The Churn Valley lies in the heart of the Cotswold Hills between
Cheltenham and Cirencester. The ten walks described in this booklet
pass through charming villages with their medieval parish churches. All
the walks are circular apart from the Churn Valley Way (12.5 miles)
which can be conveniently split into three sections; with the option of
using the regular bus service.

The River Churn emerges at Seven Springs near Cheltenham and flows
gently through a secluded valley until reaching Cirencester; then
onwards onto the Thames plain. The valley is intersected by several
long-distance walking routes. It’s right at the heart of the Cotswolds
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and yet one can often walk for an
hour without meeting anyone else.

The Churn Valley has an extensive network of footpaths, bridleways and
farm tracks that run from Seven Springs to Cirencester. At the Northern
end, the Cotswold Way follows the boundary of Coberley parish along
the edge of a dramatic escarpment overlooking the Severn Valley. Just
a mile to the South and the Gloucestershire Way passes through the
village of Coberley. About half way down the Churn Valley, the
Macmillan Way runs across Rendcomb parish whilst the Monarch’s Way
follows the River Churn all the way to Cirencester.

These ten walks add up to 53 miles but the Churn Valley offers lots of
other less well known but equally enjoyable footpaths. The changing
seasons not only bring different weather and underfoot conditions but
also interesting variations in fauna and flora.

Country walking provides an escape from the hassles of daily life,
refreshment by re-connecting with nature and an opportunity for good
companionship.

Arthur Champion (Revd)
January 2020
Cowley Rectory