Distance: 14 miles or 22.5 km for those more metrically minded (a shorter circular route of 12.4 miles/20km) back to Moreton-in-Marsh possible)
Difficulty: 6 out of 10 for Broadway route and 4 out of 10 for shorter circular route
Train: Take the 8:52 AM Great Western Great Malvern bound train from London Paddington (Reading 9:19 AM), arriving at Moreton-in-Marsh at 10:18 AM. Return trains from Moreton-in-Marsh are roughly at 55 past the hour until 22:01. Buy a day return to Moreton-in-Marsh . The return trip will require a bus from Broadway (Bus No. 1A from in front of the Lygon Arms at 18:10) to Moreton-in-Marsh to connect with a train back to London.
This walk is a real festive gem at this time of year with a cheery ending in Broadway, twinkling with simple white lights through the village. For the best route, I recommend starting off on the SWC 115 route (in reverse) via Blockley (which is the most scenic part of this route) then switch into the normal instructions at Broad Campden up to Chipping Camden for lunch and then on to Dover’s Hill . From Dover’s Hill, we will follow the well-marked Cotswold Way to Broadway Tower and down to Broadway Village .
More information on the walk and a route map can be found here . Please note that the ending to Broadway is map-led – essentially following the well-marked Cotswold Way from Dover’s Hill for 4.5 miles to Broadway Tower (and 1.5 miles further down to the village).
The recommended lunch pub is the Eight Bells (01386 840 371) in Chipping Campden (8 miles/13 km into the walk), a traditional inn serving innovative home-cooked food. However, there are various other options available in Chipping Campden. For those doing the shorter circular walk, the Bakers Arms in Broad Campden is the recommended point of call.
Tea or stronger stuff can be had at various locations in Broadway or back in Moreton-in-Marsh.
Enjoy the walk!
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n=7 emerged on the Moreton in Marsh platform for a brief round of formalities and route briefing before setting off under w=partly-sunny-partly-cloudy-but-breezy-conditions. The initial fields on leaving Moreton were a bit water logged -- but careful sidestepping kept everyone's feet dry -- even those wearing low-level approach shoes! Once we started our ascent, the paths were generally good with some pockets of mud here and there, mostly at kissing gates. The group fragmented somewhat in the morning -- but all reconvened in Chipping Campden which was packed with people and a Christmas Market. Four were able to dine at the 8 Bells -- but the booking could not be extended -- so the other 3 found lunch at Luigi's.... Both groups finished about the same time and reconvened at the Market where some did a bit of shopping and others indulged in warm drinks before setting off to Dover's Hill where we enjoyed the far views.... On we went along the escarpment in the fading light -- arriving at Broadway tower in the dusk with its lights still on (they switch off at 4:30pm we discovered). After admiring the view, the deer and the twinkling lights of Broadway, we set off down the hill arriving in Broadway shortly after 5pm. We had plenty of time to wander up the main street admiring the seasonal store windows and light displays and stop for a bevie at the outdoor tables at the Broadway Inn before catching the 18:10 bus back to Moreton.... where we decided to enjoy a group dinner... an interesting new Sri Lankan could not accommodate us so we settled for a nearby Indian -- The Spice Room -- not withstanding its name, consensus was that some of the dishes were a bit bland... but an enjoyable way to end the day nonetheless....2 raced off for the 8pm train while the rest leisurely finished their meal and caught the 9pm train armed with supplies.... A great day out with excellent group cohesion in the afternoon -- gold stars to the full team! As regards the weather, we experienced one passing shower that gave us enough concern to don our waterproofs -- but by the time we finished zipping, snapping and adjusting.... the sun came out.... There was also a significant looking shower while we were in the pub.... so all in all a generally dry, but breezy day.....
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