Belas Knap Long Barrow
A well-preserved Neolithic long barrow on the Cotswold escarpment, reached by a short but steep walk from the Cotswold Way.
Opening hours
Open daily all year during daylight hours. Free entry. The barrow is more than half a mile from the limited lay-by and the approach includes a steep climb, stiles and a kissing gate.
Location: Belas Knap, Winchcombe, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL54 5AL
A little more time
Belas Knap is one of the finest prehistoric monuments in the Cotswolds: a long, low mound with a false entrance and four side chambers. Built around 3000 BC, it was used for successive burials before the chambers were deliberately blocked. The restored stonework is easy to read, but the setting is just as compelling, with wide views from the escarpment above Winchcombe.
Why go
This is a place for a proper walk rather than a drive-by attraction. The route from the lay-by crosses open grass and woodland before climbing to the barrow. At the monument, walk around the mound and look for the chamber entrances; the false portal at the northern end is an especially memorable detail.
Make it part of a day
Link Belas Knap with Hailes Abbey for a day that moves from Neolithic Gloucestershire to medieval monastic history. Cleeve Hill and Cleeve Common make another natural pairing if you want more escarpment views, while Winchcombe has cafés and pubs for lunch.
Plan the visit
English Heritage lists the site as free and open in daylight, but the walk is uneven and includes a steep section, two stiles and a kissing gate. Keep dogs on leads because livestock may graze the fields. Parking is limited in the lay-by, so arrive early at busy times and bring water.