Minchinhampton and Rodborough Commons

Minchinhampton Common is a large swathe of open grassland on the hill top and slopes of the Cotswold escarpment. It is a really important archaeological landscape, with prehistoric field systems, burial mounds and the remains of a defensive earthwork, known as The Bulwarks. In the summer the common is grazed by local commoners' cattle.

Rodborough Common lies just to the north of Minchinhampton Common and offers a dramatic panorama overlooking Stroud and the Severn Vale. It is renowned for its colourful array of wild flowers and butterflies, starting with the pasque flower in spring and a superb display of early purple orchids in May.