The towns Of The Cotswolds
Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire
The Town
Minchinhampton is a small town in Gloucestershire, sit's high on the Cotswold Edge over-looking the larger
towns of Stroud and Nailsworth.
Minchinhampton is one of the Cotswold's least-known and least visited gems,
untouched by modern
development and surrounded by some of the most beautiful common land in
England. From this vantage point you can look down on to some of Stroud's most
beautiful valleys as the Cotswold countryside open's up before you.
Most visitors who come to Minchinhampton will find themselves having to
negotiate some narrow, twisty bends with a 30% gradient which leads onto
the common. The streets are narrow and care is needed when trying to find a
place to park.
Minchinhampton was built on the medieval wool trade. At the centre of the town is the 17th century
columned Market House, built in 1698 and of a similar style as other Cotswolds towns.
The church of Holy Trinity is opposite the Market House and has a distinctive tower.
The building of the church began in the 12th century, but overtime it has undergone
substantial restoration. The church walls are adorned with names of people
who have had some influence over the town, the Ricardos, the Woollcombe-Boyces
and the Sheppards, to name a few.
Minchinhampton Common is 580 acres of rough pasture where wild orchids and cowslips
grow, and commoners exercise their rights to graze horses and their cattle are free to
roam. Minchinhampton Common belongs to the National Trust. It is a popular
recreation area for walking, horse riding and playing golf on the "Old Course"
The area is steep in history and is an archaeological site of some importance. Visible remains
belong to the Iron Age with The Minchinhampton Bulwarks which is a large defensive earthworks
stretching across the common for nearly a mile and was probably a settlement for the
Belgic Dobunni tribe. There are various round and long barrows and the odd standing stones.
Minchinhampton has several shops, a bank, a post office, three gourmet
restaurants which double up as coffee shops.
Getting Here
Minchinhampton is off the A419 from Stroud 4 miles and Cirencester 10 miles. Several unclassified routes
will take you from the valley to Minchinhampton.
The nearest rail station is at Stroud with services operated by First Great Western Link.
Bus services connecting Minchinhampton are:
- 22 Stroud to Cirencester New operator from August 2005
- 92 Gloucester-Tetbury Stagecoach Cheltenham and Gloucester
- 92 Stroud - Tetbury Stagecoach Cheltenham and Gloucester
- 228 Stroud - Tetbury Ebley Coach Services
- 262 Minchinhampton-Nailsworth Stagecoach Cheltenham and Gloucester
Parking
On street parking, but please park with consideration to others. There is a small car park behind the Market Hall, or on the edge of the common behind the church.
Local Amenities
- The Ragged Cot Inn
- The Crown
- Bank
- town shops and Post Office
- Minchinhampton Primary School
- Old Lodge Inn
- His and Hers Restaurant
- Sophie's Restaurant
Nearby Attractions
- Museum In The Park
- Stratford Park
- Minchinhampton Common