My Country Walks: May 2019

Thursday Evening 30th May 2019 Andoverford

Another very fine evening for my third evening walk. From Andoversford to Shipton Golf Course. Almost to Thorndale then across to Foxcote. On the Gloucestershire Way for a short distance and then back to New Farm and Heylens Farm. Returning through Sandywell Park Showground. Afterwards in the Royal Oak.

Eight on the walk. 5 miles and 400 feet ascent

Buttercups at Foxcote

A proper footpath through the barley - if only other farmers were so considerate.

Sandywell Park Showground

Tuesday 28th May 2019 Cotswold Way - Stonehouse to Dursley

A solo walk today on the Cotswold Way from Stonehous to Dursley.

I parked in Dursley and caught the No 61 bus to Stonehouse. The bus actually stops on the Cotwold Way at Ryeford and it just a short walk to the Stroudwater Canal. At this point there are two routes on the Cotswld Way - one follows the canal going via Selsley. I took the other more direct route through King Stanley. The route then folows the Cotswold Way through Middleyard, Pen Hill and mainly through woodland on the edge of the escarpment to Coaley Peak. On through Coaley Wood past Hodgecombe Farm and then steeply up and on to Cam Long Down. I did a very short excursion to Cam Peak and then re-joined the Cotswold Way through open countryside to return to Dursley.

Much of the walk is in woodland and at this time of the year there is not much of a view but there are some gaps and the views are stunning.

There were some heavy showers around, fortunately they all missed me but did add some drama to the skies.

9 miles and 1600 feet ascent

The Stroudwater canal at the start.

The path near Kings Stanley

Woodland paths for much of the route.

Just aboe Blackbird Cottage with view across to Severn Vale where there was some rain.

Looking north west with the distinctive May Hill in the distance.

Then back into the woodland

The entrance to the Long Barrow at Coaley Peak

Stunning views across the River Severn estuary with the Forest of Dean behind and just visible behind that are Sugar Loaf and Pen-y-Fan in the Brecon Beacons.

Across to Cam Long Down

The steep route up to Cam Long Down

Looking back to Coaley Peak

Cam Peak in the middle with Dursley behind.

To the north over Stonehouse a heavy shower is going past.....

Downham Hill

On Cam Peak looking back to Cam Long Down

The heavy shower to the north just missed me but provided a dramatic sky against the colourful meadowland of buttercups and celandines.

Back in Dursley.

Sunday 26th May 2019 Temple Guiting

A dull day with some drizzle. Starting from Temple Guiting and following the Winchcombe Way through Ford and Cutsdean. Across to Stumps Cross around the edge of Guiting Quarry and on the Cotswold Way past the Beckbury monumnet to Farmcote for the lunch stop. Across and back to Campden Lane to follow the Gloucestershire Way for a short distance before cutting down to the medieval village of Pinnock. A short steep climb through Waterloo Larch and back down to Temple Guiting in the rain.

25 on the walk. 8 miles and 950 feet ascent.