Hare We Go

Visit The Cirencester Hare Trail

The Cirencester Hare Trail is a sculpture trail of forty 5ft fantasy hares and over thirty life-sized hares, which are on display in and around Cirencester until September 2014. The hares are decorated by schools, celebrities, community groups and local businesses, adding a fun dash of colour to this lovely corner of England and some added interest for those treasure-hunt fanatics out there!

Why hares you say? Well, they have a special resonance in Cirencester. A hare mosaic was discovered in 1971 just below the road surface during archaeological excavations in Beeches Road close to the River Churn. It has now become the symbol of the award winning Corinium Museum where the original mosaic is housed.

At the start of October, the hares will all be sold at auction to spend their days as joyful pieces of art in offices, home and gardens. The hope is that some will remain in public spaces as well for everyone to enjoy. The money made from these sales will be used to help raise the £50,000 needed by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust to begin to develop the Green Hare Churn Walkway around the River Churn in Cirencester. This new nature trail will involve schools and community groups and will have lasting benefits for residents and visitors alike.

The 'Hare Trail Map' on the official website of the Cirencester Hare Trail is easily accessible from any PC or smart phone, and offers the locations of all the hares currently on display at any one time - ideal if you're looking for a ready-made treasure hunt and a great family activity for a sunny day this summer. The website also has a 'Breaking News' section, which gives details of the newest additions to the sculpture trail and is the best place to keep up to date with all the latest happenings (plus any surprise events going on, and we know there are a few planned!)

Cycling tours that take in the Cirencester Hare Trail

We know for a fact (we've seen them with our own eyes when out and about with our customers) that there are a number of hares directly on the routes of some of our biking vacations. One features just outside The Fleece Hotel in Cirencester - which customers of 'The Grand Tour', one of our most popular luxury cycling holidays in The Cotswolds, stay in. The market town of Bibury also boasts its own hare, which you can spot (if you have keen eyes) at the entrance to Trout Farm from the front door of the hotel we use here, The Swan.

Walking holidays in The Cotswolds

Or if you're not mad keen about hopping on a bike, why not check out the colourful sculptures on the trail and combine with a walking tour of The Cotswolds? We have a number of Cotswold self-guided walking tours as well as organizing bespoke, tailor-made walking vacations in the Cotswolds on request. Drop us a line if you're interested and we'd be happy to tell you more.