A 3.1-Mile Circular Walk with a gentle climb and wonderful views
The route is clearly signed.
Sturdy shoes or boots are recommended, as is a pair of secateurs to tackle that occasional bramble.
The walk starts at the village hall. Follow the main road towards The Gate Inn. TAKE GREAT CARE to cross this road to get to the gate adjacent to The Gate Inn car park opposite, that leads to the footpath to the Church. Follow this path through two fields and into the churchyard. Keep to the left-hand edge and exit at the kissing gate. Follow the road around to the right until you arrive at the T-junction at the cemetery. Opposite you will see a stile in the right-hand corner near to the cemetery fence. Over this stile and another stile into the main field * where you will follow the hedge on your left-hand side until you arrive at the stile onto the Mickleton Road. TAKE GREAT CARE when crossing this road, over the next stile into the next field *. Head towards the railway bridge in the far left corner of this field. Over another stile and out onto Stratford Road. Turn right and TAKE GREAT CARE when walking (facing the oncoming traffic) under two railway bridges.
Immediately after the second bridge turn right onto the bridleway. Pass by the cattle grid and follow the tarmac surface to a large field gate. Pass to the left of this gate and then follow the track up the hill. When you get to the footpath signpost at the top of the hill, turn around to admire the view – a lovely spot for a picnic (but remember to take your litter home with you!). You will see Honeybourne church below, and sweeping views including (from the left) Cutsdean Hill (305 m high), Oxenton Hill (223m), Dumbleton Hill (168m), Forest of Dean (up to 290m) with the Black Mountains (up to 886 m) behind, Bredon Hill (299 m) and the Malvern Hills (up to 425 m high).
Turn left and follow the footpath sign along the top of the hill with the fence on your right-hand side (hedge on left), you will pass through two large fields before passing a large barn and arriving at the Pebworth Road near the top of Baylis’s Hill. Look over your right shoulder to see Meon Hill. TAKE GREAT CARE to cross this road and pass through the field gate. This is not a public right of way, but you have permission to pass through on this walk. (To obtain permission to access this and other walks in the Heart of England Forest telephone 01789 491 391, or seek advice if the gate is padlocked). Walk along the stone track to the left-hand corner of this field. Follow the waymarker (hidden in the hedge!) in a ten o’clock direction to the left of the first pylon and turn right along the top of the hill taking time to admire the views of Honeybourne. With the fence posts on your right and hedging on your left, continue straight on, following this hedge line downhill to the next stile. Straight on across this field to the next stile, and across the last field *** and stile before Buckle Street.
TAKE EVEN GREATER CARE as you cross this road and turn left to walk towards the railway bridge facing the traffic, always listening for approaching traffic. Over the bridge, and straight on down Station Road, past All Things Wild back to the village hall.
We hope you have enjoyed your walk today, and that we have whetted your appetite for a variety of future walks during 2022 using the Public Rights of Way (PROWs) in the Parish of Honeybourne. A great way to gently improve your fitness and wellbeing, whilst appreciating the beautiful countryside in which we live.
Email [email protected] for copies of any walks, to express concerns, or seek advice on how to best enjoy Honeybourne’s PROWs.
* expect sheep
*** expect horses
August 2022