[1] From the car park, turn right on Old Market (walking away from the bus station), to reach a road junction and Chestnut Hill on the right, signed ‘Quaker Meeting House’. Climb the hill passing the Meeting House on the left in Quaker Close. Quakerism had been introduced to Nailsworth in 1655, with the initial meetings being held at friend’s houses. After a search for more permanent accommodation, this site was acquired around 1685.
Continue the climb to a fork. Go right into Fewster Road then in a few yards, left into Dark Lane. Follow this to a junction at the top, with a ‘No Through Road Ahead’(no sign on 16 Mar 14). Turn left into Seven Acres Road and follow the road downhill until it bears right. On this bend, opposite a stile and stepped path on the left, take a footpath up to the right. The path can be overgrown at first, but soon clears. Pass a house on the right, then later, a waymark post. A little further, the path makes a short descent to a junction. From here, until you leave the woodland, you need to follow instructions carefully as the paths on the ground bear no resemblance to those shown on published maps!
[2] You are at cross-paths (GR ST 8372 9989), with the roofs of houses down to your left. Turn right, climbing past a waymark post in a few yards. Stay on this path as it levels out then climb again to the top of the hill where you reach further waymarks and a path junction with metal field gates ahead. Take the broad path running down to the left (ignoring a path right to a wire fence and one doubling back down left). You will soon see a parallel path down to your left, and you have easy walking now through mature woodland on a good, broad path. Ignore a path joining from the left, and continue for some distance to where the track makes a U-turn, up and round to the right.
Ahead is a narrow path passing beneath power lines. Take this for a few yards, then before the path climbs into the woodland, go left, then immediately left again, the narrow path passing left beneath the power lines again at a lower level. The first section of this path can be rife with nettles in summer, but battle through and continue downhill. (NOTE: On 16 Mar 14 - The trees have been cleared from under the power lines, follow the power line downhill to the next electricity pole (Ref No ZRYF64) and turn left.
[3] Ignore a path joining from the right, then as you near the valley bottom with a stream within sight, you meet a clear path joining from the right with a waymark post. You need to double back right here – if you miss it, a short distance further you come to a bridge over a brook; turn back! Now on this lower path, walk with the brook on your left, then drop down to cross it via a wooden footbridge. Climb the stile ahead and follow the path to another stile, go over and walk with the fence on the right. When you catch sight of an electricity pole up to your left climb the meadow to reach it, then continue on uphill to a track at the top. Turn right, and follow the track towards the farm. Go through a field gate, pass Lower Lutheredge Farm on your right, and onward through another gate. Follow the track ahead, passing through three further gates with barns on the right.
[4] Continue on the farm track to go through another gate, then walk, boundary right, beneath power lines. Beyond the next gate you pass a farm on the right, then turn left onto a metalled drive. ] As you reach fields on the left opposite the last building on the right, climb the stile into the field, then go diagonally across, in the direction of the footpath sign. You need to aim roughly midway between the driveway on the right, and the field hedge on the left, then when the far hedge comes into view, make for the lone tree in the centre, climbing stiles either side of a lane before reaching it. Pass into the next field and cut straight across to a gap in hedge and waymarks on the far side. Go into the following field, turn left and walk along the field edge with the hedge on your left. As you near the top corner with a road visible beyond, make for the field gate to access the road.
[5] Turn right and walk with care along the road as far as a farm drive on the left. The road is in a dip here and bending right, not the best place to cross. Cross you must though, and take the drive to the farm. At the end of the drive, go through a field gate and follow the track with farm buildings on the right, then continue, crossing a cattle grid and walking with a wall on your right. As the wall ends, continue on the track to the next field boundary and waymark post. Here, turn back sharp right and cross the field, heading towards the woodland. (In summer, the path is clear across the crops, but cleared by walkers and not by the farmer, so it's not immediately obvious.) Climb a stile into the wood, then follow the path passing a way mark post to emerge on the far side, where you go over another stile into a meadow. Go downhill, keeping in touch with the fence on the left until it swings left.
[6] Now strike out across the meadow towards a yellow-painted waymark post, crossing a small brook to reach it. From here, aim for the fence ahead, to a further post by a stile. Climb over to reach a driveway, cross this and climb stile and go ahead down the field to climb a stile by metal gates. Now descend to a stream and cross bridge and climb the hill to reach a stile at the top. Go over and follow the cross-field path to the top left corner of the field by the electricity pole. Here, go through a kissing gate and follow the left boundary to eventually arrive in Kingscote.
