Glotew two

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Glotew here.

Walked from Tewkesbury to Gloucester. For the most part this is a very enjoyable walk, which is as rural as it can be, but it involves a number of stiles, some little used paths that are overgrown and a few short muddy sections. Don't expect to see that much of the river Severn, which is hidden behind trees for long sections of the Severn Way.

There are pubs en route below Apperley, at Haw Bridge and at Maisemore, but the route doesn't pass any shops other than those in Gloucester and Tewkesbury, so carry what you need or check the pubs' opening times before walking.

There was one place where I climbed a locked gate because I couldn't see a stile (there may have been one somewhere in the undergrowth). There is also one point on Severn Lane in Gloucester where a canal is crossed on a narrow road bridge without a pavement - anyone who feels this is too unsafe can use the next canal bridge south at the cost of a short detour.

From the junction at the centre of Tewkesbury, we follow Church Street south past the abbey gate and continue along Gloucester Road, then follow the Severn Way sign right down Lower Lode Lane. This road has no pavement and can be quite busy, but because it is narrow the traffic is slow, so no real safety concerns. Just before the river we take the path left in front of the boat club and continue through the meadows. There is a rough path but it is just as easy to walk through the grass. Further on the best path is along the low flood barrier (perhaps because this is the only line that works when the river is flooded).

The Saxon Odda's Chapel is a short distance off the route on a signposted path to the left (I didn't have time for this detour). The path has a few sections between fields that can be wet and muddy, but most of it is on short grass. There is a pub at the end of the lane down from Apperley, and more field paths lead us to Haw Bridge. The new Severn Way route across the bridge is clearly signposted here, and there is a pub beyond the bridge which can be accessed via the road or by a shortcutting flight of steps.

We follow the lane past the pub and continue along a path which starts well but loses definition later. There are long sections where we lose sight of the river behind trees. The GPX line was drawn using the snap to paths option on the OS map, and this proved more helpful than the right of way lines on the 1:25000 map. A large part of it is on a rough farm track with unlocked gates, but further on we cross fields of long grass where the path feels less certain, and as mentioned in the intro there was one point where it led to a locked gate, and I couldn't find any alternative to climbing the gate, though there may be a stile somewhere in the undergrowth.

Beyond the first drainage ditch, the path follows the edge of an arable field on a well cut strip, and by the time we reach Ashleworth Quay we are back on a well marked path. It appears that the house at the end of the lane was a pub until fairly recently, as the words Free House are painted on the wall. The riverside path beyond squeezes between gardens and is a little awkward - it appears that most locals use the diagonal path from the church. We are soon on more clear and well used paths that follow the field edges.

We follow the edge of one enormous corn field where progress feels very slow (on a wide cut strip, so no obstacle). We then follow another large field through Maisemore Park before the river forces us to turn right. At the end of the field we follow the lane up past a gate then take the clear path left along the top of the bank.

We follow The Rudge, a quiet side road with no pavement down to the main road in Maisemore, where there is another pub. I didn't investigate whether there were any shops further up the road. We cross the road and turn left over the Severn Bridge, then follow the cycle track below the road, parts of which use boards over the river. We cross under the A40 and the railway and continue generally southwards. Just before reaching the river, the path bends left to cross under the A430. Beyond the bridge there is a choice - my GPX file follows the route I took staying on the surfaced cycle path and crossing a car park, but there is also a rougher path that may be a little more direct that stays closer to the river and rejoins the cycle track using steps.

Either way we cross the footbridge to reach Severn Road, and we follow the road over the narrow swing bridge over the canal, then turn right along Commercial Road, which we can cross on a pelican crossing with rainbow markings. We ignore the signposted route straight ahead and stay on Commercial Road until Ladybellegate Street, then take the alleyway right to reach Southgate Street and the Gloucester meeting point, where there are a few benches on the pedestrianised street.

Overall I found this a very enjoyable walk, but the new Severn Way route could do with more walkers.

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