Brochi two

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I completed this walk yesterday walking westwards from Chipping Campden. Depending on your personal taste, I think this direction is optimal, as the descent is greater than the ascent (755ft vs 584ft) and as such the views ahead are fantastic for the majority of the walk. This route is personally my 42nd Slow Way to date, and I have to say it is probably my favourite so far. There is perhaps just one relatively minor 'fault' with it , and I would suggest subsequent walkers follow my slight diversion detailed below.

Being completely within the Cotswolds, it's perhaps not much of a surprise that this route has turned out to be a bit of a favourite. The rolling countryside, and picturesque stone buildings are quintessentially English. Immediately when leaving Chipping Campden, the walker faces the steepest and longest incline of the route on the ascent up to Dover's Hill.

It's on this ascent that I believe the route given here has missed a trick or two. Upon reaching Kingcomb Lane, the route takes you past a signed footpath to the right, and along the road for approx. 300m before taking the most direct route (photo 1) to the summit of Dover's Hill (photo 2). I humbly suggest walkers take this first footpath to the right to reach the escarpment of Dover's Hill, and then follow the ridge to the marked summit and rejoin the route. The reason is twofold, firstly it's safer with the amount of road walking greatly reduced, and secondly the ridge route takes in the actual Ordnance Survey trig point as well as additional panoramic views. The given route here is slightly more direct and it is passable, but I think that comes at the expense of a few extra metres.

If you have decent weather and time, Dover's Hill offers supreme views to survey the horizon. When we were there, there was construction of a temporary castle in the amphitheatre at the top. Apparently, this is the location for one of England's treasures, the Cotswold 'Olimpick' games. The games which can be traced back almost 400 years, contain events such as 'shin kicking'(!?!), and would urge you to look it up if you don't already know about it. The descent from Dover's Hill then goes on for about a mile and was an absolute joy on the day we did this. Sublime views ahead (photo 3), we even had a red kite above us for a section of it.

Eventually you reach the village of Saintbury with the lovely 13th Century church and then to Foxhill Manor, from which the route to Broadway is well signposted (photo 9). The crossing across the busy A44 is through a tunnel (photo 15), and eventually you arrive into Broadway via alleyways between the residential buildings (photo 13).

The route has a good selection of stiles, gates, footbridges and steps, but is good throughout. There were a few fields through livestock (sheep), but nothing of any worry. Wholeheartedly recommend this Slow Way, i'd love to come back again one day.

Pleasant views and good route. We combined this with Brochi1 to make a round trip from Chipping Campden. A few small parts where the map didn’t quite match the actual path’s route but it was easy to connect it all up.

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