. There are marker posts through the field and some kissing gates.
Eventually you will see Leckhampton church with its tall steeple below. The footpath passes through fields towards the large Sue Ryder Hospice facility and alongside the church. When you reach Church Lane, spend a few minutes enjoying the framed map of the location that is next to the footpath. Opposite the church entry, the next section begins.