Nice family walk with lots of interesting parts.

One of my favourite things about living in Cheltenham is the ability to be able to walk from the town centre and within 20 minutes you can be in the countryside.

This particular walk is the perfect example of this. Although this 3 ½ to 4-mile round trip isn’t really buggy friendly, we managed it with a 4-year-old, who is a keen walker and my youngest in a sling.

The first part of the walk is quite steep but take your time because once you get to the top it is all downhill from there on in. Also, you will be rewarded with great views over to Cleeve Common and down towards Prestbury.

Walk up Battledown Approach, past Holy Apostles’ School on the left and into the Battledown Estate.

At the junction take Stanley Road (second on the left) and walk its length turning right onto Harp Hill. This is a great area for checking out some impressive houses and also the views back over Cheltenham and out towards the Malvern Hills in the distance.

On Harp Hill follow the road past the Reservoir on the left, Greenway lane on the right until you come to a junction; take the right-hand road sign posted Glenfall House this is Mill Lane and is the road to Ham. WARNING this does require walking along a road with a narrow verge – no proper pavement, and cars can zoom around the corners, so do be cautious here! On the plus side once, once you have made it this far it's downhill from here!

After just 50 metres there is a style on the right with a footpath marked. Cross the style and follow the path diagonally across the meadow with delightful views over Ham and down to Charlton Kings.

At the end of the meadow cross a stile turning right and re-joining Mill Lane (again it does require walking along a road without a pavement – although quieter) for around 50 metres where you will see a stile to cross on the right-hand side; the footpath is clearly marked.

Follow the path - which at the moment is quite overgrown with sloes and blackberries - so do watch your legs for prickles.

You will then come to a footbridge over a stream which you will cross following the path around to the left. You will now follow the path keeping the stream on your left-hand side.

After a short time, you will come to lovely clearing where two streams meet and it is a nice place for a sit down and the children to paddle and play on the rope swings that previous families have kindly left.

Re-join the original path once again keeping the stream (Ham Brook) on your left passing some impressive allotments on the right-hand side until you come to Ryeworth Road when you will turn right.

Follow Ryeworth Road, until you turn right onto London Road and can walk back into town or as we did head to the nearest pub for some well-deserved lunch!