The sodburys & southwolds
running the length of the Sodburys’ hill range is the Cotswold Escarpment, known colloquially as the Cotswold Edge. This is the divide between the hilltops and the Severn Vale, a slope with a view!
Old Sodbury lies in the lee of the Cotswold Edge, and there can be few better churchyard seats than that to be found in St John’s Church in the village. The church enjoys a slight elevation with a grand outlook across the Severn towards the distant Welsh Hills.
north of Old Sodbury lies Little Sodbury, with another fine church that has connections with William Tyndale. While employed as a tutor in the village, Tyndale started work on his translation of the Bible into English.
On the hilltop above these neighbouring villages we find Sodbury Fort, a site of multioccupancy that is one of the finest hill forts in the Cotswold region. Cotswold stone villages, fine views, ancient churches and a hilltop antiquity all combine to form a perfect short stroll in the Southwolds.
in terms of refreshments, Old Sodbury’s Dog inn is a family and dog-friendly village pub with great food and ales. The pub is over 500 years old and retains all of its character and charm, as well as having a fine beer garden.
Getting there
■ Old Sodbury lies two miles west of Chipping Sodbury on the A432. Park in Chapel Lane that runs alongside the Dog Inn.
■ 1. Cross the A432 from Chapel Lane into Cotswold Lane. In a few paces, bear left down a side turning – the Cotswold Way – towards a farmyard. Walk through Church Farmyard to a handgate and walk across to the far right corner of the field ahead. Beyond a handgate, walk along the bottom left edge of a field, following the line of electricity wires, to a handgate at the far end of the field. Follow the line of the electricity wires across four fields to a handgate at the far end of field four and a lane. Cross the lane to a handgate opposite, before crossing the next field to a gate in its far right corner and the road in Little Sodbury.
■ 2. Detour left to explore the village and find the church in 150 yards. From the church, walk back through the village, passing the gate and field on the right passed earlier. Keep on the lane as it climbs uphill out of Little Sodbury. At the top of the climb, having passed a private driveway on the left, keep on the lane for a few paces before turning left at a handgate signpost ‘Cotswold Way Sodbury Hillfort’. Walk uphill through an orchard to a handgate, beyond which is a junction. Follow the Cotswold Way Bridleway climbing uphill to the left. Almost at the top of the climb, bear right on a path signposted Cotswold Way and continue to a handgate and a field housing the Sodbury Hillfort.
■ 3. Walk ahead for 20 yards, pass through the ramparts on the right and walk across the hillfort enclosure to a gap in the ramparts opposite – or follow the ramparts ahead around the site. Beyond the gap, keep ahead to a gate before following the Cotswold Way to the right downhill. In 200 yards, pass through a gateway on the left and follow the Cotswold Way across the top left edge of a hillside field with views to Chipping Sodbury and beyond. At the far end of the field, pass through a handgate and walk across the next field to another gate before following an enclosed path down to the road by Old Sodbury School. Turn right along to the local church, pass through the churchyard and enter a hillside field, a topograph on the right. Drop down to the bottom left corner of this field, pass through a gateway and cross a field across to a gate and Church Farmyard. Then retrace your steps along a lane to Cotswold Lane, the A432 and the Dog Inn.