Snowshill - Cotswolds

Distance 26km

Climb c350-400

Time 2/3 hours

Grade red

Rating 3/5

This trail contains an assortment box of classic Cotswold features in to one peaceful and beautiful ride. From the sticky clay that is famous of these parts to the natural, loose-gravel singletrack found on the higher grounds, where the earth has been worn thin through years of erosion. From rolling grassy hills extending high over the wolds to damp and rooty woods.

Starting in Broadway and following a quick blast along the B4632 towards Winchcombe, there is a long climb up to Snowshill. Pass through a farm, bearing left, and, following a sedate cruise along the lane, head in to the village. 

Pass straight past the pub (it's probably too early in the ride for beer so keep going) and head up and out of the village. After another short road blast (minor) the trail heads off road and climbs along a typical stony track before passing through a copse and around the edge of two fields.

Arriving at the third, one finds an array of natural sheep tracks criss-crossing the field, which offer short but sweet roller coaster style fun.

The next section of trail, following another short road jaunt, follows a wooded singletrack bridleway for an extended period before opening out in to a wide valley. The  trail continues along a thin ribbon of dirt trail that follows the contours of the hillsides until you reach a farm. A steep climb through the woods brings you back out on high wold country. 

At times one can feel distinctly isolated. Despite being on top of the Cotswolds, the escarpment is a few miles away. As such you are denied the wide expansive views of Leckhampton and Cleeve hills to the point where you can feel a little like you're in the middle of nowhere at times.

In the summer, however, I would suggest there's no better place for 'loosing yourself'. The peacefulness is sublime. Just you, the bike and Mint Sauce for company. 

The trail passes through a number of fields, gates and styles unfortunately breaking up the flow slightly, as you head back towards Broadway.

Latch on to the Cotswold Way at Littleworth Wood, revel in the speed and increasingly technical terrain on this descent before dropping back in to Buckland and on to Broadway.  Alternatively take the cheaky shortcut through a few fields, following the Cotswold way all the way back to Broadway.

There are sections of this trail that fall foul of precipitation quite badly effectively limiting this one to a gloriously sunny and frosty winters day, when the ground is frozen solid, or once the ground has dried during the summer. However, despite this, the descent in to Broadway is still worth the climb so can be combined with an alternative XC loop or completed as a quick fix

If you are not a resident of the Wychavon district, parking is available in many public car parks, including Milestone Ground (long stay) and Broadway has plenty of cafés and pubs for post ride drinks and cake.