Cypress House

Cotswold Way (Stinchcombe Hill by pass)

Bypasses the main Cotswold Way ascent with a gentler alternative around Stinchcombe Hill's base. Mostly flat to gently undulating terrain along field edges and quiet lanes, making it manageable for families with older children who can handle a few stiles. Dogs welcome on leads near livestock. Choose this if you want easier going whilst still progressing along the National Trail, though you'll miss the hilltop's sweeping Severn Vale views.

Salmon Way

Follows the River Frome through Stroud's wooded valleys on mostly flat, well-maintained paths with occasional gentle inclines. Suitable for families and generally buggy-friendly on main sections, though some narrower stretches may prove tricky. Dogs welcome on leads near livestock. Worth doing for the mix of riverside scenery, industrial heritage including old mills, and surprisingly peaceful pockets just minutes from Stroud town centre.

Cotswold Way (Selsley Common route)

National Trails

Undulates through classic Cotswold escarpment terrain with moderate climbs and spectacular westward views across the Severn Vale. Suitable for older children comfortable with longer distances, but not buggy-friendly due to uneven paths, stiles and steep sections. Dogs welcome on leads near livestock. Worth it for panoramic viewpoints, limestone grassland wildflowers, and that quintessential Cotswolds feeling of walking along the edge of England.

MST27

Severn Way (3) Worcester to Bristol