North and South of Bibury

The Catherine Wheel is actually in Arlington, just up the hill west from Bibury although it is often referred to as being at Bibury. Cross over the road to the paved path along the road opposite the pub and head west uphill along the B4425 to a side road running north east from main road on the right after about 100 yards.

Follow the side road then paths across fields north west to reach a lane south of Ablington after about 1,050 yards.

• Turn right along the side road and head north west.
• At the fork at SP 1105 0675 bear left following the signs to Arlington Farm House and continue north west to go through a wooden gate at SP 1098 0678.
• Continuing north west go through another wooden gate at SP 1085 0683 into an open field with good views across the Coln valley on the right and at SP 1082 0695 goes through some light woods.
• At SP 1078 0699 go over a stone stile crossing over a path with a barn/shed on the right (see photograph complete with guard sheep!) and continue northwest through a small metal gate to the right of large metal gates and across another field.
• At SP 1065 0713 go through a wooden gate followed immediately by a wooden stile and continue north west along the right hand edge of the field.
• At SP 1055 0723 go over a wooden stile and through a wooden gate a few yards further on, across a wide track and bear slightly left through another wooden gate.
• Continue north west along a narrow path with a hedge on the left and a wire and wooden fence on the right, then passes a house on the left and a low stone wall on the right to emerge on to a lane.

Go north west along the lane then east and north east along lanes through the hamlet of Ablington to reach the road running north west from Bibury after 1,100 yards.

• Turn right along the side road and head north west.
• Turn right onto the lane and head north west. After a short while the lane starts to descend through woods to a road junction at SP 1010 0758.
• Turn right and head east along the lane signposted to Ablington and Bibury and continue to descend gently to cross over the River Coln (see photograph) by a stone bridge.
• At a T junction at SP 1027 0766 turn right then as the lane bear left take the right hand fork at SP 1045 0764, then turn left up a narrow lane a few yards further on at SP 1049 0766.
• Follow the narrow lane north and north east as it winds uphill to reach a T junction at the top of the climb.

Go straight over the road onto the track and continue north east for about 1 mile and 350 yards climbing gently at first then broadly level to a path crossroads at Saltway Barn.

• Go straight over the road and continue climbing on a rough track heading north east.
• Turn right onto the lane and head north west. After a short while the lane starts to descend through woods to a road junction at SP 1010 0758.
• At SP 1068 0793 go through a metal gate as the climb starts to slacken off.
• Continue along the broad farm track north east. The track is a regular farm track and can be quite rutted and sticky in all but dry weather.
• At SP 1105 0847 the path bears very gently right. The photograph looks west from here across the high farmland.
• The path continues north east along the track to reach a concreted area after a metal gate at SP 1172 0913.
• Continue north east across the concrete and over a track to reach a metal gate at SP 1183 0920 at Saltway Barn,

Straight after the gate turn immediately right and head south east broadly level along another wide rutted farm track to a path crossroads at a metal gate by New Covert Plantation after 1,180 yards. This tree stump near the plantation is one of the few landmarks on this stretch of path.

Turn right at the path crossroads through a metal gate and head south west along another broad level path rutted in places and descending towards the end for about 1 mile and 150 yards to the B4425 reached via Packhorse Lane at the end of the path.

• Turn right and go through a metal gate then head south west along another broad level path which is not clearly defined but runs alongside the wall on the right hand side of the field with the Hale Barn buildings directly ahead (see photograph).
• At SP 1213 0794 go through a wooden gate and the bears left to pass in front of Hale Barn which has been converted to a residential property with metal railing in front and pond on the left hand side of the path, to an ornamental wooden gate at SP 1211 0779.
• After the gate continue south west along the driveway to Hale Barn to SP 1202 0762 where the drive turns left to carry straight on south west on a hardcore track.
• At SP 1193 0745 go through a metal gate and pass a reservoir (enclosed) on the left to another metal gate at SP 1179 0713.
• The path continues south west and starts to gently descend towards a house with pale walls and light blue window frames, passes the house onto a concrete drive which runs into Packhorse Lane
• The lane bears left then right as it descends more steeply between the trees and becomes a short tarmac stretch to join the B4425 at the bottom of the hill.

Go east along the road and lane then south past the grounds of the Bibury Court Hotel to cross the River Coln after about 400 yards.

• Cross the road and turn left to head east, then carry straight on into the lane signposted Coln St Aldwyns, Quenington and Hatherop.
• At SP 1189 0675 turn right along the public bridleway signposted Coln St Aldwyns 2 miles.
• Descend the tarmac lane passing the Bibury Court Hotel on the right (see photograph) to the bridge over the River Coln.

The photograph shows the view from the bridge looking west. Over the bridge climb up the lane past cottages then head south and south east to descend to a footbridge over a ditch after about 1,500 yards.

• After the bridge the lane passes through cottages and bears left then right as it climbs.
• At SP 1205 0643 go through a wooden gate with a Bibury Court Estate sign attached to it and head south along the track down a gentle descent directly ahead.
• At SP 1198 0612 go through a wooden gate and continue south up a fairly steep but short climb.
• At SP 1195 0590 go through a wooden gate as the climb slackens off and the path bears left to head south east as a track which can be rutted by estate vehicles.
• The path is bordered by woods, reaches the crest of the ascent and starts to gently descend at first through gateposts (gate no longer there) at SP 1220 0570, then starts to descend more steeply to a wooden agate at SP 1245 0557.
• The path then descends steeply for a short distance to cross a stone stile with a wooden footbridge over a ditch behind it. (If the ditch is dry there is a wooden gate shortly to the right of the stile.)

Head south east across the valley, then climb through the woods before turning south along a level path to reach a lane at Coneygar Cottages.

• Go south east across the valley then climb towards the woods entering them through a wooden gate at SP 1255 0545. The path on the ground runs a little to the east of that marked on the map.
• Climb through the woods to emerge on to a track at SP 1267 0532.
• Turn right on to the track and head south west turning to go south along level ground (see photograph). The path is wide with hedges on either side and reaches a lane at Coneygar Cottages.

Go west along the lane then head north west across farmland to a a farm track crossroads after about 1 mile and 600 yards.

• Turn right onto the lane and head west to SP 1255 0482 and take the footpath on the right heading north west gently descending.
• At SP 1245 0498 go through a metal gate and continues to descend bearing a bit more westerly. Keep to the grass bank on the left rather than the rutted track as the walking is much easier. (see photograph)
• At SP 1217 0515 bear slightly right through a metal gate and continue north west up the fairly steep climb.
• At the top of the climb the path levels out and continues north west along a track which can be rutted by farm traffic.
• The path runs fairly level along field edges or between fields for about three quarters of a mile descending gently at the end to a farm track crossroads with metal gates on the left.

Turn right to head north east along a level track crossing another path to a signpost with five public footpath pointers on it just south of Bibury after about 580 yards. The photograph looks north west down to Arlington from just before the signpost.

Turn left through a gate or over the stone stile to descend north west along the right hand side of the field to go over a stile at SP 1118 0667 onto a short drive leading to the B4425 and turn right back to the Catherine Wheel.