Little Sodbury's Fort and Horton Court

1 Walk up the hill out of Horton. Near the top turn right on to a track towards Little Sodbury. After 20yds (18m), go left through a fence to a path. Continue to a stile, to follow the Cotswold Way, marked by a white dot or an acorn.

2 Cross the field in front of you and come to a stile on the far side. Descend a steep bank in a field and continue across it, on the same line, to another stile. Walk across the following field, with a hedge to your right, to a stile in the corner. Cross on to a path beside a cottage and turn left to follow a path to a lane in Little Sodbury. Turn right and, at the next junction, left. Pass Little Sodbury church on your left and continue along this lane for 550yds (503m). At a junction, fork left along what is really the drive to Little Sodbury Manor. After a few paces turn right on to a path, then, at the next corner, bear left as the path rises up the slope and brings you to the fortified-looking walls of a farmhouse. To visit Little Sodbury hill fort, turn right and then left through a kissing gate. The fort is considered to be one of the finest in the Cotswolds.

3 Turn left and, at the end of the wall, turn right through a gate. Turn left to pass a shed and then cross a paddock to a gate. Go through to a field and cross half right to a ladder stile. Go over to a lane and cross to enter another lane in front of you. Follow this for 700yds (640m), until you come to a junction. Turn right. Follow the road for about 50yds (46m) then, at a corner, leave the road to enter a lane. Follow this for 750yds (686m), passing Top Farm to your left. Turn left on to a path through woodland. Follow this to the end to a stile at a field. Cross to another stile at a lane and turn right. Walk down the lane, passing the entrance to Horton Court.

4 Founded in 1140, Horton Court is one of the oldest inhabited buildings in the Cotswolds, and probably the oldest rectory in England. The original limestone house was little more than a single great hall, which still survives, although the house was greatly embellished and extended under the ownership of William Knight in the 16th century. He was both Bishop of Bath and Wells and Chamberlain to King Henry VIII at the time when the King was seeking to divorce Catherine of Aragon. In fact Henry attempted to send him on a mission to persuade the Pope to allow the divorce, but the plan was scuppered after it was discovered by Cardinal Wolseley.

5 At the next corner turn sharp left to a bridleway. Cross a field, then pass through a hedge to reach gate. Continue to another gate and then follow a hedge to a stile. Go over to the corner of a protruding hedge and then on to a stile near some houses. Cross this and follow the path back into Horton.