There are many beautiful sightseeing options in and around Cleeve Hill. It is a popular place for tourists to visit. People visiting the hiking trail sometimes do the loop twice. Some people prefer heading off in different directions. They tend to explore alternative routes branching out from the two-mile loop.

There is a favoured six-mile circular-walking route that is easy to navigate, with some undulating landscapes and a steep slope. However, the well-defined footpaths make it a pleasant walk. One can traverse through this route in two to two-and-a-half hours.

Parking and a few other facilities from the golf course are open to the public. This makes it a desirable walking trail for most visitors.

 

Cleeve Hill Trig pillars

Including some of the best bits of Cleeve Hill, the Two Trig Pillars is known to be the highest point in Cotswolds. It has wonderful steep-sided woodland, also known as the Breakheart plantation. There are plenty of wonderful views around this place with many historical stories attached to it.

You can follow through the Quarry car park till the edge of the Scarp, to get to the Trig Pillar. It has a magnificent view from above with a clear blue sky during a non-hazy day. It is one step closer to the highest points in Cotswolds. This route continues to the gate and then goes down with a steep descent.

There is another trig pillar, which is the real high point of Cotswolds. You can then head on to the common land, till the Winchcombe Way. It is laden with beautiful green fields and barns. Turn left from the Wontley Farm till you end up at Belas Knap. It is full of woodlands and is worth a visit.

Postlip Hall

At the end of the plantation, there is a footbridge through a field that takes you towards Postlip Hall. It is a Jacobean mansion surrounded by 15 acres of farmlands and a garden. It is a co-housing establishment of eight families, which is also known as a “village under one roof”. With a mesmerising view, the spacious house is best described as ‘The grandeur of Cotswolds’.

You can come back to Cleeve Common again from the farmyard and a couple of gates. You can climb back up to join the loop and choose to finish the walk. Being the highest point of Cotswolds, it is mesmerising and adventurous, both at the same time.

 

The Breakheart Plantation

The whole point of taking this route was the Breakheart Plantation for me. It is composed of dense woodlands and tree farms. With thick forest floors and plantations all around, this wonderful route can be enjoyed with a quick stroll or a slow walk. It is interesting to learn more about the plantation, its history and the time it was formed.

This route follows the Cotswold Way till the end of the loop. After a brisk walk through the scenic thick plantation, the footpath takes a steep turn down towards the valley. Being the highlight of the route, the Breakheart Plantation gives you a warm feeling of lush green wood and quiet surrounding with just the nature’s sound of leaves rustling against each other and the stream going down the hill.

Heading to the Cotswolds?

All the paths around Cotswold are well-defined. These are easily accessible through OS maps which can be easily downloaded and printed for accessibility. There are also signposts which help you through the Winchcombe Way and the Cotswold Way. If you enjoy walking in nature, exploring Cotswold is a good place to start with.