The walk begins with a long, slow descent from the top of the Cotswold plateau to the old wool village of Avening. This is a fairly open landscape, in striking contrast to the later stages, where there are deep valleys, small communities, old mills, and secluded ponds. Much of the initial route follows the dry valley of Ledgemore Bottom. Most rainwater here sinks rapidly down the porous limestone rock of the Cotswolds. These plateau lands were traditionally pasture land for sheep, whose wool brought wealth to the region.
Avening itself is a long-established settlement, as shown by the numerous prehistoric remains nearby. The best long barrows are found north of the village, notably the Tingle Stone. The village was the centre of the early woollen industry, when weavers worked at home, and there are a few industrial remains; a few old clothiers' houses, on three floors with large upstairs workshops, can be found near Holy Cross Church. Dating from the early Norman period, the church is shaped like a cross with the tower at the centre. The interior includes a monument to Henry Bridges, a notorious pirate who lived at nearby Avening Court.
Beyond Avening the walk climbs back on the ridge and there is a fine view across the valley to Gatcombe Park, home of Princess Anne. Dropping down again into the valley the walk passes near Longfords Mill, just east of the Weighbridge Inn. This mill continued in production until the 1990s, remaining profitable because it had the largest mill pond in the area and hence the most reliable power. The path then approaches the mill town of Nailsworth through the woods but avoids the town centre.
The walk then follows paths and alleys up a side valley towards Horsley, which contains several old mills and two large millponds. From here the path climbs to the little weaving hamlet of Hartleywood, then through the woods above the Midland Fisheries — another large millpond more recently used for fish farming — back up to the top of the plateau. On the way there is a fine view back to St Martin's Church in Horsley, with its impressive Norman tower.
Acknowledgment: Text derived from the Out and Out Series; Discovering the Countryside on Foot. Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.
