Broadway and Buckland

Broadway Coppice

The second walk of our Broadway weekend. We left the Lygon Arms where were staying and walked up the High St and turned right just before Trinity Fine Arts (once the village school) and followed a path across fields, beside a kennel and then along beside the church.



We then crossed the road and followed the Cotswold Way across fields and a road to eventually enter Broadway Coppice. We climbed through the wood, with scattered bluebells all around and emerged into fields. We continued on the Cotswold Way until a track leading down to Buckland appeared on the right.

We descended down to the village along this farm track to enter this very pretty and well-groomed village which sits in a sheltered combe below the hills. We passed a circular stone house which was once a game larder belonging to the manor.



Further along the road was the fine church of St Michael. We noted the splendid gargoyles on the tower, but because we had to hurry back to the hotel in time for a midday check-out we did not explore its interior. We therefore missed its painted roof, stained glass and woodwork.



A bit further on we turned right and began the climb back up to the Cotswold escarpment. The initial view back to the village was a delight.



Further up, fine views over the Vale of Evesham, Bredon and Dumbleton Hill opened up.



Soon we re-entered Broadway Coppice at a lower level than before and emerged into fields and the final leg back into Broadway, guided by the church tower.



From: Country walks around Broadway (Cotswold Voluntary Wardens). The walk is a lasso shape and we took the wrong path at the critical point and went round the circular part clockwise rather than anti-clockwise. It did not seem to matter.

Map: Explorer OL45 (The Cotswolds).

Conditions: dry, sunny, but a threat of rain.

Distance: 4 miles.

Rating: three and a half stars. Lovely views and a very pretty village.