Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common

Leckhampton Hill and Charlton Kings Common is a protected natural site south of Cheltenham featuring grasslands, woodland, and dramatic cliff faces along the Cotswold escarpment. The landscape includes open areas, dense scrub, and steep slopes that create distinct habitats across the site.

The site contains remains from multiple periods, including an Iron Age hillfort and Roman-era limestone quarries that supplied stone for construction over many centuries. These layers of human activity remain visible in the landscape today.

Local conservation groups organize regular work events where community members participate in maintaining the biological and geological features of the protected area.

Access is available through parking areas at Daisybank Road or Hartley Lane, both offering good starting points to explore the terrain. Wear sturdy footwear as the paths are uneven and some sections are quite steep.

The exposed limestone layers here date to the Middle Jurassic period and display rock formations that geologists have studied for over 150 years. These geological exposures serve as a textbook example of the region's natural history.

GPS coordinates: 51.86730,-2.07039

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:21