(A) Kingscote is a small, unspoilt Cotswold village. Most of the houses are built in traditional Cotswold stone, with the land boundaries marked by dry stone walls. The village has a long history, originating with the country mansion of the Kingscote family, who could trace their ancestors back to Saxon times.
Follow the road left, (with the church off to the right) to the end of the village where you take the turning left, signed ‘Binley Farm’. At the end of this short lane, keep to the right, passing a field gate, and cross a stretch of gravel to enter a field. Follow the field edge, keeping to the stone wall on your right until you reach a clear gap in the right-hand boundary.
[7] Go through and continue in the same direction, now with a hedge on your left. At the top of the field, go through the gate and cross the track, then follow the path diagonally across the field ahead, which leads you to a stile where the fence joins a wall. (NOTE: Way marks direct you to follow the left field boundary to the stile.) Climb over to another field and again take the cross-field path. (Note: Way marks direct you to follow the left field boundary.) At the end of the path, continue downhill to climb a stile and enter woodland. In a few yards you join a track; continue in the same direction, gradually losing height and in springtime, walking through a heady mix of wild garlic and bluebells. The track descends through a beech wood and you continue ahead, ignoring a track joining from the right, until you eventually reach a junction. Broad tracks go left and right, but you need to take the one ahead going half right uphill. Follow the track to a gate, go through, and pass cottages to reach a fork with garages to the left.
[8] Go right, the track soon bearing right again. Continue on to reach a tarmac lane and the village of Horsley. Your route now doubles back down the lane. At the bottom of the hill and before a bridge, turn sharp left onto a path and walk with a stream on your right, passing a footbridge. You soon reach the first of a series of millponds – little grebe nest here and their high-pitched trill is often heard. Beyond the dam, pass a path joining from the left to arrive a short distance further at a junction with sculpture in the undergrowth on the right. Follow the main path left to a road. Cross over and take the narrow surfaced path ahead, walking with the stream on your right. You leave the tarmac when you reach a driveway on the right, signed ‘The Mill House’ and ‘Willow Fishery’. Follow the driveway to a gate and here, ignore the footpath sign ahead, but go left, over the stream.
[9] Walk with the fishponds to your right, after which you have a choice of routes. The RoW takes you ahead, through a metal gate and continuing along a driveway, passing Horsley Mill on your right to reach a road. Continue along the pavement as far as a stepped path descending right. Take this, crossing a permissive path at the bottom.
The alternative route follows a waymarked permissive path going right, then passing fishponds right and Horsley Mill on the left.
(B) Horsley Mill was one of many in the Nailsworth area. Once a woollen mill, it is now a college run by the Ruskin Mill Trust, who own most of the land in the valley through which you have been walking. Since 1986 the Trust’s educational methods, drawing inspiration from Rudolf Steiner, John Ruskin and William Morris, have improved the lifetime opportunities for many people with learning disabilities.
Beyond the Mill, the path continues alongside more fishponds, eventually reaching the PRoW coming down from the left.
[10] If following the alternative route, go right here, along the PRoW. Beyond the mill leat, the path goes left, then up to the right, then left again between cottages. You now enter woodland, the path leading you down to the banks of a millpond. Ignore a path joining from the right and continue to the mill, with its now defunct waterwheel.
(C) This is Ruskin Mill. Originally known as Millbottom Mill, it was a 16th century corn mill before becoming a fulling mill in the 17th century. With the decline in the woollen trade, the mill was put to a variety of uses before eventually falling into decay. In the 1980s restoration began by a group of volunteers and there is now an interesting art gallery, education centre and craft workshops. Vegetarian food is served here in the café (open daily 10am to 4pm). The entrance is on the far side of the building, accessed from the road.
The walk continues from the waterwheel along a path between cottages, eventually reaching the Old Bristol Road. Cross with care when convenient, and continue to a junction where you descend left along Butcher Hill’s Lane, passing Brewery Lane on the left, to join Market Street.
Butcher Hill’s Lane along with Dark Lane, your route out of town, were pack-horse roads of great antiquity. The Nailsworth Brewery was registered in August 1889 to acquire the business of Clissold & Son who had established brewing on the site around1800. In 1908 the Brewery was amalgamated with the Cheltenham Original Brewery, but then subsequently closed. Most of the brewery and malting buildings have since been demolished.
Keep in the same direction for a short distance to reach a road junction. Old Market runs to the right and you follow this back to the car park.