Archive for July, 2026
Wednesday, July 29th, 2026
A Weekend in Cirencester and The Cotswolds for New Year
Thursday, July 2nd, 2026
Date: 1st – 3rd January 2027
Base Location: Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Price: £45
Overview: A weekend of walking and community in New Year January 2027, based in the historic Gloucestershire town of Cirencester, and the Cotswolds, including the beautiful town of Painswick and the nearby Cirencester Park.
The area you’ll get very familiar with in Cirencester is Market Place (below), which is boarded on one side by the Church of St John Baptist, which is closer in stature and majesty to a cathedral than a regular church.
This is the centre of our ‘Base Camp’ Cirencester, and where we’ll meet for Sunday’s walk.
As it’s the first weekend of January the municipal Christmas decorations will still be up, too, and the town of Cirencester takes pride in its seasonal festivities.
The Saturday is a 7 mile walk from Painswick, known as ‘The Queen of the Cotswolds’, to Painswick Beacon. Painswick is one of the finest and best-preserved Cotswold settlements.
The Sunday starts (after breakfast) with a 6.5 mile walk round the glorious Cirencester Park, just five minutes’ walk from the Parish Church of St John Baptist, conveniently allowing us to start our second day walk from the town centre.
You’ll need to arrange your own accommodation for the Friday and Saturday nights.
Friday 1st January, New Year’s Day
Arrival in Cirencester on the 1st January is pretty flexible; it doesn’t really matter what time you get here.
But if you’re arriving early enough you can rendezvous to dine and socialize with those from the group who have already arrived, should you wish to, and celebrate New Year’s Day together.
I’ll be around from 7:00 pm until at least 9:00 pm. We’ll probably gather at The Kings Head Hotel on Market Place, Cirencester, GL7 2NR.
Christmas decorations on Black Jack Street.
Saturday 2nd January: Painswick
Start Time: 10:30am
Meet Point: The Lych Gate entrance (pictured below) to St Marys Church, 3 New Street, Painswick, GL6 6XH
Distance: 7 miles
Parking: Stamages Lane Car Park (address: Stamage’s Lane, Painswick, GL6 6UZ) is 100 metres South down the hill from the Lych Gate of St Mary’s Church. There are a few on street parking spaces (with time restrictions); outside the Town Hall in Victoria Street and St Mary’s Street.
Painswick Beacon offers perhaps the best 360 degree panoramic views of the Cotswolds.
We’ll be walking to the Beacon from the town of Painswick and the famous Yew Tree lined path of St Mary’s Church.
First we go through the town’s Cotswold stone buildings and out into the countryside to meet up with The Cotswold Way.
Our return route is via Damsel’s Mill and the path alongside Painswick Stream, the Wysis Way.
And return back to the Lych Gate and St Mary’s Church.
Gloucester Cathedral and The House of The Tailor of Gloucester
For those who are of a mind to, if there’s time you might like to detour after lunch to visit nearby Gloucester, with it’s cathedral next door to the The House of The Tailor of Gloucester, based on Beatrix Potter’s book.
Gloucester Cathedral was also used for filing the corridors of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies.
Sunday 3rd January: Cirencester Park
Start Time: 10:30am
Meet Point: Outside the Church of St John Baptist, Market Place, Cirencester
Distance: 6.5 miles
Parking: As we’ll already be in Cirencester we’ll already be parked!
Cirencester Park, and The Bathurst Estate, is right on our doorstep, so we can meet outside the big church in Market Place and stroll to the Cecily Hill Gates entrance to the park.
The park itself includes The Broad Avenue, a tree-lined boulevard of several miles, plus many side turns, so more than enough for us to enjoy a leisurely walk of around 6.5 miles including the ‘there and back’ from Market Place to Park Street.
Cecily Hill (road) also includes some beautiful historic buildings.
Although there is now an entrance fee for the park to the general public, you won’t need to pay this, it will be paid for you.
This photograph shows an aerial view of The Broad Avenue in Cirencester Park.
The walk back takes us right into the view of Cirencester church.
Video
This short video will give you a great insight into Cirencester Park and The Bathurst Estate.
Bibury
After lunch, to start the journey home is the opportunity for you to take a route that drives through – or even stops at – nearby Bibury, possibly the most photographed village in the world.
Arlington Row, Bibury (below), is certainly the world’s most photographed cottages.
We walked from Bibury on our January 2026 trip to the Cotswolds, so we know the area quite well.
“Base Camp Cirencester”
In addition to Cirencester Park, if you have a few minutes and wish to take a stroll, the Abbey Grounds Park is perfect.
It is right in the centre of town, the far side of St John Baptist Church in Market Place, and will give either a few minutes walk, or a full mile walk if you wish to walk the full triangle of its perimeter.
This area includes an offshoot of the River Churn.
For snacks, self-catering and packed lunch filling there’s an M&S Simply Food less than 300 metres along the street from St John Baptist Church and Market Place.
There’s also a Tesco Express within 250 metres from the church, down Cricklade Street.
- M&S Simply Food: 42 Dyer Street, Cirencester, GL7 2PF
- Tesco Express: 45 Cricklade Street, Cirencester, GL7 1HY
Refunds
Refunds cannot be given except on a first come basis if the full capacity of the event is reached AND someone from the Waitlist pays for the event.
Group Ethos
This is an inclusive, boundaries respecting group. Participants must act in accordance with this at all times. Failure to do so will result in instant removal from the event and group without refund.
What to do next?
Don’t book any accommodation before you’ve confirmed your place with me.
- Speak to me or message me to let me know you’d like to go.
- I’ll let you have bank details to make a payment.
- Then you can set about arranging accommodation.
You can call me on 07758 351 527.
I look forward to seeing you there,
James
