Stage 4 from Winchcombe to Cleeve Hill - Sudeley Estate, Belas Knap long barrow, and the highest ground on the trail across open common. Distance, ascent, descent, and what to expect on this exposed stage.
Stage 4Leaving Winchcombe through the Sudeley Estate, this stage climbs onto the escarpment and passes Belas Knap, a Neolithic long barrow dating back more than 5,000 years and one of several prehistoric monuments along the National Trail. A steep descent through Breakheart Plantation near Postlip is followed by another climb toward Cleeve Hill.
The stage finishes on Cleeve Common, the largest area of common land in the Cotswolds and an important landscape for wildlife, archaeology, and grazing. The hill forms a broad expanse of limestone grassland rather than a single sharp summit. From the western edge, clear conditions may allow views across the Vale of Evesham and Severn Vale toward the Malvern Hills and, in exceptional visibility, the Black Mountains of Wales. This section is more exposed than the sheltered valleys to the north, and weather can change quickly.
Carry a map and offline route - see our Maps and navigation page for guidebooks and apps. For overnight stops near Cleeve Hill, browse accommodation in Cleeve Hill. Cafes and pubs for this section are listed on our Food & Drink page.
Places to stay before you start this stage - browse more in Winchcombe.
Places to stay after finishing this stage - browse more in Cleeve Hill.
