Walk 2283 - printer friendly version

Church Westcote & Icomb Circular Walk

Author - Lou Johnson

Length - 5.1 miles / 8.3 km

Ascent - 420 feet / 127 metres

Grade - easy/mod

Start - OS grid reference SP220205
Lat 51.8826320 + Long -1.6817867
Postcode OX7 6SE (approx. location only)

Starting from the attractive village of Church Westcote this Cotswolds walk passes through two other villages with many buildings constructed from honey coloured local stone. The route crosses typical countryside of the area and uses a section of the Diamond Way long distance path.

There is limited parking in Church Westcote with the best option beside the parish church (grid ref. SP220205). After parking and with your back to the church, walk to the left and continue to the next road junction. Join the signed footpath on the left, which initially runs beside the road. After 150 metres veer left between trees and continue along the path through to a track in Nether Westcote (grid ref. SP225204). Follow the track to the village green. Fork left and continue past the Feathered Nest Inn on your left. Where the road bends right, join the clear track on the left. Either follow the track (a bridleway) or the path that runs parallel on the left. After just over a kilometre the Diamond Way comes in on the left.

Continue along the Diamond Way which soon forks right. The path runs inside an area of light woodland to enter fields. A clear grassy path crosses the first field to a stile in the hedge. Entering the second field, follow a clear a clear path across to a small footbridge (grid ref. SP23422). After crossing the bridge turn left briefly onto the Oxfordshire Way. Reaching a track after 120 metres, turn right and continue along the track and pass the extensive buildings of Pebbly Hill Farm. Just before a garden centre turn left onto a signed path (grid ref. SP233229). The path maintains direction across seven fields crossing two tracks along the way. The path exits onto the access drive to Middle Farm where you turn right and walk into the lovely village of Icomb with its church and stone cross.

After exploring Icomb, retrace your steps and 100 metres beyond the church turn right down a path enclosed by hedges. At the end of the enclosed section the path joins the Diamond Way and continues to pass a reservoir on your left. After crossing a field, the path enters woodland where the route heads half-right up through the trees. Exiting the woodland, the path bears half-left and continues to a path junction where the Oxfordshire Way crosses our walk. Go straight across and follow an enclosed path between hedges to enter more woodland (not shown on OS maps). The path goes half-right through the trees and exits into a field where a grassy path leads back to a track and Church Westcote. Fork left at the small green and follow to the church. Turn right into the churchyard to return to the start.

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