Our guide to the best and beautiful walks In Gloucestershire, including in the Cotswolds and Forest of Dean. Gloucestershire is a county which is an excellent place if you like to walk and an excellent destination if you like variety in your hiking. There are many places to hike, some are very well known, however there are also some nice hidden treasures.
Walking By Gloucestershire Area
We have a separate walking guides specifically for different areas of Gloucestershire
- Forest of Dean – Various routes to enjoy strolling in the woods.
- Gloucester – Paths and walking routes near to and in the city, most are circular and pretty short.
- Cotswolds – Some stunning routes in the AONB, including hilly trails.
The Best Places Walks & Walking In Gloucestershire
The most popular places in the county for walking include.
- The Forest Of Dean and Wye Valley AONB is a top destination for walkers. An ideal place to visit for woodland walks for people of all abilities.
- The Cotswold hills are full of wonderful trails, from easy circular routes through to walking the Cotswold Way.
- The Severn Valley, including the Severn Way Walk. Waterways of Gloucestershire include; The River Severn, River Wye, Gloucester To Sharpness Canal, River Avon In Tewkesbury, Stroudwater navigation and even the source of the River Thames at Thames Head near Cirencester.
- Walks in nature reserves & country parks such as on Robinswood Hill.
- There are many circular walks in Gloucestershire. Many of these walks start at pubs or restaurants.
- Longer walking Holidays Such as “The Cotswold Way” & “The Severn Way”
Featured Beautiful Walks in Gloucestershire
Some beautiful countryside walks in Gloucestershire and The Cotswolds. This includes some long hiking routes and circular walking trails.
The Severn Way Long Distance Trail
One of the other epic long distance trails in Gloucestershire is the Severn Way. This is a 224 marked route from the river’s source in Wales to the Severn Estuary. The county has a significant part of the route and is 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 walks along the river are in the beautiful countryside, with a few villages on the way. You can find about the entire route and maps on the Komoot website.
Rodborough Common, a hilly walk with beautiful views
The common land at Rodborough is fantastic for a stroll in the countryside. There are some fantastic views of the Stroud valleys below and some pleasant meadows on the common. There is a private fort that is ideal for a short walk around and a few options to park your car.
Coleford & Wye Valley Circular Walk
Details of a circular route starting off in Coleford in the Forest of Dean and heading towards the River Wye. The route includes walking part of the Wye Valley at Redbrook and upstream to Monmouth. Route Details…
The River and Wye Valley AONB A Beautiful River Walk
A journal of a walk from Coleford to Symonds Yat and then downstream through the Wye Valley AONB. This route is very special, and the scenery is stunning and lots of opportunities to see wildlife. Route Details…
Gloucester to Sharpness Canal
If you like flat walks alongside water, then the Gloucester to Sharpness canal is a great area for a stroll. The canal is roughly 16 miles long and has many places to visit. There are options for circular routes, including at the picturesque Saul Junction or Frampton upon Severn.
When enjoying the canal, you have lots of beautiful countryside and farmland to see. You can also see views of the Severn Estuary and into the hills. You can also see an abundance of wildlife, including birds that call the waterway home. I have saved a map of the entire waterway walk here.
Saul Junction, a flat canal side walk
The Gloucester to Sharpness Canal has many great walking routes to enjoy, the area around Saul Junction is pretty special and is near the small River Frome. There are many narrowboats passing, wild birds to watch and even a cafe to enjoy refreshments. Route Details…
Standish Woods & Haresfield Beacon for Beautiful views
A beautiful walk through the trees at Standish Woods, a nature reserve managed by the national trust. This leads onto Haresfield Beacon to enjoy views of the Cotswolds and the Severn Estuary.
Robinswood Hill Country Park Circular Walks
The country park at Robinswood Hill has a variety of marked circular routes around and to the top of the hill. Robinswood Hill has some fantastic views as it looks down on the city of Gloucester. There is a cafe, a nature centre, cliffs and loads of wildlife to spot.
