North Cerney, Rendcomb and Woodmancote

An undulating walk around the valley of the River Churn between North Cerney and Rendcomb.

  • Start Point:
  • SP 0191 0791. The Bathurst Arms, North Cerney.

  • Length:
  • 7.65 miles
  • Ascent/Descent:
  • 1,060 feet
  • Description:
  • The walk climbs away from the Churn valley, crosses North Cerney Downs visiting Rendcomb airfield, goes through Rendcomb, drops to the Churn valley then climbs away again, before descending back again through Old Park Woods and returning to North Cerney alongside the River Churn. The walk is a mixture of tarmac and mostly easily followed paths over fields with a little bit of woodland. In one or two places the ground may be a little boggy especially when the weather has been wet. There are a few steep gradients and several longer moderate climbs.
  • Date Walked:
  • 13th April 2012

The Bathurst Arms.

Start from the Bathurst Arms in North Cerney, grid reference SP 0191 0791. PDF of the walk and/or Google Earth Track of the walk.

Map No Grid Reference Distance Instructions
1 SP 0191 0791 2,500 yards

Turn right out the pub car park and go east along Dark lane. Keep right along the lane through the village and climb steeply around the bends as the lane leaves the village, the climb slackens and then levels out the reach a crossroads at the Whiteway. The photograph looks back down Dark Lane towards the village. Go straight over the crossroads continuing east towards Calmsden falling gently at first then a bit more steeply to where a bridleway is signposted on the left at SP 0405 0863.

2 SP 0405 0863 1,500 yards

Take the bridleway north west climbing moderately then gently across fields then Rendcomb airfield to where the bridleway meets the Whiteway.

  • Turn left off the lane through a metal gate along a bridleway heading north west up a moderate slope.
  • At SP 0385 0883 go through a gap in a hedge and bear left to head more west up a more gentle slope.
  • At SP 0352 0889 go through a gap between and wall and a hedge onto Rendcomb airfield.(see photograph)
  • Continue to climb gently along the southern edge of the airfield to where the bridleway meets a lane (the Whiteway).
3 SP 0302 0909 1,100 yards

Cross the Whiteway and continue north west descending to a lane east of Rendcomb.

  • Cross the lane and go through a wooden gate, continuing north west diagonally across a field along a broadly level path.
  • At SP 0260 0938 go through wooden gate onto a short track between hedges then through a metal gate with Rendcomb village visible ahead of you. (see photograph)
  • Continue north west descending fairly steeply to go through a metal gate at SP 0238 0951 followed after a few yards by another metal gate.
  • Bear slightly right to head more north and continue to descend to join a lane via wooden gate at SP 0227 0970.
4 SP 0227 0970 1,070 yards

Turn right onto the lane and go north east, climbing steeply at first then slackening off to meet a lane at the top of the climb (the Whiteway). The photograph looks back down the lane towards Rendcomb.

5 SP 0314 1009 1,460 yards

Turn immediately left heading north west off the Whiteway down the drive leading to Greenmeadow Farm. Near the end of the drive turn left and head south west across the valley of a small stream to reach a lane on the north side of Rendcomb village.

  • Turn immediately left off the Whiteway and head north west along the tarmac drive to Greenmeadow Farm.
  • At SP 0279 1031 turn left off the drive through a wooden gate followed after a few yards by another wooden gate and descend west diagonally across a field.
  • At SP 0262 1029 go through a wooden gate and descend south west into the valley of a small stream.
  • Cross the stream using the stepping stones at SP 0247 1021 (see photograph) then climb up the opposite side of the valley continuing south west.
  • Climb over a wooden stile at SP 0221 0987, then turn right over another wooden stile at SP 0218 0982 and head west along a narrow path to a lane at the north end of Rendcomb village.
6 SP 0211 0982 930 yards

Turn left onto the lane and go south west and west through Rendcomb descending over the River Churn (see photograph), then climbing to the junction with the A435.

7 SP 0149 0951 800 yards

Turn right onto the sometimes busy A435, heading north to take the second lane on the left. Climb the lane to where a path over a stile is signposted on the left at SP 0106 1005. (see photograph)

8 SP 0106 1005 1,050 yards

Turn left off the lane over the stile and head south west undulating across rough field, a stream and through woods to reach a lane north of Woodmancote along which the Macmillan Way runs.

  • Turn immediately left off the Whiteway and head north west along the tarmac drive to Greenmeadow Farm.
  • Go through the gate and continue south west around the north edge of the wooded area to a metal gate at SP 0088 0995.
  • Go through the gate and descend to cross a small stream which may be a bit boggy when the weather has been wet, then climb the opposite side of the small valley to a wooden gate at SP 0078 0977.
  • Continue to climb heading south through a metal gate on the right at SP 0079 0972 followed immediately be another metal gate into a wood.
  • Climb through the wood to go through a wooden gate at SP 0078 0969.
  • Continue south on a level broad track through the wood (see photograph) to join another broad track. Turn right onto the track to a metal gate at SP 0072 0952.
  • Go through the gate and head south west diagonally across the field to reach the lane north of Woodmancote via a metal gate at SP 0063 0929.
9 SP 0063 0929 1,620 yards

Go south to skirt a farm on the edge of Woodmancote, then head east and go down hill through woods at the end of the descent to the A435.

  • Turn right south west along the lane, then after a short distance at SP 0060 0926 go over the stile on the left.
  • Go south west across the field towards the farm buildings visible ahead.
  • At SP 0050 0909 go through a metal gate by the farm yard and bear left to head south.
  • At SP 0062 0887 go through a metal gate and turn left to head east.
  • Go through a wooden gate at SP 0090 0895 and continue east starting to descend as a wood closes on the the north(left hand) side of the path.
  • Go through a metal gate at SP 0125 0900 staring to descend more steeply to a wooden gate at SP 0136 0896.
  • At SP 0145 0894 go through a wooden gate into a garden then turn immediately left through another wooden gate into the wood.
  • In the wood turn right and descend through the trees (see photograph) to the A435 at the bottom of the descent.
10 SP 0156 0892 530 yards

Turn right and go south along the A435 to where a path leaves the road on the left over a wooden stile into the meadows around the River Churn. The A435 is a busy road and the left (east) side of the road provides the widest verge to walk on. The photograph shows a lodge at an entrance to Rendcomb Park which you pass on the left along the road.

11 SP 0161 0848 950 yards

Cross the stile and the meadow and go over the River Churn. Go south initially along the meadows alongside the River Churn, then over the shoulder of a hill and back to North Cerney and the pub.

  • Cross the stile and go east across the meadows by the River Churn to cross the river via a footbridge at SP 0170 0852. (see photograph)
  • Turn right after the footbridge, through a wooden gate and go south veering south east across the meadows alongside the River Churn.
  • At SP 0186 0834 go through a metal gate and climb up the side of the hill heading south east then south.
  • Descend off the hill through a wooden gate at SP 0200 0801, down a short track to Dark Lane. Turn right and descend Dark Lane to return to the Bathurst Arms.
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