Wednesday 26th Febraury 2020 Stow-on-the-Wold

27 seven starting at Stow-on-the-Wold. Bright sunshine but with a cool breeze. To Maugersbury where the group split with 6 going on a shorter version of the walk. The main group went on to Icomb for a coffee stop at the church. Due to the muddy conditions we followed minor roads Upper and Lower Oddington and then through the fields to Broadwell for lunch. Whilst some were finishing their pub lunch the group split again to follow the rest of the route to Donnington, Donnington Brewery and Upper Swell for the return to Stow.

12.5 miles with 1250 feet ascent.






Gathering at the start

The view from Maugersbury with the Wyck Beacon just visible

Icomb

Coffee stop

Dramatic skies with the odd shower

Lower Oddington

Black Pit farm and the impatient lorry driver.

Black Pit farm and this hasn't been anywhere for a while.

In the mud

Heading into Broadwell and an old barn falling down

The green in Broadwell

The monument for the battle of Stow

Donnington Brewery

A fine bridge near Upper Swell

Wensday 12th February 2020- Arlingham Loop

A walk from Saul Junction on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. Initially we followed the route of the old Stroudwater Canal to the River Severn. The plan had then been to follow the footpath all the way around the peninsula but it was flooded making it impossible. We took an alternative route inland to Overton and Arlingham before getting back to the river edge opposite Garden Cliff. Then all the way around to Hockcliff and back to Frampton-on-Severn through some very heavy muddy patches.

12.5 miles and 500 feet ascent.



Saul Junction on the Gloucester Sharpness canal

The Stroudwater canal at the junction with the Gloucester Sharpness canal

The end of the canal next to.....

....the river Severn but the footpath below was completely flooded.

We diverted inland past Abclift Farm but had to turn back due to flooding

Eventually we came out by the River Severn opposite Garden Cliff

We stopped here for lunch next to Passage Road - opposite on the other side is Newnham.

Hock Cliff

Looking across to the Awre Penninsula

Flood water in the foreground with the river behind.

Saturday 8th February 2020 - Snowdrops at Colesbourne Park

A visit to the snowdrop gardens at Colesbourne Park. 350 varietes of snowdrops and quite spectacular.

Wednesday 5th February 2020 - Cotswold Way 10 - Hailes to Broadway

The penultimate leg of the Cotswold Way from Hailes to Broadway. Perfect weather for the walk - almost spring like with sunshine and no wind.

Starting by the little church at Hailes, up the track towards Farmcote and then across to the Beckbury Monument. On to Stumps Cross and steeply down to Stanway. Through the fields to Stanton with a stop for lunch. Very steeply up to Shenberrow Hill and then along the top of the escarpment before dropping gently down to Broadway

10.4 miles and 1500 feet of ascent.

Click here for the previous leg

Click here for the final leg


I left my camera behind so todays photos were taken with my phone.





The church at Hailes

Going up....

....to the Beckbury Monument

The avenue of trees below

An old dew pond with four wall intersecting in the middle so that all four land users could let the cattle drink water.

The hunt were about to start near Stumps Cross

Stumps Cross

Going down to Stanway

Stanway

The picturesque hamlet of Stanton

On the top with Broadway Tower in view

Broadway comes into view