Cotswolds - Hailes Abbey

Free parking with a few spaces near Hailes Abbey and Hailes Church.

(S/E) From the parking, with Hailes Abbey in front of your, follow the road to the right (North-West) until you reach the first crossroad. Turn right on Salter's Lane and head due north towards the Hailes Abbey Halt (GWSR) ‘train station'.

(1) At the first clear bend in the road to the left, pass through the gate and take the dirt road to the right.
A little further on, avoid the right fork and follow the main path to the left.

(2) Cross the pasture diagonally or right/left, going towards a metal gate at the north end. Arrive at the hamlet of Didbrook.

(3) Follow the small road to the right, including at the crossroads with a red telephone box converted into a defibrillator shelter.

(4) Take the small dead-end road to the right towards Wood Stanway (second road sign posted for Wood Stanway). At the next junction, turn left and follow the Cotswolds Way to the South-East until the end of the road.

At the end of the road, turn right and go straight up to the pastures along the farm stables on the right. At the end of the path, cross the metal gate, turn left, pass the gate and climb the hill to a group of houses.
Go around it to the right and reach the ridge to the left of a row of majestic beech trees. Continue straight ahead and reach the road at Stumps Cross.

(5) Turn onto the first path on the right and continue to the next crossroads.

(6) Turn right, cross a gate on the left and continue the track in the field along the dry stone wall.

(7) At the end of the field, turn left, admiring the view over the valley below until you reach a stone monument. Go down the slope and follow the track to the left until the edge of a forest (Hailes Wood).

(8) Pass the portico and turn right onto the forest path which descends into a magnificent undergrowth to return to the starting point (S/E).

Wear proper shoes because the region is often subject to severe weather ... and the paths and trails may be flooded or muddy in places.
There are no picnic tables, water points or shops on the route.
Opportunity to eat at Hailes Fruit Farm.

Make sure to close the gates, porticos or other passages separating or isolating the fields. Keep dogs on a leash when crossing fields when there are flocks of sheep.

Splendid oaks and beeches on the first part of the route.
Beautiful views of the surroundings from the heights, at the halfway point.
Magnificent properties and charming local stone hamlets.
Hailes Abbey: ruins of a Cistercian abbey open to visitors from April to September.
Didbrook Church and its old cemetery.
Hailes Fruit Farm: fruit for seasonal picking, camping, tea-room and restaurant.
Cotswolds Way: this walk follows the Way between Wood Stanway and Hailes Abbey. The northern part leads to Chipping Campden. The southern part joins Bath at the other end.
GWSR: Gloucestershire - Worcestershire Steam Railway, tourist steam train operating in season.