Cheltenham Circular Footpath

The Cheltenham Circular Footpath is 41.53 km long with 721 m of climbing, so most hikers treat it as a full-day challenge or split it over two days. Strong walkers may finish it in around 9 to 12 hours of moving time, while a more relaxed pace suits the route’s multi-day format.

The Cheltenham Circular Footpath is graded easy, but it is still a substantial 41.53 km circuit with 721 m of elevation gain. The route is more about endurance than technical terrain, so the main challenge is the distance rather than steep scrambling or exposed mountain ground.

Yes. The Cheltenham Circular Footpath is listed as a multi-day route, and its 41.53 km length makes it well suited to a two-day itinerary. Splitting the circuit into two shorter stages gives more time for breaks and makes the 721 m of ascent feel much more manageable.

One of the standout high points around the Cheltenham Circular Footpath is Cleeve Hill on Cheltenham’s northeastern edge. Cleeve Hill reaches 330 m above sea level and is the highest point in Gloucestershire, with wide views toward Cheltenham, the Malvern Hills, and on clear days the Black Mountains of Wales.

Parking options in Cheltenham include council-managed car parks such as Pittville Pump Room, Rodney Road, Bath Parade, and Sherborne Place. Because the route circles the town rather than starting at a single remote trailhead, many hikers choose a central Cheltenham car park and join the footpath from the nearest access point.

The Cheltenham Circular Footpath uses public footpaths around Cheltenham, so dogs are generally possible on much of the route, but local controls apply. Cheltenham’s Public Spaces Protection Order requires dog waste to be picked up, and dogs may need to be on a lead in certain council-managed areas and roadside sections.