The Cotswold Way began life in 1970 as a long-distance path running north to south through England's largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

At 102 miles long, from Chipping Campden to Bath, it's not surprising that some sections of it relied on permissive access rather than rights of way, or that it included unpleasant stretches alongside busy roads, as well as dangerous road crossings.

In 1998 it was decided to give it the enhanced status and funding of a National Trail, but that meant bringing it up to standard.

Incredibly, it has taken until now to finish the job, with most of the time taken up by consultations with landowners, formal legal proceedings and re-alignment work.

Paths have been routed away from busy roads where possible and new crossing points have been constructed.

Surfaces and drainage have been improved and new signs, stiles, gates and bridges have been provided.

The new National Trail will be officially launched at Stanway on May 24 and celebrated with various events over the bank holiday weekend, including a walking festival at Dursley.

The Cotswold Way is used for the first few miles of this lovely walk from Winchcombe, one of the most charming small towns in the Cotswolds. It was once a provincial capital of Mercia and an important centre of pilgrimage, with a shrine to Kenelm of Mercia, the boy-king murdered near Clent in 819.

Kenelm's shrine was completely destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, but the ruins of another centre of pilgrimage still survive. This is Hailes Abbey (National Trust/English Heritage), which pilgrims coming from Winchcombe approached along Puck Pit Lane, now part of the Cotswold Way.

The abbey is worth a visit, along with the nearby church which contains mediaeval wall paintings.

The Gloucestershire Way also features in the walk and when you join it you'll notice a series of terraces on the hillside below: these are strip lynchets, formed in the Middle Ages by a combination of ploughing and gravity.

Further down the slope, and in other places along the route, there are ridge-and-furrow systems, also formed as a result of Mediaeval ploughing.

Also visible from the Gloucestershire Way (and from the Cotswold Way approaching Hailes) is the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway, a preserved line run by volunteers. Steam trains operate between Cheltenham Racecourse and Winchcombe year-round (but not every day: details at www.gwsr.com or 01242 621405). Fluke's Hill is the best place from which to watch the trains.

Before joining the Gloucestershire Way you'll walk along a bridleway known as Campden Lane because it was once one of the main routes to the important market centre of Chipping Campden (Chipping means market). Winchcombe has associations with three of Henry VIII's wives - Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Parr. After Henry's death, Catherine Parr lived at Sudeley Castle with her fourth husband, Thomas Seymour, and is buried in the castle chapel. The castle is open daily from April to October (no dogs except guide dogs).

FACTFILEStart: Winchcombe, grid ref SP025283 (on the B4632, south of Evesham).

Length: 7 miles/11.5km.

Maps: OS Explorer OL45, OS Landranger 163.

Terrain: Mostly sheep pasture; no steep ascents but one steep descent, which is slippery when wet.

Footpaths: Excellent.

Stiles: Six.

Parking: Winchcombe.

Public transport: For the quickest route go by train to Cheltenham, then Castleways 606 (Mon-Sat) to Winchcombe; those with free bus passes may prefer to go all the way by bus - 550/551 to Evesham, then 559 to Broadway and 606 to Winchcombe; GWR steam trains operate from Cheltenham Racecourse Station to Winchcombe Station (actually at Greet, but on bus route); Traveline www. traveline.org.uk or 0870 608 2608.

Refreshments: Tea room, restaurant and shop at Hayles Fruit Farm; good choice in Winchcombe.

PLEASE NOTE This walk has been carefully checked and the directions are believed to be accurate at the time of publication. No responsibility is accepted by either the author or publisher for errors or omissions, or for any loss, accident or injury, however caused.DIRECTIONS:1 Walk north along the High Street (B4632) on the Cotswold Way, towards Broadway, then turn right on Puck Pit Lane. The Cotswold Way soon takes to the fields and is easily followed until it enters a large sheep pasture with a ridge-and-furrow pattern. Go to the far left corner of this pasture, after which there is no mistaking the route. Pass Hailes Abbey and keep left of Hayles Fruit Farm, walking along the inner edge of Hailes Wood. Emerging from the wood, you'll see a signpost where the Cotswold Way turns left towards Broadway. Keep straight on towards Farmcote instead.

2Pass St Faith's Church and look for a footpath on the left. Initially, this goes back the way you have come, though higher up the slope, but then it turns right, climbing uphill. After 500m, and a slight descent, you will intercept a bridleway (Campden Lane). Turn right and follow it to a lane. Turn left, then immediately right at a road junction.

3 Keep straight on at another road junction then turn second right on the Gloucestershire Way. Initially, this coincides with a farm track running through sheep pasture above a valley. However, after 400m (soon after a stile) the path bears left, leaving the track and passing through woodland before emerging into more sheep pasture. Keep fairly close to the left-hand edge, above the slope.

4 After skirting Little Farmcote the path forks. Go to the left, still on the Gloucestershire Way. Shortly cross a road, continuing opposite. Turn left at the next path junction, going up a bank and then through woodland before descending steeply to hummocky grassland. The path isn't entirely clear but essentially you should be continuing in much the same direction, with a hedge on your right, and Winchcombe Station visible in the valley below. You will come eventually to a waymarked gate, go diagonally left downhill, with the route once again unmistakable, and remaining so all the way to the pretty town of Winchcombe.