The best walks and hikes around Stourton

Off road. Not recommend for road bike.

At the heart of many beautiful roads and climbs in the North Cotswolds

A pleasant route through the golf course. However, I passed through at 8pm on a rainy Thursday night. Not many golfers about. I imagine it would be a bit trickier at 11am on a sunny Saturday. The public footpath is well marked with well placed warning signs but you will still need your wits about you at busy golfing times.

"The name "Brailes" is thought to originate either from the Old Welsh breg-lis - "hill court" - or the Old English byrgels - "burial place". Castle Hill Motte in the middle of the village is a natural knoll that was made higher in the Norman era to form the motte of a motte-and-bailey castle. Its construction may have been ordered by Roger de Beaumont, who was Earl of Warwick from 1123–53. Earthworks of both the motte and the bailey survive, and the site is a Scheduled Monument. Brailes was the home of William de Brailes, a 13th-century medieval painter of illuminated manuscripts. Of the many artists who painted such manuscripts, William is one of only two whose name has been recorded. It was also the birthplace of Thomas de Brayles (died c.1340), a senior judge and Crown official of the early fourteenth century, whose highest office was Chancellor of the Irish Exchequer. On the other side of Stocks Hill is Brailes House, the former home to the Sheldon family. The Sheldons have held the manor of Brailes since 1547." Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brailes

"The Church of England parish church of Saint George is the largest in the Kington Hundred and is locally called the "Cathedral of the Feldon". Feldon is an Old English word meaning "the land from which the timber has been cleared away". Excavations in 1879 beneath the arcade between the nave and south aisle are said to have found 12th century foundations. The south aisle was added in about 1280 and is the oldest part of the present church building. The western part of the south arcade was added in about 1330–40 when the nave seems to have been extended westwards to its present length of six bays. At the same time the clerestory was added to the nave and the chancel was rebuilt with its present Decorated Gothic east window. The north aisle may also be 14th century, but rebuildings and alterations in 1649 and 1879 have obscured the evidence for its original appearance. In the 15th century an additional window was inserted in the south wall of the chancel. St George's is a Grade I listed building." Source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brailes

Sutton-under-Brailes is a village and civil parish 17 miles (27 km) south of Warwick, in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. The name "Sutton" means 'South farm/settlement', the "Brailes" part referring to being 2 miles south of Brailes. Sutton-under-Brailes was recorded in the Domesday Book as Sudtune. The Church of St Thomas a Becket was originally built during the Medieval period. It was restored and partly rebuilt in the Imperial period. 12th century nave, but the only remaining 12th century architectural feature is the north doorway which was later reset. The Chancel was rebuilt in the 13th century; it seems to have been lengthened at the end of the century, and larger windows provided. The south tower was an addition of c1340, but the top was probably completed later in the century. A large restoration was undertaken in 1879; the west and south west walls of the nave were rebuilt and new roofs provided. The font and other furniture are modern. Source; Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutton-under-Brailes Source; https://www.ourwarwickshire.org.uk/content/catalogue_her/church-of-st-thomas-a-becket-sutton-under-brailes

This was a damp, drizzly, mizzly evening so the view was a bit limited. However, I imagine that on a sunny, summer evening or a crisp, clear winters morning the views will be spectacular.

nice road side village from which you can start plenty rides into this part of the Cotswolds. Don't miss the store for refueling.