Tewkesbury Battle Trail
1.4 miles (2.2 km)This walk follows the Tewkesbury Battle trail in the Gloucestershire town of Tewkesbury.
The waymarked route explores the site of the Battle of Tewkesbury, one of the most decisive engagements of the Wars of the Roses. Fought on 4 May 1471, the battle saw the Yorkist army of King Edward IV defeat the Lancastrian forces led by the Duke of Somerset, effectively ending the Lancastrian claim to the English throne.... Much of the battlefield remains undeveloped, allowing visitors to walk through the landscape where these historic events unfolded. Although this defeat wiped out the direct Lancastrian royal line, it set the stage for the war's ultimate conclusion. Fourteen years later, Henry Tudor revived the cause by rallying remaining Lancastrians and rebel Yorkists to win the crown. He then permanently unified the rival houses by marrying Edward IV’s daughter, Elizabeth of York.
The trail passes a number of interpretation panels explaining the course of the battle and visits key locations including Bloody Meadow, where some of the fiercest fighting took place. The largely level route crosses open fields south of the town and provides an insight into medieval warfare while also offering pleasant views across the surrounding Gloucestershire countryside.
The walk finishes back in the historic centre of Tewkesbury, where visitors can explore the magnificent Norman Tewkesbury Abbey, one of the finest medieval churches in England. The town is also renowned for its network of medieval alleyways, timber-framed buildings, riverside walks along the Severn and Avon, and its annual Medieval Festival, which commemorates the battle with one of Europe's largest historical re-enactments.
Ordnance Survey Map
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OS Map (Mobile GPS)
OpenStreetMap (Mobile GPS)
Interactive Map
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