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Bibury, River Coln and Arlington Row Walk

6.21 miles (10 km)

Ordnance Survey Map Open Streetmap This circular walk takes you around the delightful village of Bibury and the surrounding countryside. Bibury is a typically lovely Cotswolds village with pretty stone cottages and a wonderful Saxon church. This walk takes you through the village and then along a riverside footpath to the nearby village of Coln St Aldwyns. You'll follow the River Colne into the village before returning to Bibury through the countryside on footpaths and bridleways. You'll also pass the famous Arlington Row cottages, built in the 14th century. The picturesque dwellings are one of the most photographed Cotswold scenes.
In Coln St Aldwyns you'll find an old mill house, a Norman church and a fine 16th century inn for refreshment. Near here you could also visit pretty Quenington with its large medieval dovecote and a Grade I listed church built mainly in the 11th century

Bibury-River Coln-Arlington Row OS Map Ordnance survey map - Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking

Bibury-River Coln-Arlington Row Open Street Map Open Streetmap - Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking

Walks near Bibury-River Coln-Arlington Row

  • Chedworth Roman Villa - This circular walk around the village of Chedworth visits the fascinating Chedworth Roman Villa and Chedworth Woods.
    The walk starts in Chedworth and follows the Macmillan Way long distance trail to the National Trust owned villa
  • Monarch's Way - This incredible 615-mile walk approximates the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the Battle of Worcester
  • Macmillan Way - This epic long distance path links Boston in Lincolnshire to Abbotsbury in Dorset
  • Coln St Aldwyns - This pretty Cotswolds village is located in a pleasant spot on the River Coln
  • Eastleach - This Gloucestershire village includes the settlements of Eastleach Turville and Eastleach Martin which sit either side of the River Leach.
  • Southrop - This Gloucestershire village lies just to the south of Eastleach on the eastern edge of the Cotswolds.
  • Quenington - This delightful Gloucestershire village is located on the River Coln in the Cotswolds

Pubs/Cafes

The Swan Hotel in Bibury is a fine place for some post walk refrfeshments. It has a lovely terrace garden near to the river where you can relax ona summer day. You can find it a postcode of GL7 5NW.

Further Information and Other Local Ideas

If you head north west from the village you could visit Chedworth Roman Villa. The interesting historic site also includes some nice woodland walking trails around Chedworth Woods. Two waymarked long distance trails can also be picked up here. The Monarch's Way and Macmillan Way are both good ways to explore this lovely area of the Cotswolds.
Just to the south west there's the villages of Ampney Crucis and Ampney St Peter where you can visit a series of noteworthy ancient churches.
To the south east there's Eastleach where you can enjoy two noteworthy Norman churches and an ancient stone slab clapper footbridge over the River Leach. It's another picture postcard place known for its numerous historic buildings and a colourful display of daffodils in the spring. Lovely Southrop can also be visited in this area.

Photos

The River Colne in Bibury - geograph.org.uk - 1440310

The River Colne in Bibury

A Riverside Cottage, Bibury - geograph.org.uk - 1575499

A stone Riverside Cottage. Just across the river from Arlington Row.

Arlington Row, Bibury - geograph.org.uk - 231329

Arlington Row. A row of weavers' cottages now owned by the National Trust and attracting coachloads of tourists.

River and Road Bridge, Bibury - geograph.org.uk - 1575491

A delightful scene with the river and road bridge.

Swan Hotel, Bibury - geograph.org.uk - 553082

Swan Hotel. Looking across the hotel gardens and the river Coln to the hotel itself in this very popular tourist spot.

Stained Glass Window , Church at Bibury - geograph.org.uk - 161894

Stained Glass Window : Church at Bibury. The stained glass window at the bottom end of the knave in the church with the late afternoon sun shining through, so I guess the view must have been westish.

Church of St Mary, Bibury, Gloucestershire (geograph 4661089)

Church of St Mary

Arlington Mill in Bibury - geograph.org.uk - 1440332

Arlington Mill in Bibury

Video

GPS Files

GPX File

Bibury-River Coln-Arlington Row.gpx (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold>Download Linked File)

Memory Map Route

Bibury-River Coln-Arlington Row.mmo (On Desktop:Right Click>Save As. On Ipad/Iphone:Click and hold >Download Linked File)