This is a moderate and varied circle ideal for the Christmas holiday on the Northern Cotswold edge linking two picturesque honey coloured villages and with views over the Vale of Evesham. It's about 6.25 miles, 3.5 hours walking. Use the map Outdoor Leisure 45, The Cotswolds, ref: 095 339.

Park in the free car park just on the edge of Snowshill, which is well marked, and just before the car park for the NT's Snowshill Manor. Snowshill lies a few miles south of Broadway and can be reached on small roads from the B4632 or the A44.

Let this charismatic Cotswold circle invigorate and refresh you after Christmas. It is set on the northern edge of the Cotswolds, linking pictures- que Snowshill and Stanton and rewarding the walker with stunning views from the high land and edge of the escarpment.

As the name Snowshill implies, if there is any snow around, it is likely to be here – so you may even get a white walk after Christmas!

Two hours after the start is a welcoming pub in Stanton and there's a good pub back in Snowshill, too, both of which are open on Boxing Day and serve food.

It's an ideal winter walk when the trees are bare and reveal fine views over the Vale of Evesham and to Broadway, and because much of the walking will be fairly dry underfoot.

After Stanton, there is a half-hour steady, but not excessive, climb up to Shenbarrow Hill.

Wear good footwear, as some of the tracks are stony, rocky and downhill, which can lead to slippery conditions.

It should be an easy going walk for dogs. Wear layers of clothing, as it can get very cold.

START

Turn right from the car park and walk into Snowshill.

This secluded village atop the Cotswold escarpment has ancient honey coloured cottages and a 19th-century church clustering around a small green. Its main claim to fame is Snowshill Manor, a typical 15th to 16th-century manor house, administered by the National Trust.

The beautiful gardens are terraced and were designed by the eccentric architect, artist and craftsman, Charles Paget Wade. The house has a famed collection of his life's work.

Continue straight through, passing on the left the green and church – a very tranquil building made of local stone and containing a fine selection of hand-made kneelers.

On the right, pass the Snowshill Arms and also the back of the manor which, with its gardens, lies at the centre of the village.

Carry on out of the village, ignoring side-turns, and start to climb. Take the first lane right which is a no-through route. At a triangle of grass, turn right again.

1. FOOTPATH

Shortly, turn left on a footpath through a kissing gate and head diagonally up across the field to a stile on the far right side into woodland. Follow the path through this well-managed, light and airy woodland, Littleworth Wood, which is in the care of the National Trust. At the top, go through a gate.

2. LANE

Turn right on the lane. Pass a small parking area on the left.

3. COTSWOLD WAY

Further on, at a signpost, take the Cotswold Way right fork. This is a good, dry, stony track heading off the Cotswold Edge down Laverton Hill and giving wonderful views across the Vale of Evesham. As you go along, notice a couple of grassed-over old quarries. Stay on the main track and drop more steeply on what is now a narrower path, which is quite rocky in parts.

4. FORK

Reach another signpost where we leave the Cotswold Way and fork left on the restricted by-way. Continue downhill and along the side of the hill, still enjoying the views.

The path is dry and stony and clearly a lot of work has been done on keeping it in good repair, particularly further on down.

5. LAVERTON

Come into the village of Laverton. Go on and then take the first left and wind round past the village hall and on round another bend on this quite spread-out village.

When houses end on the left, cross left over a stile and follow the hedge on your left. Maintain direction through several fields following the footpath arrow until you reach a riding establishment on the right.

Go through a gate and along a raised grass bank above the stables and over a stile. Ahead, you can see the spire of Stanton church. Stay in this field with the hedge on your right, and then go right through a metal gate and along a path.

Turn right at the end down a Tarmac path towards the church. Go to the left of the 11th-century church, which is well worth a visit. Leave on the main path and come to the village.

6. STANTON

This is a beautiful, quiet old village which over the centuries has relied on farming, but is now mainly residential. In the church is a history of the village, with the comment on the front about the fact that before the last war, few people left the village and most of the villagers were wary of intruders, so much so that when the first fish and chip van arrived in 1936, it was greeted by one resident with a shotgun ready to pepper the invader!

Turn right towards the village centre and at the old cross, turn left up the main street past picturesque cottages. As the road starts to rise, our route goes right on the No Through lane marked as the Cotswold Way.

For the welcoming pub, you need to go ahead uphill for a few minutes to the well-named Mount Inn. It has a spectacular setting with terraces overlooking the village and it welcomes walkers on Boxing Day. To continue our circle, turn right on the Cotswold Way. At the end of the lane, fork left following the CW sign and rising slightly.

Before you reach a gate across the track, turn right, following the CW down and through a hunting gate and go on through another gate into a field. Turn immediately right under trees with a pond on the right. Come into the open and fork up left. This is the start of Shenbarrow Hill.

Go up across to a stile and carry on up. Then go left over a stile and turn right uphill following a shallow valley.

Near the top, cross over a grassy track and continue on up with a cottage on the right and at a signpost, leave the CW and turn right on a bridleway over a cattle grid.

7. FARM

Go through farm buildings and through a metal gate then follow a bridleway signed to the left, which you will discover is quite dry and hard underfoot as it takes you across the hill.

Go through a large metal gate at the end. Turn left and shortly go through another gate and then head diagonally across the field. Here you get great views over the valley to Broadway Tower in the distance.

Go through a gate and continue in the same direction down across the next field to a gate in the corner now with good views over Snowshill.

8. ROAD

Turn right down the narrow quiet road. Reach the turning you took earlier, but just continue straight on down and then, further on, turn left, retracing your steps back through Snowshill.

Call in at the Snowshill Arms if you feel the need. And a happy New Year from me!

It may be worth ringing the pubs to see if you need to book lunch as they will be busy.

The Mount Inn, Stanton, near Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7NE. Open every day, including Boxing Day. Tel: 01386 584316. For details of menu see the website www.themountinn.co.uk (specials also available on the day).

The Snowshill Arms, Snowshill, Broadway, Gloucestershire, WR12 7JU. Open every day including Boxing Day. Tel: 01386 852653.

Snowshill Manor, Snowshill, near Broadway, Gloucestershire, WR12 7JU. The manor, shop and restaurant are closed until mid-March. For more information, call 01386 852410.