Uley and Owlpen

About trip

Uley was a much busier place in the 18th century when there were eighteen cloth mills in and around the village. The 'Uley Blue' cloth was used for military uniforms and became as well known as the red cloth of the Stroudwater district. The site of the Iron Age hill fort at Uley Bury above the village is one of the most spectacular in the Cotswolds and it affords outstanding views over the Severn Vale. Directions: a Park in Uley and walk up the path to the right of the post office. Just before the fields turn right along the signposted footpath between the holly bushes. Turn sharp left just after the start of the stone churchyard wall. Go through the kissing gate and head half-left straight up the hill towards the large tree standing at the edge of the wood. Pick up the well-defined path running along the edge of the wood to a gate. b Go through the gate and follow the path uphill. The path runs to the left of a metal fence after which there is a metal gate. Head uphill along the edge to the Uley Bury information board. c Turn left and follow the path to the south-east edge of the hill fort. d Turn right between the hillocks and walk downhill through a gate. Keep on the main path steeply downhill, cross a stile and emerge from the woods. Follow the track downhill behind the houses. e At the end of the path turn right, go through the metal gate and at the road turn left past Uley brewery to the main road. Turn left and walk as far as South Street. f Turn right into South Street and follow the road round past the school. Take the right hand fork signposted ‘Sheppard’s Mill’ and leave the metalled road to fork right before the mill and across the stream to a gate. g Go through the gate. Continue straight ahead, ignoring the gate and stile on your left and keeping the fence to your left. At the end of the field go through a gate and head in the same direction towards the far left corner of the field to a stile. Head uphill to the next stile just beneath the woods. h Cross the stile and turn left down to the road. Turn right onto the road for about 100yds (90m) to a gate on the left just before a house. Go through the gate and bear left downhill alongside the fence to a gate on the left. i Go through the gate and head to the left of the church. Cross the stile onto the track and head down to the road. Turn right and walk along the road back to Uley. Places of Interest: 1 Uley Bury occupies a superb promontory site with 300ft (90m) drops on all sides except the north. A rampart and ditch provides further protection. It encloses an area of 30 acres (12ha) which is now privately owned arable land, and could have sheltered up to 2000 Iron Age people. 2 The small medieval manor house of Owlpen Manor is noted for its picturesque setting. The building dates mainly from 1450 to 1616 with some 18th century additions. After 100 years of neglect it was restored in Arts and Craft style in 1926 by Norman Jewson. The gardens are open to the public but the house is closed during 2010 for renovation.