Hawkesbury offers a choice of different highlights for planning your trip: trails along the Cotswold Way, historic buildings, and literary events. The places and routes give you specific points of reference to help you decide which themes you want to shape your stay.
The Cotswold Way and Somerset Monument
The Cotswold Way runs through the Parish of Hawkesbury. One section leads from Wotton-Under-Edge to Hawkesbury Upton: it climbs to Somerset Monument and then continues to the village. The monument stands just outside Hawkesbury Upton on the road to Hillesley and was erected in 1846 in memory of General Lord Edward Somerset.
This lets you connect the route with a specific historical landmark without losing sight of the trail: the monument lies on the section described, while Hawkesbury Upton is its next destination. This distinction is useful for finding your way around if you treat the section and the village as separate points of reference.
The church, the Knoll and village history
The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin stands in a quiet spot below the historic, steeply sloping Hawkesbury Knoll. The church dates from the 12th century and stands on the site of a Saxon church. Here, a striking landscape feature and several layers of architectural history come together in one place.
Upton House is also part of Hawkesbury Upton’s architectural history: the house was remodelled in the mid-19th century. Together with the church, it offers a cultural highlight distinct from the walking and cycling routes.
Walking, running and cycling
Twelve routes for exploring the Cotswolds start from Hawkesbury Upton. The Circular via Hawkesbury Church route offers views of the River Severn and its two suspension bridges. The Hawkesbury via Westonbirt cycling route, by contrast, focuses on the Cotswolds escarpment, as well as the gentle hills and valleys around Lower Kilcott; the route follows the upper edge of the escarpment.
The HU5k route starts and finishes within the Cotswold village of Hawkesbury Upton and uses sections of the Cotswold Way. Its profile is gently undulating. The surface alternates between paved or unpaved roads and paths, as well as short sections on grassy footpaths.
When you compare the routes by their descriptions, the main differences lie in what you see: the Circular via Hawkesbury Church offers views of the river and suspension bridges, while the HU5k is distinguished by its undulating profile and changing surfaces. The cycling route, in turn, passes through a landscape of escarpment edge, hills and valleys. This lets you choose based on the specific features of each route, rather than treating them as interchangeable trails.
Literature and events
The Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival is a series of public events celebrating books and reading. It takes place every year on the last Saturday in September at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Hawkesbury. HULF Talks take place three or four times a year and include talks and discussions with a wide range of authors. Alongside the routes and architectural history, literary events offer another distinct highlight for your trip.
In the centre of Hawkesbury Upton, a Little Free Library is located at the bus station. Its bookshelves are divided into sections for adults and younger readers. This small literary feature complements the events with a place in the village where different groups of readers can find their own shelves.
Practical information
Check the hall calendar for this. This is important if you are considering the car park in your plans.
Discover more destinations: Filton, Chippenham, Marshfield, Tortworth, Warmley, Petty France, Winterbourne, Brockworth
For the broader travel overview: South Gloucestershire.
