Fairford - St Mary's Church & Town

Navigating The Route

This is a circular Detective Mystery around Fairford St Mary's Church and town, with Detectives helping Chief Ivanta Catchcrooks uncover a mole linked to a plot to steal the proceeds from the next Fairford Air Festival and help ensure the festival can go ahead.

The investigation covers approximately 2 miles and should take around 2 hours to complete. You'll explore Fairford's High Street, Market Place, narrow lanes, town centre corners, footpaths, the Oxpens and the area around St Mary's Church before returning to the start area.

This Trail is not suitable for wheelchairs. The route is mostly along paved surfaces with a couple of short stretches on well-maintained footpaths; light pushchairs should manage the terrain easily, but wheelchairs will struggle. Near the end, there are four steps up into the churchyard.

Take extreme care when crossing busy roads and the very busy main road, and watch out for cars moving around the Market Place. There is also a steel bridge over water, so take care not to slip or lean over too far.

Getting There

By car: Begin your case at the entrance to the free car park adjacent to St Mary's Church, at the top of the High Street (GL7 4AF).

By public transport: Make your way to the top of the High Street and the entrance to the free car park adjacent to St Mary's Church to begin the investigation. The circular route returns to the start area once the evidence has been gathered.

Need the Loo?

Public toilets are available in the High Street near the start, opposite Clue 02, and the same toilets can be used again near the end of the route.

Bring Your Furry Sidekicks

Four-legged Detectives are welcome to join the investigation 🐾

The route includes paved surfaces, narrow lanes, footpaths, busy roads, a very busy main road, four steps into the churchyard and a steel bridge over water. Keep canine colleagues close around traffic, the Market Place and the water, and be ready for a steady 2-mile town-and-footpath patrol.

Food & Drink Stops

There are several pubs, cafes and restaurants along the route, so Detectives should have opportunities to refuel between pieces of evidence.

A picnic area is passed too, and the Oxpens are specifically worth pausing in if your squad has packed provisions for the case.

Want to Make a Day of It?

St Mary's Church

St Mary's Church is the star witness on this Trail, attracting visitors from all over the world to admire its magnificent Medieval stained glass windows. They are best appreciated from inside, and form one of the only complete collections remaining, recently restored to their former glory.

The Oxpens

The route gives you time to explore the historic Oxpens, and it is treated as a worthwhile place to linger on the walk. It is also a good spot to pause for a picnic once your Detectives need a breather from mole-hunting.

Fairford Town Centre and High Street

Fairford is a delightful small rural town with plenty to offer, and this investigation makes the most of its High Street and Market Place. The town was so named because it provided an easy crossing place where the River Coln ran clear, while the nearby airbase is home to the annual Royal International Air Tattoo.

Fairford's Concorde Connection

Fairford also has a supersonic claim to fame: Concorde made its maiden flight to Fairford on 9th April 1969, flying from Filton to Fairford. The pilot made a faultless landing despite the aircraft's altimeters failing to function - excellent aviation evidence for curious Detectives to add to the file.