Walks & Maps
Please feel free to download some of our earlier First Friday Walks, explore them for yourselves and join us on one
Searching for Heaven’s Secrets February 2017
See more of the artwork here •
Searching for the Source January 2017
See more of the artwork here •
Purton to Sharpness passing Purton Wrecks December 2016
Epney along the Severn’s banks November 2016
Woodchester Park August 2016
Laurie Lee Centenary Celebrations (2014)
Walking the Land Associated artists worked to develop a series of walks to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Stroud’s celebrated writer Laurie Lee (1914 – 1997) which were celebrated throughout 2014 with a host of events in Stroud and the valleys, Gloucestershire. Our walks covered the ground that was familiar to the writer around the Valleys of Slad and Stroud as well as taking in the longer walks that took him as a young man far away from his home landscape. In May, we took a 6 day walk from Slad to Southampton. In mid-summer, we walked across the Franco/Spanish border to echo Lee’s walk to volunteer to fight with the International Brigade during the Spanish Civil War.
Walking with Artists
We regularly walk over a large area of the Cotswolds, but this may give you a flavour of the countryside, the terrain and distance:
Where we walk/1
Over the Edge
This part of the Cotswold Hills presents intimate valleys and broad vistas over the Severn Vale to the Black Mountains and Wales. Local flora includes bee orchids and other meadow flowers, and we often get a glimpse of Spotted Woodpecker, deer and a variety of other wildlife. The walk is full of variety, with plenty of climbs and decents through a variety of terrain. We start our walk from Edge, near the Cotswold Way and walk over the unique limestone grassland of Scotsquar Common. This leads us to little used footpaths that snake through beechwoods and over fields outlined by dry stone walls and all the while offering exciting visual treats to draw, photograph or just to gaze. After a welcome break for lunch at a local pub, we continue walking through the beautiful but little known paths of Painswick Valley, returning to Edge in the late afternoon.
Terrain
Mostly on footpaths, through woodland and fields. Undulating with some steep accents and descents.
Distance approx 8km
Where we walk/2
Mills and Yew trees
Painswick is a gem of a Cotswold village, set with stunning views of hills and vallleys at all compass points. We start at Painswick’s churchyard, famous for it’s amazingly sculptural yew trees, that are the subject of local legend. We leave the village, walking through narrow streets that are lined by stonebuilt cottages, houses and mills. Shortly we cross stiles and streams, finding ourselves on footpaths and tracks that lead away from civilization and into a visualy stimulating countryside. Our lunch break will be at a country pub after which we continue our circular walk returning to Painswick in the late afternoon.
Terrain
Starting in a village, the walk is mostly on narrow lanes and footpaths that lead through woodland and fields. Undulating with some steep accents and descents.
Distance approx 8km
Where we walk/3
Commoner’s Rights
We start at high elevation to walk across the National Trust’s Minchinhampton Common and Rodborough Common, known for prehistoric earthworks, big skies and views over Stroud and the surrounding valleys and countryside. We pass through charming villages of Pinfathings and Box, with overviews of Nailsworth – a former cloth town which is now a centre for the arts. Its surrounding hills are very enticing. From Box you descend into a valley which has been recolonised by otters. Lunch is at a country pub famous for it’s atmosphere, delicious pies and real ales. Our return leg takes us through Nailsworth, along narrow lanes and woodland trails.
Terrain
Mostly over the grassland of the Commons, along footpaths, through woodland trails and narrow lanes. Undulating with some steep accents and descents.
Distance approx 10km