The attractive hilltop village of Eastcombe has all the charm of a traditional Cotswold village – narrow winding lanes, honey-coloured cottages and beautiful views across the valleys – as well as a lively community spirit.
Its local amenities (the village has a shop and post office, church, primary and secondary school and a busy pub) and scenic hill sides make it a popular location. It’s close to Stroud, which is just 3 miles away, and Cirencester, which is 8 miles away, and Cheltenham is only a half hour drive away.
For a small village, there’s a lot going on in Eastcombe. From film nights to dancing classes, it’s a hub of activity for all ages. A wide range of classes and events are held at the village hall (dance classes, Pilates and toddler sessions, to name just a few) and there’s a healthy mix of groups that meet regularly, such as Eastcombe WI, Eastcombe Village Group (which organises a range of social events including the popular wine walk), Eastcombe and Bismore Local History Group and the Hilltop Café Church.
Film fans can take advantage of the ‘Screen on the Green’ bringing the big screen to Eastcombe village hall with an entertaining Saturday night cinema programme. And for book worms, the village bus shelter has been turned into a book swap with books for adults and children.
The Lamb Inn is a traditional family-friendly pub with spectacular views and alfresco dining. The pub offers an extensive menu including traditional pub classics and world-inspired dishes using seasonal ingredients, with gluten free and vegan options available. Sunday lunch is popular with families and the Lamb Inn also stages live music and sport as well as quiz nights, placing it at the heart of village life.
Parts of the village’s Baptist Church date back to 1800, and the church, which has increased in size over the years, holds regular Sunday morning services.
Eastcombe Primary School in Dr Crouch’s Road caters for children aged 4 to 11 and encourages pupils to “aim high, believe and achieve.” The village is also home to Thomas Keble secondary school, a mixed comprehensive for 11 – 16-year-old students. The school was named after clergyman Thomas Keble who contributed to the Tracts for the Times, a series of theological publications written between 1833 and 1841. Nearby grammar schools are situated in Stroud, Gloucester and Cheltenham.
Eastcombe Stores & Post Office sells everyday essentials and fresh produce and has a handy Post Office. The store is open Monday to Friday 6am – 7.30pm and Sunday 7am – 4pm.
The surrounding countryside is abundant with rich flora and woodland and provides a quiet haven for both walkers and residents. The village allotments offer green fingered enthusiasts the chance to grow their own produce and the Hilltop Gardening Club, founded over 30 years ago, provides a packed programme of monthly talks and demonstrations, visits, social outings and an autumn show. A number of gardens are also open locally as part of the National Gardens Scheme.
Eastcombe comes under Bisley-with-Lypiatt Parish Council. More information about village life can be found in the excellent village newsletter https://bisley-with-lypiatt.gov.uk/eastcombe/.
Photo by Philip Halling, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link
