My Country Walks: July 2019

Wednesday 31st July 2019 Birdlip

A warm and sunny day starting from Birdlip. Through the fields to Brimpsfield and then into the beautiful long valley to Caudle Green. On through the edge of Miserden Park to Miserden and then Sudgrobve. Past Sudgrove House Farm, Honeycobe Farm and Wishanger Farm to the edge of Whiteway. Into another long wooded valley by Barn Hill to return through Climperwell Wood and Hazel Hanger Wood.

A large group with 31 on the walk. Just over 11 miles with 1100 feet ascent.

Through the fields to.......

.......Brimpsfield.

Coffee stop in the valley on the way to Caudle Green

A splash of colour

Going down the Warren Hill

Carpenters Arms Miserden

Lunch stop with spectators - probably hoping for something to eat.

An old dovecote in the end of a barn which was being converted.

Up and out of Hazel Hanger Wood

Sunday 28th July 2019 Standish Wood

Starting from the National Trust car park in Standish Wood. A short walk to the nearby topograph with fabulous views all the way to the Severn bridges. On to Haresfield Beacon and then down Vinegar Hill to Stratford Farm. Back up to the southern part of Standish Wood. Following the footpaths to Randwick and Pitchcombe. Finally steeply up to return to the starting point.

6.5 miles and 1400 feet ascent.

The Topograph

On the way to Haresfield Beacon

Haresfield Beacon

Looking back to the start.

Down Vinegar Hill

Going back up again.

Seen better days

Randwick Church

Looking back to Randwick

Going alongside The Plain

At the bottom end of Sherman's Wood before the long climb back up.

Sunday 21st July 2019 Twyning

From the centre of Twyning on a fine sunny morning. Out over the M50 to Ripple to the River Severn and then under the M50 to the Mythe bridge at Tewkesbury. Across to the River Avon to return to Twyning. A fairly flat walk which from the description looked easy. The reality was a bit different - lots of very poorly maintained stiles which made getting over them quite hard and following the River Severn was also difficult with long grass, brambles and few views of the river. Following the River Avon was a complete contrast - easy going and fine views of the river.

9 miles and 330 feet ascent.

Over the M50

One of the many tricky stiles

Negotiating junction 1 of the M50

Ripple

A relatively new water area by the M50

Under the M50

Almost next to the bridge is a mooring area - I wonder if it was built to help facilitate the building of the M50

Mythe Bridge, Tewkesbury

River Avon

Wednesday 3rd July Cotwold Way from Little Sodbury to Wootton-under-Edge

The third leg of the Cotswold Way form Little Sodbury to Wootton-under-Edge. A beautiful hot summers day with good distant views. A much longer journey as we were delayed for nearly an hour by temporary traffic lights on Cleeve Hill so it was good to get going.

From the church at Little Sodbury we headed toward Horton. Then along Bath Lane to The Barton and on to the Somerset Monument. Gently downhill for some time to Lower Kilcott. We stopped for lunch near Kilcott Mill. Again fairly level to Alderley and Wortley then steeply up the escarpment to Wortley Hill.. Down Blackquarries Hill to Holywell and on to Wotton-under-Edge

Just under 11 miles and 1800 feet ascent.

Click here for the previous leg

Click here for the fourth leg

This is the Millenium Folly built in 2000 on Horton Hill to provide nesting places for swallows and barn owls. It's just below the Iorn Age hillfort.

Just a little further on we had a good view of Wootton-under-Edge in the distance as can be seen by this highly zoomed in image. Tyndals's Tower can be seen on the left.