Some Fantastic Walks & Hiking Trails in Gloucestershire

Our guide to the best and most beautiful walks in Gloucestershire, including in the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean. Gloucestershire is an excellent county if you like to walk and a great destination if you enjoy variety in your hiking.

There are many places to hike; some are well known, but there are also some nice hidden treasures.

Areas of Gloucestershire For Good Hikes

We have separate walking guides specifically for different areas of Gloucestershire

Forest of Dean

The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley offer a variety of routes for strolling in the woods. They also offer hilly routes and others along the river.

Cotswolds

The area has some stunning routes, including hilly trails.

Gloucester

Many paths and walking routes run near and through Gloucester. Most are circular and pretty short.

Severn Vale

The River Severn has many great routes for a hike on either side of the river.

Gloucester-Sharpness Canal

For a long flat route, the towpath alongside the canal is great, with many pleasant features to see.

Frampton on Severn

Frampton on Severn is a beautiful village with many trail options.

Long Distance Hiking Trails

Some beautiful countryside walks in Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds. This includes some long hiking routes and circular walking trails.

The Severn Way

Another epic long-distance trail in Gloucestershire is the Severn Way. This 224-mile marked route runs from the river’s source in Wales to the Severn Estuary. The county covers a significant part of the route, and it’s great for hiking. Sections of the route are great for walks in the area, including from Gloucester city centre.

My favourite areas for walking on this route are near Weir Green and downstream towards Arlingham. The trails are easy to follow unless the river is flooded. Most of the walk follows the river through beautiful countryside, with a few villages along the way. You can find the full route and maps on the Komoot website.

The Glevum Way

One of Gloucester’s lesser-known hiking trails is the Glevum Way. The Glevum Way walking route circles the city and is roughly 24 miles long. This passes through some great countryside on marked paths.

Depending on where you want to start, you can choose shorter sections of the route. My favourite section of the Glevum Way is from Hardwicke to Hardwicke Church. This passes through some beautiful farmland, and the Norman church is pretty special too. You can find the entire Glevum Way route here.

The Cotswold Way

The Cotswold Way is a 102-mile walking route through the picturesque Cotswold Hills. It is a popular route for multi-day or week-long hikes through the area, or for day-long walks on sections.

The Cotswold Way runs from Bath to Chipping Campden, with lots of beautiful places along the way.