Walk stats
- Distance7 km · 4.4 mi
- Elevation+334 m
- Duration2 hr
- DifficultyModerate
- Route typeLinear
- TerrainEscarpment paths, woodland tracks and village lanes
- Best seasonLate spring to early autumn
- DogsDog-friendly; livestock likely, keep on lead near fields
About this walk
This 7 km section of the Cotswold Way traces the western edge of the escarpment between Coaley and Stonehouse, packing in wide Severn Vale views, quiet woodland and gentle village lanes. From the start at Coaley, the path climbs to the Coaley Peak Toposcope, a superb viewpoint where the engraved dial helps you pick out landmarks across the Vale towards the Forest of Dean and Welsh hills beyond.
Beyond the toposcope, the route drops through Stanley Wood, a shaded stretch of beech and mixed woodland that softens the descent off the scarp. You emerge near Windmill Field with Sandford's Knoll rising nearby, before the path eases down to King's Stanley and its Baptist Church, a well-known landmark on this stretch of the trail.
The final kilometres roll gently towards Stonehouse across lower ground, passing the King's Head and the parish reminders of Saint George along the way. With 334 m of ascent packed into a short linear day, it is a rewarding taster of the Cotswold Way's best ingredients: escarpment, woodland and stone-built villages.
Route map
Route line drawn from OpenStreetMap footpath data. Numbered markers are waypoints on the route; amber star markers are points of interest a short detour away.
Waypoints along the route
4 waypoints along the way
- 1
Start: Coaley
- Start
The start of the route.
- 2
Coaley Peak Toposcope
- 3
Kings Stanley Baptist Church
- 4
Finish: Stonehouse
- Finish
The end of the route.
Worth a short detour
Points of interest just off the route, look for the amber markers on the map.
Sandford's Knoll
~226 m off the route
Stanley Wood
~231 m off the route
Windmill Field
~471 m off the route
King's Head
~236 m off the route
Saint George
~252 m off the route
Route & waypoint data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).