[1] From the lay-by, follow the grass path to the Grenville Monument.
(A) This monument marks the spot where Sir Bevil Grenville fell during the Battle of Lansdown. It was erected by Henry Grenville, Lord Lansdown in 1720 to commemorate the heroism of his grandfather, the Royalist commander and his Cornish pikemen at the Civil War Battle of 1643. Trees have now grown up around the monument, which would once have commanded a fine view over the valley below. It is difficult today to imagine the horror of the Civil War battle that took place on this spot.
From here, continue following ‘Cotswold Way’ signs, over a stile and along a wooded path until you reach grassland. Keep to the wall on the left to climb a further stile, then follow the path down to the left. Beyond a gate, follow the track ahead as far a waymark post and here, go through the kissing gate on the left.
[2] Cross the field diagonally to a further kissing gate, then continue downhill, passing a bench and going through a gate, then continuing on with a lake visible ahead.
[3] On reaching a lane, turn left, crossing a cattle grid and start to climb. Beyond a farm, the ‘Cotswold Way’ bears right, but you continue ahead up the lane to cross an old, almost defunct, cattle grid. Go right here, through a wooden gate to a house and walk up the drive, ignoring a waymarked stile on the right but going through a field gate ahead.
Climb the field ahead, aiming diagonally to the left to pass through a waymarked gate. Turn right to follow the field boundary around the stone walls of Hamswell House then picking up the right boundary to reach a stile in the top corner of the field. You will be guided by a waymark on a telegraph pole in the middle of the field that clearly points the way.
(B) Hamswell was one of the three manor houses in the parish of Cold Ashton granted to the Priors of Bath in AD 921 by Athelstan, the first king of all England. The Priors owned it until the dissolution of the monasteries in 1535. Robert Whittington, a descendant of the famous Dick Whittington took a lease on the manor house in 1543 and his grandson, William Whittington was finally able to buy the house and the estate in 1622 and the family owned the house and the estate for over 300 years. Hamswell House as it stands today is 16th century with 17th and 18th century remodelling. The house is a popular film location and has been featured in Tess of the D’Urbervilles, Skins and Casualty.
Cross the stile, and go diagonally right to reach a double stile near the far right corner of this next field. Continue in the same direction for a short distance to a further stile, then go left to the road.
[4] Your route turns left here and follows the road for almost a half mile. The road can be very busy and there is no verge and little refuge, so try walking through the shrubbery on the left as far as you can, before dropping down to the road and crossing to face the traffic. There is a blind right-hand bend to negotiate, but beyond that, a sparse hedge with field beyond could give the unprincipled walker safe passage for most of the remainder of this unpleasant stretch.
[5] At a left bend, principles give way to practicalities as you must go through the new metal gates on the right, then keep left, passing through the field boundary to another field. (The legal access to this field is through an uncrossable gate!)
Safe at last, follow the boundary of the field (the cross-field path is always cropped) to the beech trees, the row that you have seen on the horizon many times from the west – a bit of an anticlimax now. Climb a stile in the right corner of the field, then make a steep descent, passing ancient earthworks utilized during the Civil War. Keep to the right and look for a double stile in the hedge. Negotiate this, then walk down to the metal field gate, pass through, then go diagonally right to a ladder stile in the far corner of the field.
[6] You are now on a lane at crossroads. Go straight over into Marshfield Lane and continue as far as a farm entrance on the left. Here go up to the footpath sign on the left by a barn, pass through the wooden field gate and turn left, walking with the barn on your left. Just beyond it, go left through a gate, then walk right, up the track to reach open countryside where you continue your ascent diagonally right. As the climb eases, you reach a cross-track with a gate away to your right.
Crossing this track, continue on the path which will take you up the hill, passing through the hedge boundary, then climbing steeply with woodland to your right, to reach another battle information board. Pass through the kissing gate and walk ahead, keeping to the right boundary with fine views beyond. Near conifers, go through another kissing gate, then in a short distance, through a wooden gate and descend steps to a track.
[7] Turn left, eventually passing woodland on the left and a golf course right. At the end of the woodland, you reach signed cross-paths. Turn right, with the passed sction of the golf course now right. By a barn, bear left, then immediately right, walking with the golfers now on the left.
[8] At a gate, go through and walk downhill, again with superb views. On reaching a waymark post fork left on a grassy path, going through a gate, then keeping with the left boundary and the high ground as far as another waymark post. Turn left, climbing to a kissing gate, then walk ahead across the field. You are crossing an ancient hill fort, turn right after crossing the remains of ramparts and ditch of the fort and continue to the field boundary where you are directed left. Walk with the right boundary, passing through a kissing gate and onto the racecourse. Continue to Prospect Stile and a stunning vista.
[9] Now continue, contouring the hill and keeping on a level course, aiming to the right of the radio mast and picking up the woodland boundary on the right. As you come level with the radio mast, go left, cutting across the race course and picking up a metal fence on your left for a short distance. Cross the racecourse once again and head for the left end of a stone wall. Pass through a gap by a waymark post and walk with the wall and racecourse on your right, golf course left. Keep with the wall, passing the clubhouse and associated buildings left, to a racecourse entrance on the right.
Now go diagonally left, through a gate to reach the road. The Blathwayt pub is to your right, but the walk continues left, along the road, which you cross at your earliest, safe opportunity. Walking on the grass verge, and ignoring a waymarked gate on the right, continue on, forking right at a road junction.
[10] Continue down this road a short way and turn left through a kissing gate on to the waymarked permsisive path (this is not the footpath route marked on current OS maps). Follow this path past a barn on your right. Continue straight on the permissive path with the fence on your right until you reach a gate. Pass through and head diagonally right across the field to reach a gate.
[11] Follow the track beyond to reach a stile on the left that you crossed on your outward journey. Go over and retrace your footsteps back to the Grenville Monument and the start.