Five Stow Leg-Stretchers That Finish at the Bar

Stow-on-the-Wold is often treated as a place to park, photograph the square and move on. That is a mistake. The town is also a very good starting point for a proper leg-stretch, and the best ones end with a pint, a pot of tea or a late lunch. These five circular routes all begin and finish in Stow, and each has a different pub waiting at the end. They are not guidebook epics. They are the sort of walks locals do when the forecast is uncertain, the dog needs a run and someone has promised to be back for the second half.

Before You Set Off

Winter changes these walks. From November to February, wear boots with real grip rather than fashion trainers. The square can be dry while the field paths out towards Maugersbury are holding water, and a short lane can turn into a skating rink after a cold night. Take a headtorch if you are setting off after 2.30pm, and check pub food hours before you commit to a longer loop. Most pubs are relaxed about muddy boots in the bar, but not all allow dogs in every room, so ring ahead if that matters. The busiest lanes around Stow are usually thickest between 10.30am and 3.30pm, especially at weekends. Start early or go late and you will have the best of it.

1. Maugersbury and Icomb Loop — The Porch House

About 4 miles, roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. Leave the square and head down towards Maugersbury, then pick up the field paths and quiet lanes that curl around towards Icomb. This is a good first walk for a winter morning: there is a short climb to warm you up, a few stiles to keep things interesting and enough variety to stop the route feeling like a trudge. After rain, the lower sections can be claggy, so boots are non-negotiable. Finish at The Porch House, where the fire and the low ceilings make a wet afternoon feel like a sensible plan rather than a washout. Best time: before 10am, when the lanes are still quiet and the light is good for the last of the autumn colour.

2. Lower Swell and Broadwell — The Kings Arms

Around 5 miles, allowing 2 to 2.5 hours. This one uses a mix of lanes, tracks and field paths to make a figure-of-eight sort of loop through Lower Swell and back by Broadwell. It is a steady walk rather than a savage one, but the road sections need care in icy weather. Keep dogs close on the lanes and be ready to lift them over the odd stile. The Kings Arms is a useful finish because it works for a quick bowl of chips as well as a full lunch. Best time: a weekday late morning, or after 3pm if you want to catch the last of the daylight and avoid the middle-of-the-day traffic.

3. Broadwell and Donnington — The Sheep on Sheep Street

About 3.5 miles, or 1.25 hours at a brisk pace. This is the short winter walk. It is the one to choose when the forecast is grim, the days are short and you still want to feel you have earned your lunch. The route dips out through Broadwell and Donnington, using lanes and field edges that are usually manageable even when the clay is wet. There is less exposure than on the Condicote side, which makes it a better bet on a windy day. Finish at The Sheep on Sheep Street, which is handy if you have parked near the centre and want to avoid moving the car. Best time: late afternoon, when day-trippers are thinning out and the pubs are just starting to fill.

4. Evenlode and the Fosse Way — The Bell at Stow

Roughly 4.5 miles, about 2 hours. This route heads out towards Evenlode and uses a stretch of the old Fosse Way before looping back into Stow. It is a fine walk on a dry, cold day, with long views and a sense of being properly out in the fields rather than circling the town. In wet weather, though, parts of this route can be heavy going, and the crossing points need attention. Do not attempt it in fading light unless you know the area. The Bell at Stow is a good finish for a late lunch, and it is far enough from the square to feel like a proper destination rather than an afterthought. Best time: a dry morning, ideally with a pub lunch booked for 12.30pm.

5. Upper Swell and Condicote — The Old Stocks Inn

About 6 miles, allowing 3 hours. This is the longest of the five and the one to save for a clear day. The route heads out through Upper Swell and on towards Condicote, with rolling fields and some exposed sections that can be bracing in a west wind. In winter, set off by 10am at the latest. Take a map or a charged phone, carry a bit more water than you think you need and do not rely on the pub being open all afternoon. The Old Stocks Inn is a comfortable place to land, but the walk back across town will remind you that you have done a proper day out. Best time: a crisp, dry weekend morning, with a backup plan to cut the route short if the cloud comes down.

When the Weather Turns

If it is raining sideways, choose the Broadwell and Donnington loop and keep to the lanes where you can. If it has been freezing, avoid the stiles and exposed field edges on the Condicote route and stick to the shorter town-side walks. If it is muddy, gaiters are not overkill. If it is windy, the Evenlode and Fosse Way route can feel more exposed than it looks on the map. And if you are walking with a dog, carry a towel for the pub and check ahead about indoor rules. The best local tip is simple: do not treat the pub as a consolation prize. Plan the walk around it, book a table if it is a weekend, and leave enough time to enjoy the bit where you are not walking at all.