Local Walks - Vineyard to Nailsworth Town

> START from Woodchester Valley Vineyard Tasting Room walk downhill, enjoying fine views over the valley, to meet Convent Lane and turn RIGHT

>Follow quiet lane along past houses to crossroads junction

>Turn LEFT downhill passing church on left, and continues downhill to meet the A46 road

>Turn LEFT following pavement along to shortly reach the historic Woodchester Wayside Cross 1917, Britain’s first WW1 memorial.

>Cross the road opposite memorial, to the delightfully named Gydynap Lane

>After 60 metres along Gydynap Lane turn RIGHT at car park to follow footpath along between two walls and through tunnel

>Turn LEFT up steps, and then go LEFT onto the leafy, tree lined cycle track

> After about 500 metres reach a bridge with a bench and a signpost here you can take a very short diversion to look at Dunkirk Mill a striking old textile mill. Go LEFT down steps and under tunnel, to a footbridge over stream here turn around to enjoy a good view. The small museum here is occasionally open and you may be able to see interesting artefacts from the woollen industry and the 1855 12-foot-wide waterwheel in action. First mentioned in the Domesday book these valleys were full of woollen mills powered by waterwheels throughout the middle ages right up until the industrial revolution. 

>Continue on the cycle track for another kilometre, passing ponds and riverside to emerge by some modern wooden houses on the right

>Follow road as it weaves right, left and right to emerge by the fire station

>Turn RIGHT with the old RAILWAY HOTEL building on your left and EGYPT MILL restaurant entrance on your right

>Stop awhile to enjoy the view of the charming old mill or wander along to enjoy a drink or meal by the lovely waterside setting or go inside where you can see the giant working water wheel

> Turn LEFT on small footpath alongside Railway Hotel on your left

>Emerge under giant old tea kettle sign- Nailsworth town to your right

>Morrison’s supermarket is ahead, to your left is THE OLIVE TREE restaurant, a few steps on your right is HOBBS HOUSE BAKERY and café, and WILLIAMS fishmonger, deli and bistro facing you to the right across the roundabout, note the War Memorial clock and the historic drinking fountain ahead

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OPTION A) RETURN BY CYCLETRACK

> Enter narrow path under Tea Kettle

>Turn RIGHT to pass the Railway Hotel

>Turn LEFT following cycle track signs, road winds a little passing modern wooden houses on left

>Follow cycle track for 2km as it passes ponds and old mill buildings at, metal fence to car park turn RIGHT to exit track, RIGHT down steps and turn RIGHT to go under tunnel and pass by stone walls

>Turn LEFT onto Gydynap Lane pass between buildings to carefully cross busy A46 road in front of Wayside Cross

> Turn LEFT along pavement and shortly turn RIGHT up Convent Lane passing church

>At crossroads past school road bends to the RIGHT and meanders along until you reach the tall stone wall of the Convent and turn LEFT to climb back up the Woodchester Vineyard stone road and enjoy a well-deserved glass of wine!

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OPTION B) RETURN ALONG QUIET LANE WITH CHARMING COTTAGES AND VALLEY VIEWS

The lane follows the spring line and you will pass several roadside wells

>From EYGPT MILL walk past RAILWAY HOTEL on right and straight ahead up path between walls

>Through gate then turn LEFT to follow country lane with cottages located along the spring line and several open wells along the roadside!

>Follow lane along rising gradually uphill, passing houses, with tall Cotswold stone walls topped with hedges

> Note Gold post box on left by YATESFIELD HOUSE celebrating the 2012 Olympic gold medal of Nailsworth resident, world-class rower Peter Reed

>As road climbs uphill pass on right “GLENDOWER” cottage with metal railings in front This is where Welsh poet and author of “Diary of a Super-Tramp” W. H. Davies lived. A good spot to linger for a moment and read his most famous and enduring poem.

LEISURE

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare,

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long at sheep and cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.
 

>Continue along as road bends to left and passes 40 ZONE sign, pass large Sycamore tree on left and large house DUNKIRK MANOR on right, road winds along passing charming cottages on right, road meets Theescombe Hill joining from right

>Take the LEFT fork, road narrows, pass footpath sign on left ignore, view opens out on left

>Go between two stone walls, wooden gate on left at ST FRANCIS, shortly as road starts to bend to the right, come to a garage painted green on the right “HIGH TREES”

Here walk turns to return directly to Woodchester Vineyard or see further below OPTION C) a slightly longer walk adding an extra 1km loop through our oldest vines at the Amberley vineyard site

>Turn LEFT following footpath downhill under trees to a field with fine views across the valley

> Cross field diagonally RIGHT downhill heading for a stile

>Cross stile and immediately path goes RIGHT to a stile in fence

>Turn LEFT onto narrow tarmac lane going steeply downhill

>Pass houses on right continue going downhill to cross cattle guard through gate to the right

>Gydynap Lane bends to the right to cross over the cycle track and emerge between old mill buildings to meet the A46 opposite the Wayside Cross

>Cross road, turn left on pavement

>Immediately turn RIGHT up Convent Lane then Right at junction by school to follow Convent Lane along to vineyard entrance on your LEFT, climb up road to enjoy a well-deserved glass of wine!

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OPTION C with extra 1km loop through Amberley vineyard

>Carry on ahead pass willow tree, road winds, go straight ahead through steep crossroads junction

>Road bends right then left and goes uphill between trees, as road goes slightly downhill reach the easy to miss, NEU-LINDSEY NATURE RESERVE on left, with wonderful carved entry posts

>Turn LEFT into field down steps to enter the tiny ancient hay meadow reserve with rare wildflowers, Bee and Pyramid orchids, Adonis Blue butterflies, nearly eighty species of moths and the uncommon great green bush cricket

>Path slopes right downhill 

>Diagonally right down one more field to exit by unusual circular steps in stone wall

>Cross tarmac drive and straight through kissing-gate, follow left edge of vineyard down with VINES on right

>Through kissing-gate past very old vines on left to wooden stile

>Turn RIGHT cross stile, stepping stones over stream, through stile

>Pass under old overhanging trees

>Through tall wooden swing gate into vineyard

>Turn RIGHT to follow right edge of vineyard up

>Turn LEFT at top to follow top of vineyard along. Stop to enjoy wonderful views across the valley

>At top edge of vineyard turn LEFT and follow footpath downhill to exit to busy A46 road

>Cross road with care, turn LEFT onto pavement

>Follow pavement for 100m to turn RIGHT onto road

>Turn RIGHT for a short distance passing round stone house on your left

>Turn LEFT up Convent Lane, rising steeply up and curving to the left

>Follow lane along passing houses until you see vineyards on your right and then a high stone wall on the right

>Shortly lane levels off to reach Woodchester Vineyard entrance on your right, turn right climb up stone road to cattle guard

>Go through wooden gate to left of cattle guard and follow path up with vineyards on your left

>At top of road turn right to Vineyard Barns and Tasting Room and enjoy a well-deserved glass of wine!