Bredon Hill Circular from Elmley Castle

Cotswolds Walk

Maps

Walk Route Description

Bredon Hill is an isolated hill with the Severn Valley to the west and the Vale of Evesham to the east. The plateau of the hill is traffic free and offers wonderful views in all directions including the Malvern Hills and the Cotswolds. The summit lies on top of a steep west-facing escarpment and is the site of an Iron Age fort and features a tower and an 'elephant' rock! The walk offers an energetic route which includes significant uphill walking. However, the rewards are relative solitude and some great views. Carrying the relevant map is also recommended as although route finding is generally good, there are a few places where a map will prove to be useful.

The start of the walk is the attractive village of Elmley Castle (grid ref. SO983412) where on street parking is available. However. do park with courtesy and respect local residents access. After parking, walk south along Main Street. At the Queen Elizabeth Inn, turn right into Hill Lane. After 200 metres or so either take the first footpath on the left, which offers a shortcut, or stay on Hill Lane and follow it when it turns sharp left. Continue to climb steadily up Hill Lane passing several attractive half-timbered cottages.

Where the tarmac lanes ends (grid ref. SO973408) continue ahead on a sunken track to reach a gate. Fork right on a clear track and almost immediately bear left on to a narrower track that leads between Fox Hill Wood and Doctor's Wood. Once through the gap, take the gate on the left and follow a rising ill-defined bridleway leading across a field. This leads to the northernmost corner of Long Plantation (grid ref. SO967403). Turn right here onto the Wychavon Way climbing steadily to reach the plateau. The bridleway soon reaches the Iron Age Fort with the adjacent tower. It is worth spending some time here to enjoy the magnificent view to the Malvern Hills.

To continue, walk south west with a wall to your right. Pass through two gates and into a small plantation. In a further 250 metres take the stile on the left and continue past Sundial Farm (grid ref. SO955392) to reach a track after a further 300 metres or so. Turn left along the track and then right into the Belt. After 250 metres turn right down a tarmac lane. This descends gently to reach the road at Overbury after a mile (grid ref. SO960378).

Turn left onto the road and follow it as bends sharp right into Pigeon Lane. When the road bends sharp right (grid ref. SO967377), turn left up a track. After 150 metres turn right and follows this track over the flank of Conderton hill to reach a 'crossroads'. Go straight across soon turning right to a barn (grid ref. SO976376). Just after the barn take the stile on the left. Stay on this path to reach Grafton (grid ref. SO984373). Follow the lane eastwards through this hamlet down to a T-junction (grid ref. SO986371). Turn left.

At the next bend, turn left onto a track and walk uphill for 200 metres. Take the footpath on the right across several fields passing Paris to join the Wychavon Way above the village of Ashton under Hill at grid ref. SO995379. Turn left and follow the Wychavon Way along the northern escarpment of Bredon Hill for just under two miles to reach a four-way junction of bridleways (grid ref. SO973395). Turn right here into the trees and descend passing Fiddler's Knap. At the next fence, cross the stile and take the path heading north to Elmley Castle. This path leads across fields and through the churchyard to join the southern end of Main Street.

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