I'd agree with the previous review that it's definitely a walk of two halves – between Northleach and Rendcomb is a lovely meander through lots of open countryside and woodland, while Rendcomb to Cirencester is a pretty straight shot south following the river, but dips into some really nice little hamlets along the way. For much of the route there's no good alternative to the marked path unless you want to walk along White Way (a fairly quiet but pavement-less road which runs parallel and about 1km East of the A435) However at Baunton you have the option of a path from ///eyeliner.headboard.young to ///neon.laugh.grumble which runs along the top of a ridge, slightly East of the marked path and likely to be much drier...

Aidan OBrien

To the south of Greenacres Park the path is obstructed firstly by some hurdles forming a crude fence and then by crops in the field with no path defined. Later approaching Driffield there is a fallen tree across the path and more crops....

RobRinger

Fairly easy to follow route involving the towpath of the old Thames and Severn canal for a lot of the section from Cirencester to South Cerney....

RobRinger

Possibly a duller part of the walk, quite exposed and there was one small but welcome diversion into the adjacent woodland and an amazing sculpture of a horse's head as you come into Cirencester....

Karen Phimister

From Rendcomb to Cirencester you walk through the river valley, mostly through scruffy field margins....

Dougal

Flat route, no holdups apart from temptation at Cotswold Outdoors Cafe! Completed in 3 hours....

Tiger_eyes

However (and this is not a criticism of the route which I think is the best currently possible) the 2nd part of the walk from North Cerney is not a s smooth....

Cillian

I am going to be rather more generous with this route than 5PintE though they are correct that the Eastern end of this route from Sapperton to Cirencester passes through Cirencester Park; while not a public right of way there is public access between 8am and 5pm and it is a far more scenic approach to Cirencester than the alternative Strcir2 route, see https://www.bathurstestate.co.uk/visitors/cirencester-park/. From Stroud to Sapperton the route follows the Thames & Severn Canal path (https://www.cotswoldcanals.net/exploring-thames-severn-canal.php). From Sapperton the route follows the rather impressive Broad Ride into and through Cirencester Park (NB: daytime only)....

icsens

Follows the Monarch's Way Trail route so generally well maintained, well signed and easy to follow. Gently rolling through mostly arable farmland with a handful of stiles and gates and a bit of road walking....

Aishling

The last 5 miles of this route run through private land (Cirencester Park) with no public right of way. Some of the route is along permissive paths but not all of it and the gates are locked at 17:00 every day. See STRCIR 2 for alternative route using the Thames Severn Way from Stroud to Coates and then along the Monarchs Way to Cirencester....

5PintE

Once out of Cirencester this route follows the towpath of a disused canal as far as South Cerney Lockhouse....

5PintE