Chipping Campden and Dover’s Hill (4.5 miles)

This delightful short walk leads you through the charmingly English market town of Chipping Campden, around shaded woodlands and past breathtaking views. A wonderful introduction to the Cotswolds, and a perfect start to the Cotswold Way.

• Distance: 4½ miles (Short cut: 3 miles)
• Duration: 2½ -3½ hrs (Short cut: 1½-2½ hrs)
• Difficulty: Moderate, some steep sections (Short cut: Easy, avoids climbs)
• Parking: walkers are asked to use the free parking in Back Ends. Dover’s Hill car park belongs to the National Trust.
• Public transport: accessible by bus from Traveline Stratford upon Avon and Broadway
• Refreshments: plenty of places to eat and drink can be found here: Chipping Campden Where to Eat

Points of Interest:

• The Market Hall - Built in 1627 by the town's wealthy benefactor, Sir Baptist Hicks, this landmark of the town was built to provide shelter for traders. Back then townsfolk would trade goods like cheese, butter and poultry. In the 1940s it was almost sold to an American, but local people heroically raised the money to buy it first. They gave it to the National Trust so that people young and old can continue to cherish this delightful building.
• Lynches Wood -  provides a fine show of bluebells in May.
• Dovers Hill - stands at 230m above sea level. The lower slopes of the hill indicate past Roman activity and are now wooded with native trees such as Sweet Chestnut and Larch. The expansive views from the hill enhance the sense of space and feeling of extensive rolling countryside.

Dovers Hill is home to the Cotswold Olimpick Games, an annual celebration held at the hill on the friday after Spring Bank Holiday, these are thought to have begun as early as 1622. The Olimpicks traditionally include events such as shin-kicking, morris dancing and tug-of-war, although in the past there would also have been sword-fighting and horse-racing events. A temporary wooden castle used to be constructed, called Dover Castle, from which ceremonious gunfire was sounded throughout the Games. Robert Dover, a local lawyer, started the Games with the approval of King James.