Found in North Nibley on the famous Cotswold Way footpath, the Tyndale Monument, also known as Nibley Monument, is situated deep in the Cotswolds on a steep hillside overlooking the Severn Valley. After scaling a steep uphill footpath and each of its 121 steps, the Tyndale Monument provides the ultimate reward for your hard work to get there with a viewing beacon providing virtually unparalleled countryside views, stretching past the two Severn Bridges and deep into the Black Mountains in Wales.
The monument was built in honor of William Tyndale, a biblical scholar and Reformation figure born nearby over 500 years ago. Tyndale was most famous for translating the Bible into English. (He is credited with bringing the term “Jehovah,” a translation of the Hebrew word “Yahweh” into the English vernacular.) But in 16th-century England, translating the Bible was considered a crime. In 1536, Tyndale was convicted of heresy, executed, and then his body was burned at the stake.
More than 300 years after Tyndale’s death, this tower was erected in his honor. A plaque on the front noting that it stands near his birthplace and notes that he was martyred in Flanders.
The tracks leading to the monument itself all weave through beautiful woodland on well-trodden footpaths that are safe for all ages. Just ensure you have walking boots if you plan on visiting outside of summertime or after it has rained, as it can get very wet and boggy.
If you prefer longer walks and want to visit another top viewpoint on the same day, carry on along the Cotswold Way for about 45 minutes and you will reach Wotton Hill.
