Cotswolds
England
2024

Cleeve Hill


25. 4. 2024

Peter Schrammel

Weather

overcast

Interest 

***: short hike across the cliffs and summit plateau of the highest Cotswolds hill

Route

Southam, Ellenborough Park, 85m - Cleeve Hill, north summit, 317m - Ellenborough Park

Elevation gain

280m

Distance

6km

Timing

1 1/6h (2/3 + 1/2)

Stamina 

B

Difficulty 

0: quite steep

Danger 

2: path along the cliffs

Visitor frequency 

c: This can get a lot busier, I guess.

Report

Between the meetings and the dinner at our off-site at Ellenborough Park, I had time to go for a hike to the nearby Cleeve Hill. The path starts across the road. It was quite muddy in the beginning, but then led through a pleasant, sparse wood whose ground was covered by flowers. Soon I reached the tree line with a view to the rocky west face. I chose the direct stair-like path climbing up the escarpment. On the plateau there is a golf course with views from the plains of the Severn valley across to the Welsh mountains. The skies were overcast. The highest point of Cleeve Hill is further south, but the better views are from the north summit. So I walked along the cliffs encountering several dog walkers and trail runners. Finally, I reached the summit after 35min at brisk pace. I continued down the direct path to the hamlet of Cleeve Hill and via footpaths to avoid the main road past a manor and some impressive modern houses back to the hotel, where I arrived ready to have dinner after a shower.



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