New route from Cleeve Hill Golf Club to Belas Knap - Questions and Answers by Don Field, Assistant National Trail Officer
Q:
The route of the Cotswold Way has gone over Cleeve Hill for years and this stretch of the path offered great views for walkers, so why the change?
A:
Prior to the launch of the Cotswold Way as a National Trail there were extensive consultations throughout the 1990’s with all of the interested parties including user groups, landowners and statutory bodies about the route and any changes which would have to be made. Most of Cleeve Common is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), based on its outstanding geological and geomorphological interest as well as the limestone grassland value. In fact it is the largest area of unimproved limestone grassland in Gloucestershire. The existing path across the eastern side of Cleeve Common was only permissive, and one of the criteria for a National Trail is that it should follow legal rights of way. English Nature, who were the responsible body for SSSI’s at that time (now Natural England), wished to limit the potential damage to an area of sensitive grassland and therefore a new route avoiding that area had to be found.
Q:
Now that the diversions in place does that mean that walkers cannot stray off the path or is Cleeve Hill still open access land?
A:
Approximately half of the original route of the Cotswold Way across Cleeve Common will still be in use, following the western escarpment overlooking Cheltenham and the race course, and crossing the summit of Cleeve Hill which at 317m above sea level is the highest point on the Cotswold Way. There are public rights of way crossing the common and most of it is also Access Land so that anyone can still walk the original route of the Cotswold Way.
Q:
A lot of work must have gone into changing the route. What kind of things do you have to do to put something like this in place and how long did it take?
A:
Work on this section started when the Cotswold Way National Trail office opened in 1999 and I have been dealing with this for the last six years. Where possible we have used existing rights of way but approximately 860 metres of new path has been created up a steep hillside and through woods at Breakheart Plantation and Hill Barn Farm. This required negotiations with the landowners who kindly dedicated the land as a public footpath. Apart from constructing this path, many other improvements have been carried out to bring existing paths and bridleways up to National Trail standard, including widening, levelling, regrading, drainage, surfacing, fencing, the replacement of stiles by gates and signage.
Q:
Is there anything special about this section of the route?
A:
Heading eastwards from Cleeve Golf Club there are lovely views over Winchcombe and Sudeley Castle. Then you cross another section of common as you ascend towards Postlip Hall, a fine Grade 1 listed Cotswold Manor House and chapel, parts of which date back to the 12th Century. Further on there is a lovely old footpath through Breakheart plantation, with views at this time of year through the trees back towards Cleeve Common. Then there is a steep climb up the new path which brings you out into an open field with extensive views to the north and also towards Belas Knap.
Click here for a route change map and description going North to South, and click here for South to North.