Bibury, Arlington and Ablington

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Our view

"The outer charm of a weavers' village conceals miserable working conditions."

Walk directions

From the entrance to the trout farm, walk away from Bibury along Cirencester Road. Opposite the telephone box, after The Catherine Wheel pub, turn right along a lane and then keep left at a fork. Go through a wooden gate, past some cottages and through another gate into a field. On the same path, curve left and then right through fields and past a farm building until you come to a road.

Turn right and walk down to a junction. Turn right into Ablington and cross the River Coln on a bridge. After about 33yds (30m), turn left along a track with houses on your right and a stream to your left. Continue to a gate and then follow the track, veering to the right and heading slightly uphill, arriving at another gate after 0.3 miles (500m).

Go into a field and turn sharp right along the valley bottom. Follow a twisting route along the bottom of the valley. When you reach the next gate continue into a field, still following the contours of the valley. The route will eventually take you through a gate at the far end of the field beyond a row of ash trees, just before a barn and with another gate immediately after.

Keep to the track as it bears into the right-hand valley and gently ascends a long slope, with woodland to your left. When the track goes sharp right just beyond the end of a conifer plantation, with a gate before you, turn left through a gate onto a track. Follow it all the way to a road.

Through a gate turn right. After 250yds (229m), where the road goes right, continue straight on through a gate to enter a track (the Salt Way). Continue on this for over 0.5 miles (800m), until you reach the remains of Saltway Barn.

Go through a gateway and fork left, then into a field and walk to the right, along its upper right-hand margin. Walk on for just under 0.75 miles (1.2km), passing hedge and woodland and, at a crossroads of tracks, turn right through a gate, waymarked public bridleway, into a field. Keep the wall on your right.

Walk on and pass to the left of Hale Barn after a gate. Enter a track, with the large buildings of Bibury Farm away to your left, and keep on the same line through gates where they arise. When you eventually reach some cottages, descend to a drive which will, in turn, bring you to a road in Bibury. Cross the road to walk down the street with the row of cottages beyond the telephone box on your right. At the end, near the church and school, turn right. Walk along the pavement into the village, passing Arlington Row and the river on your left, back to your starting point.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Fields, tracks and lane, may be muddy in places

Landscape - Exposed wolds, valley, villages and streams

Dog friendliness - Lead required throughout – lots of sheep and horses

Parking - Off-road parking area in Bibury village opposite Trout Farm

Toilets en route - Near Post office

Walks in Gloucestershire Dog-friendly walks in Gloucestershire

About the walk

Arlington Row is the picturesque terrace of cottages that led William Morris to refer to Bibury as the most beautiful village in England. It was originally built, it is thought, in the late 14th century, to house sheep belonging to Osney Abbey in Oxford. The wool was washed in the river and then...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Gloucestershire is home to a variety of landscapes, including the Cotswolds, a region of gentle hills, valleys and gem-like villages that roll through the county. To their west is the Severn Plain, watered by Britain’s longest river and characterised by orchards and farms marked out by hedgerows that blaze with mayflower in the spring; beyond the Severn are the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley.