DURSLEY is one of ten towns and villages to become a Cotswold Gateways location.

Led by the Cotswolds National Landscape team, the aim of the Gateways project is to offer key sites from which people can follow walking and cycling routes to explore some of the countryside of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

These routes provide opportunities to discover hidden corners, epic views, historic sites, and a rich diversity of wildlife.

“This is great for Dursley,” said Chris Cherry, Dursley Welcomes Walkers chairman.

“We’ve got a lovely area and this will allow more people to enjoy it.”

As part of the project, new interpretation panels have been installed, highlighting walking and cycling routes at each location.

The new panels celebrate the local culture, businesses, heritage, and wildlife in each location, and invite people to explore local paths and get to know the towns and villages – and the treasures that make them so special – in a deeper way.

Dursley has three of the new panels, located in each of the town’s two long-stay car parks and at Cam and Dursley Railway Station

Dursley Welcomes Walkers volunteers have created a special new circular walk for the Gateway project. Designed as a figure of eight, it can be followed as a 16 mile day walk, or two shorter walks.

The routes are shown on the town’s new information panels.

Copies can also be downloaded via: cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/visiting-and-exploring/walking/cotswold-gateways

Dursley Welcomes Walkers will be hosting a formal launch of the Gateway footpaths later in the summer, when Covid restrictions are eased for gatherings.

They will also will be launching a new website towards the end of April (dursleywelcomeswalkers.org.uk) from where various walking routes can be downloaded. Hard copy leaflets are available from Dursley Library and the town council office.