Wicmar two

Verified Slow Way

Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

This is a great slow way - along well used and easy to navigate footpaths. I really enjoyed it, and it got me where I wanted to go directly and easily. Also passes by the pub in Doynton which is a bonus.

The only downside is having to cross the A46 at Pennsylvania. You have to be very patient - I waited over 10 minutes. Given this is part of the Cotswold Way it is a shame there is no alternative.

Great views over Bristol.

We walked this enjoyable route east-west from Marshfield to Wick. It is well-signed and looks to be regularly used all the way. Access is a mixture of stiles, gates and kissing gates.

It starts along Marshfield's good-looking stone high street, followed by a beautiful gentle valley descent for a mile or so and a short climb up to Cold Ashton. From the churchyard in the village is an ongoing section across the arable plateau, briefly using the Cotswold Way, with crossings of three fast roads (take particular care with the very busy A46 at Pennsylvania, where there is a shop at the garage, if you need one). Once past here, there is a lovely moderate descent of the Cotswold Edge to Doynton, with big views all the way to Wales.

Note that at the western end of the large field at the top of this hill, the path veers a little to the north of the route shown on the OS map where the edge of the field has been fenced off. If approaching from the east, just follow the fence round and you will see the ongoing route through a wooden hunting gate. Beyond, the footpath continues down through the fields with the choice of a shady bridleway right next to it, should you prefer that.

From Doynton, where there is a pub, the route briefly picks up the Monarch's Way through some arable fields and grass leys (sometimes with the path going around a headland, rather than straight across as mapped), with good views all around and back up to the Cotswold edge.

All change approaching Wick, where there is a large quarry which is partly still worked. There is about 200 yards of road here which, though roomy and not hugely busy, is bendy, so take care. After this there is a well-fenced, safe path through the noisy works with an interesting view down into the quarry and its lake, before arriving in Wick down a wooded slope and through a narrow twitten between the houses.

The pretty main street of Marshfield reminds you that you are on the edge of the Cotswolds, and this route takes you off the edge of the Cotswold plateau, following the AONB gateway walk #4 to Doynton https://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Marshfield-10.03.21.pdf before nipping off to Wick around the back of a large working quarry.
This version of Wicmar slow way has a much safer end section into Wick and corrects a mistake in Marshfield. The start takes you into a lovely valley, where you might be lucky (?) enough to see the local hunt, before steeply climbing up to Cold Ashton. There is a bit of road crossing to be negotiated, but the way is well marked, and the views are great especially coming down into Doynton.

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