Painswick's Valleys

The first of the nature reserves on this walk is the National Trust's Blackstable Wood. It's just a small part of the Cotswolds Commons and Beechwoods National Nature Reserve, which includes some of the finest limestone grassland and beechwoods in England.

Next up is Snows Hill Nature Reserve, an idyllic place which is owned by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT). A former farm that has escaped ploughing, pesticides and artificial fertilisers, it remains rich in wildlife, with more than 330 species of flowering plants recorded. GWT maintains a traditional grazing regime, using sheep to prevent scrub taking over.

Elliott Nature Reserve (GWT) on Swift's Hill is another important site for wild flowers, including some that are nationally endangered and some that grow only on limestone. It is particularly notable for its orchids.

Small blue and marbled white are among the numerous butterfly species that breed on the hill.

Frith Wood (GWT) has some magnificent beech trees and it's also a good place to see roe deer. You're more likely to encounter deer if you explore some of the quieter paths to the west of the main bridleway.

At Bulls Cross there are areas of grassy commonland and woodland where you can see leopardsbane, a striking yellow-flowered plant which is uncommon in the wild, though a relative of the wild plant is grown in gardens.

FACTFILEStart: High Street, Painswick (on A46 south of Cheltenham); grid ref SO865095.

Length: 10 miles/16km.

Maps: OS Explorer 179, OS Landrangers 162/163.

Terrain: Woodland and pasture, with some road-walking (almost traffic-free). Moderately hilly throughout; steep in places.

Footpaths: Mostly very good, but waymarking is poor or non-existent in places, there are nettles and you will have to duck low under fallen trees.

Stiles: 13.

Parking: Car park at south end of High Street.

Public transport: Train to Cheltenham then Stagecoach 46 to Painswick, daily; www.traveline.info or Traveline 0871 200 2233 Refreshments: Painswick.

Note: Dogs must be on leads on access land from March 1 to July 31.

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.

DIRECTIONS1 Go diagonally across the churchyard to the far corner. Continue along St Mary's Street to The Cross then descend right to the bottom of Tibbiwell Lane. Cross Painswick Stream then turn left, following the stream to a lane. Turn right uphill. Ignore a footpath on the right but take a lane a little further on. Turn left at a T-junction.

2 Fork right after Field House then take a path into woodland. Go uphill to meet a bridleway and turn left. Keep straight on at a junction, passing Cockshoot House and entering Blackstable Wood. Shortly fork right, away from the woodland edge. When you come to a five-ways junction, take the middle path of the three in front of you. Keep straight on at the next three junctions. Soon, after passing a stile you'll come to another junction - descend left here to a lane. Turn right and keep straight on at a junction.

3 Turn right on a footpath, climb to a road and continue opposite, bearing slightly left across an arable field (the path has been over-cropped) to find overgrown access to a lane. Turn left. Take the first footpath on the right, walking through a field and a copse then turning right on a track. Descend through woodland to a junction. Take the right-hand path, and shortly enter a field. The track remains clear as far as a gate, after which you should keep to the right of Dillay Brook as you follow it down a valley, then pass through an open gateway to join a track climbing along the side of the valley. Keep straight on at a junction.

4 Drawing level with a house, descend left to a bridge then go diagonally right uphill to enter a wood. Turn right, but ignore a waymark directing you right again. Pass to the left of a cottage then cross a track, going straight on along a footpath opposite. Turn right at a cross-path, and follow Dillay Brook through woodland. On entering a meadow, continue forward along a trodden path to find an information panel about Snows Hill Nature Reserve, then continue through more woodland to another meadow. Choose your own route, or follow the trodden path which keeps high up on the valley side before eventually forking. Descend diagonally to the bottom corner of the reserve.

5 Go through a gate, turn right across a bridge, walk uphill to Snow's Farm and turn left along a track. Turn left again at a road junction, then left on a byway soon after Steanbridge Mill. Climb to a cross-path. Turn right through woodland, keep left at a fork and enter a field. Keep straight on. The path becomes a well-defined track which bends left at Furners Farm to meet a lane. Turn right. After you cross a cattle grid, Swift's Hill is on the left.

6 Turn right at a road junction, then join a footpath soon after The Vatch Cottage. Climb to a road, turn right and take the first footpath on the left. Climb to the top of Wickridge Hill then turn right along a track. Continue in the same direction when you reach a junction, soon entering Frith Wood. Either keep to the bridleway, or explore the paths which branch off it, before rejoining the bridleway and following it to the far end of the wood. Turn left on a track at Bulls Cross and keep straight on at a junction, following Greenhouse Lane to Painswick.