Walking the Edge: The Cotswold Escarpment

The Cotswold escarpment is the dramatic western edge of the Cotswold Hills, running roughly north-south for over 50 miles. It was formed as rivers and ice eroded the softer clay beneath the harder limestone cap, creating the steep west-facing slopes that give the Cotswold Way its most spectacular views. The escarpment rises to over 300 metres at Cleeve Hill and offers views across the Severn Vale to the Forest of Dean, the Malvern Hills, and on clear days, the mountains of Wales. Much of the Cotswold Way follows this edge, which is why the views are consistently to the west.