Stinchcombe leaflets are a success with the locals

A group of Stinchcombe residents spent over a year creating the maps in their spare time and have recently seen their efforts pay off as the routes have been turned into glossy leaflets.

So far local residents and visitors alike have been impressed with the professional style of the leaflets and the range of walks and rides, which all start in the village.

"We are absolutely thrilled with the leaflets," said Ann Selby, a member of the group who created the set of leaflets. "The response by local residents has been great, they are delighted and think they will really be able to enjoy them."

The idea for the maps was put forward over a year ago when Stinchcombe council was putting together a parish plan, which identified what people liked about the village and they thought could be improved. Ann said: "During that process a couple of things emerged and these were that people enjoyed the countryside and walking, but also that children did a lot less cycling than they would have liked because they didn’t like riding on the roads.

"Over the course of the year around 14 of us came together to map out a set of walks and cycle rides.

"We wanted them to take people in all different directions, not just up Stinchcombe Hill. There is also a range in abilities, some are very long walks, some have inclines, others are relatively flat and good for joggers."

After receiving a grant for just over £1,800 from the Cotswold Conservation Board's Sustainable Development Fund the group were able to translate their hard work into professionally designed colour leaflets.

The leaflets explain exactly what the walker or rider can expect on the route, lists interesting and historical facts and notes suitable places to stop for refreshments.

The routes take keen walkers and cyclists through the village to Slimbridge, Berkeley, Cam Peak and even as far as Bristol and Bath. The leaflets are free to Stinchcombe residents although donations will go towards the village hall.

Non-residents who want copies of the leaflets can contact Marian Shaw on 01453 542604 or Ann Selby on 01453 519139. The walks and cycle rides are also available free to download on www.stinchcombepc.co.uk The Wild Fowl cycle ride (leaflet 11) A favourite family cycle rides is a trip to the Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre at Slimbridge, taking in the Gloucester to Sharpness Canal on the way.

The ride is mainly on side roads and the cycling is fairly easy and so suitable for any bike.

Cycling is quite flat in the Severn Vale but there are gradual ascents back to Stinchcombe.

The ride enables you to linger on the canalside (or cycle up and down the canal tow path watching the boats go by) or visit the Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre. Refreshments are available at the Tudor Arms and the Boat Station café by the canal or a café/restaurant at the Wetlands Centre.

Brideshead Revisited walk (Leaflet two) A popular walk is the ‘Brideshead Revisited’, which starts at the village hall and connects two of the three main areas of the village. It’s under two miles, so can be done in 40 minutes or so, and the walking is mainly easy. Yet it provides good views of the Severn Vale, Forest of Dean and Welsh hills beyond as it takes you through fields, bits of woodland, St Cyr’s churchyard and past Pier’s Court, once the home of Evelyn Waugh – author of Brideshead Revisted. The leaflet provides information about a lot of the places you see on the way, so you return home feeling you’ve had a good leg stretch in beautiful countryside and learned more about the village’s local history on the way.