Cotswolds : Day 7

Traction action!

Last day of the Cotswold Way, I think I could probably do with a rest, it has actually been pretty strenuous what with the various detours to campsites.  More hills today, and once again all manner of interesting stuff too - various manor houses, some very pretty little villages with houses of local stone with thatched roofs, and at one point I even pass a pub as a number of miniature steam traction engines pull up outside.  And why not.  Later on is a fairly substantial town, Broadway, filled with tourists checking out the various historic buildings, and on a hill above it a rather charming little castle.

Broadway Castle.

Not much of the way remains, before long I am at the end in Chipping Campden, unsurprisingly there are many historic stone buildings here, and next to one of them there is even a marker for the end of the Cotswold Way!  Well that is good, another UK National Trail done, it was a good one I must say, nice to do some walking in Britain, and much respect to the volunteer wardens who keep this trail in good shape.  I didn't have to apply for any kind of permit to do it either!  Of course I can't rest just yet, it is another five miles or so to the nearest train station at Honeybourne which means some less than pleasant road walking, and a bit of footpath through fields, where of all the luck I get set upon by a tick of some kind.  Hopefully not carrying any horrid diseases but we'll see... either way, I am sure I'll be off on my travels again soon.

That is six long distance trails done now!

Photos to go with this post can be found here

Cotswolds : Day 6

A long barrow.

After a night in a somewhat bigger tent than usual - Austin has one of those huge things with multiple 'sleeping pods' - I head back out of Cheltenham, at least on the way back I know to avoid the closed footpaths.  Still a long day though, another twenty mile plus walk, and of course there are more hills.  Better weather today at least, and again great views, of Cheltenham and its racecourse, and into the distance the Malverns are visible.  The route circles around Cleeve Hill where there is a trig point and yet another topograph, then a little further a well preserved looking long barrow.  From here it is not far to the little town of Winchcombe, a pretty place with many half-timbered houses, still a couple of miles to the campsite but it has gone six o'clock and I need a beer.  A couple in fact, after which I do make it to camp, thankfully pretty much on the route and a bargain at a mere eight pounds for the night.  More money saving ensues as for the second night of the trip I tuck into some 'home cooked' couscous...

Winchcombe.

Photos to go with this post can be found here

Cotswolds : Day 5

Cooper's Hill.

Day five of my little walk in the west country, and it's a long one, I reckon at least twenty-two miles or so, mainly as I plan to make a substantial detour to find a campsite to the south of Cheltenham.  My old mate Austin is driving over from Wales to meet me there - I reckon he probably wasn't up for wild camping in the woods somewhere.  I also suspect he is to blame for the rain that continues to fall on and off - he always was good at making water fall from the sky, somehow or other.

Pencil shaped bollards in suburban Cheltenham.

The route continues to be hilly but very scenic, and there are plenty of points of interest, for instance early on I pass Cooper's Hill, scene of the annual cheese rolling event which is known the world over as a prime example of 'stuff those whacky Brits do'.  Then more hills and more hill forts, before leaving the Way and making a descent towards Cheltenham.  My route leads through suburban streets, plus a few footpaths, which unfortunately mostly seem to be shut due to construction work, a bit of a pain as I have to detour around.  I nonetheless beat Austin to the campsite, but don't have to wait long before heading off to a pub for beer and fish and chips, it is all most cheap.

Photos to go with this post can be found here

Cotswolds : Day 4

Dursley market house.

It seems the recent dry spell, most of which I wasn't in the country for of course, has come to an end, it rains all night and is still drizzling when I come to pack up the tent.  I can live with this...  The walking begins with a steep descent into Dursley, nice little place, I like the market house with its effigy of Queen Anne.  Then back up into the hills again, views not so great today what with the rain, but still plenty of interest.  I walk past a neolithic barrow, a trig point and more topographs - there have been a lot of them.  Seems more hilly today, lots of climbing up and down through woods.  Makes for a long day, it is past six by the time I reach camp just outside Painswick.  Nice campsite, I get a shower, there's even a communal space where I 'cook' some couscous, getting my long distance walk routine back now.  Campsite is oddly empty mind, so into the historic, stone built centre of Painwick for a beer or two...

A topograph.

Photos to go with this post can be found here