A Walk and a Pint at The Bakers Arms Broad Campden

The Cotswolds remains a rural place very much through-out. Subsequently you can usually find new walking routes close by relatively easily. We love to drive just a few villages over and find paths that might lead to unfamiliar nooks of nature or views we’ve never set eyes on before. We feel like explorers and I think that’s something all humans love to experience. 

On Saturday, as always, we used the website ‘U.K. Footpaths Map’ and found a new route. We knew vaguely where we wanted to begin our walk and where we wanted to end up – at The Bakers Arms and roughly a couple of hours walking. We parked up off road a little way up from the entrance to Stanley’s Quarry on the B4018.

We entered the path here and walked down towards the gate ahead.

We walked around the gate as there’s a gap on the right not quite visible in the picture. Then we walked straight ahead along the marked bridleway.  

We were flanked by endless fields and hedgerows – it was delightfully quiet with no obvious signs of footprints to indicate that it’s a path with high foot and paw traffic. 

When we reached the sign below, we turned right and walked beside another field. Already too hot we flung out coats around our waists and across our shoulders - what a day!

We reached another gate and went through turning left.

The path was narrow and carved into the side of a hill. It wasn’t too steep but steep enough to feel a little different and gave lovely sweeping views. I imagine this path might feel a little precarious on a muddy winters day but on Saturday it was a joy.

We followed the path which led us through bushes still laden with plump blackberries.

We reached another gate and carried on.

There was superb scenery against a brilliant blue sky and the path rising and falling with the hills was easy to follow. It led us past some railings on the right and into another field where we could see Broad Campden below.

Then through a field and over another stile and into the final field down that led down into the village. The path brings you out directly opposite The Bakers Arms, but we wandered around the village first taking in the particularly lovely St Michaels church and the bench perched on a hill beside it.

Then we headed ravenously to The Bakers Arms for some lunch and a pint.

It’s a traditional old pub inside and out. Then we headed ravenously to The Bakers Arms for some lunch and a pint.

It’s a traditional old pub inside and out. Its charismatic, cosy and delightfully unpretentious interior draws you in easily. It’s clear to see why locals and tourists flock here. It’s retained a sense of simplicity and history that people crave.  

I ordered the veggie burger and my other half ham, egg and chips. It was delightfully tasty well-made English food. His pint was aptly named Hill Climb and he thoroughly enjoyed it. 

I won’t lie the walk back was harder. Our bellies were full and our heads a little sleepy and who wouldn’t want to stay nestled in the Bakers Arms whiling away a Saturday afternoon. But once we were on our way, retracing our steps it was just lovely. 

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I’d give this walk a 2 walking grade. 

Walking grades:

1. Relaxed pace, stopping along the way. Walking experience isn’t necessary. 

2. Good paths and walks are a bit longer. Some walks, particularly mountain areas may have areas over rough or steeper terrain. 

3. Walks follow well-defined paths, though often in hilly or up-land areas or along rugged coastal footpaths. These may be rough or steep in sections and will require reasonable fitness. 

4. Long distances in remote countryside and on rough terrain. You can expect some ascents and descents; there may be occasional sections of scree (loose mountain stone) and steep ground. 

5. Good fitness and stamina required. Expect rocky terrain with sustained ascents and descents. Walks may include high summit and ridges. 

6. Most challenging walks where high levels of fitness and stamina are required. Walks will be long and strenuous in difficult mountain terrain.