Hampen Railway Cutting

The Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway ran through here until the mid-1960s, when it closed and the landscape began its own quiet transformation. Now managed by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, the old cutting has become a haven for wildlife and a genuinely peaceful place to spend an hour or two.

The steep sides of the cutting expose Great Oolite limestone, which tells you something about the geology beneath your feet. What really draws people here is the abundance of life. Walk along the former trackbed during spring and summer and you'll see wildflowers everywhere, with butterflies making the most of them. Birdwatchers find plenty to occupy themselves, and the whole atmosphere is refreshingly calm compared to some of the busier spots in the Cotswolds.

The reserve sits just outside the village of Salperton and couldn't be easier to reach. If you want to extend your visit, Northleach is only a short drive away, with its historic church and proper market square where you can grab lunch or explore the village properly. This is the sort of place where you simply wander, watch, and let the fact that nature has reclaimed an old piece of industry sink in.