One of the best things to do in Gloucester, if you enjoy walking, is to visit Robinswood Hill. The hill is on the outskirts of the city and it has many options for trails including to the top. Robinswood Hill is 650 feet high and the views from the peak are wonderful. Walking on the hill takes you through woodland and some pretty meadows. One of my favourite areas is near the cliffs, which you can walk near the top or at the bottom. You can download a handy leaflet with a map and further information about the hill.
The Glevum Way
One of the lesser known hiking trails in Gloucester 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 where you wish to start, there are options for shorter walks on 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.
Randwick Woods a great hike
There are a few walks through Randwick and Standish woods near to the top of Haresfield beacon on the edge of The Cotswold Hills. About Randwick Woods…
River Frome & Stroudwater Navigation
Both the River Frome and Stroudwater Navigation in Gloucestershire are a lovely places for a walk and there are options. The River Frome is a small river and passes through some beautiful countryside along the way. It also passes through some pleasant towns and villages, including Stonehouse and Stroud.
The river runs from Nettleton in and eventually joins the River Severn at Framilode. There are lots of nice places to visit on the way. My favourite walk here is from Framilode to Stroud.
The Stroudwater Navigation is a canal that mostly follows the route of the River Frome from Stroud. When walking, it’s easy to mix up which waterway you are on the banks of. Either way, the two close to each other make for some great walking. Ive saved my favourite walk on this river to my Komoot profile.
Walks With Beautiful Views on Churchdown Hill
The Woodland Trust and the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust manage parts of the Churchdown Hill. The hill is open free to the public to roam along the many paths. This place is a steep walk, but it will reward you with some stunning views. Churchdown Hill Walk…
Along the River Wye at Lydbrook
A long but picturesque walk from Lydbrook in Gloucestershire to Symonds Yat East. This route mainly follows the river downstream through some beautiful countryside. The river is popular with canoeists, which are interesting to watch as you hike.
Breakheart Quarry Near Dursley in The Cotswolds
Near to Dursley in Gloucestershire is Breakheart Quarry, a great place to go for a walk or picnic. The area is a former quarry and a great place to study the geology or maybe find a fossil. It is also a great place to see some wildlife while hiking. This includes frequent sightings of rabbits, squirrels and kestrels that circle above.
They have some nice tables in the area for a picnic too. There are many options for circular walks in the area on the Komoot app.
Alney Island in Gloucester
A nice place for walking outside of the flood season in Gloucester is Alney Island. Alney Island is a short walk from Gloucester city centre and has lots of trails to walk including alongside the river. A good place to walk to is Lower Parting, where the river spits into two. Also on the island, you can wander through Richard’s wood and lots of fields where cattle graze. There is a circular route to follow on the AllTrails website.
The Cotswold Way A Long And Beautiful Walk
The Cotswold Way is a 102-mile walking route, through the picturesque Cotswold Hills. It is a popular walking route for multi-day or week-long hikes through the area, or sections of it for day-long walks.
The route of the Cotswold Way runs from Bath to Chipping Campden with lots of beautiful places on the way. Villages and towns on the route include Wotton-under-Edge, Dursley, Stroud, Painswick, Cranham, Leckhampton, Cheltenham, Winchcombe, Stanway and Broadway. Highlights of the walk include the village of Painswick, Sudeley Castle, Cleeve Hill, Hailes Abbey, and the iconic Broadway Tower.
Frampton Court
The village of Frampton on Severn is excellent for walking and there are many circular routes to enjoy. You can walk along the canal, to the river or along the longest village green in England.
A favourite of mine is on the Frampton Court estate, which takes you past the manor house and around the lakes on the grounds. The scenery is beautiful, and the walk is pretty flat. As a bonus, there are a few nice pubs in Frampton on Severn to enjoy food or a beer after a countryside walk.
Elmore & Longney
Another of my favourite places for a walk in Gloucestershire is in the countryside of Elmore and Longney villages. You can either walk along the country lanes or venture on many trails through the local farmland. It’s a good place for wildlife spotting, including birds of prey, pheasants and some foxes, if lucky.
Hockly hill and the trails off Grove End are my favourite trails and are usually quiet. If you enjoy history, there are a few village churches in the area and Madams End Farm, where Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn stayed. A good walking route starts at the Anchor Inn in Epney and ends at the Pilot Inn in Hardwicke.