Wednesday 11th December 2019 Fish Hill

Starting from Fish Hill car park. Along the Cotswold Way to Broadway Tower with a fine rainbow below us.

Down to the edge of Broadway then through the underpass and much mud on our way to Saintbury. From here on to Weston-sub-Edge and up to Lynches Wood, Bold Gap and Dover's Hill. Returning on The Mile Drive to the start.

9 miles and 1200 feet of ascent.









Rainbow above Broadway - but where is the pot of gold?

Broadway Tower

The church at Saintbury

Weston-sub-Edge

Coming up to Bold Gap

Dover's Hill

Wednesday 4th December 2019 Cotswold Way 8 - Severn Springs to Cleeve Hill

A perfect day for the 8th section of the Cotswold Way. A heavy ground frost made the going easy at first and lovely low winter sunlight for great views.

Initially the route is roughl parallel to the A436 then steeply down to the A40 next to Dowdeswell Reservoir. Steeply back up over Ham Hill where the coach was waiting on a minor road to take us to the Craven Arms at Brockhampton for lunch. The service was excellent. We returned refreshed to the Cotswold Way and on to the edge of Cleeve Hill with fine views across Cheltenham. Up to the trig point and topograph and finally down to the golf club for the very short journey back to Winchombe.

8.5 miles and 1600 feet of ascent.

Click here for the previous leg

Click here for the next leg





















Near Severn Springs and looking over Cheltenham with the Malvern Hills just visible above the temperature inversion.

An information update from Rob by Wistley Plantation

On the edge of the escarpment in Lineover Wood

Starting the descent where the low sun hadn't yet melted the frost.

One of the oldest beech trees in the UK

At the bottom near Dowdeswell Reservoir

A break on the way up

Intersting carving on top of the gate posts

The coach awaits to take us to the Craven Arms for lunch

On the edge of Cleeve Hill

The iconic 'two trees'

Around the edge of the Iorn Age fort

Looking back

By the topograph

Wednesday 27th November Malvern Hills

A shame about the weather. One of the best places in the UK for spectacular views and we didn't get any.... None at all. Low cloud was the dominating feature.

Starting from the car park below British Camp we followed the ridge north over Pinnacle Hill and Jubilee Hill to the Wyche cutting. On over Summer Hill to the Worcestershire Beacon. Then down to loop over Sugarloaf Hill, Table Hill and North Hill before returning to the Worcestershire Beacon for our lunch stop.

Back to the Wyche cutting and then an alternative route on the eastern side of the hills to rejoin the main path just south of Pinnacle Hill.

9 miles and lots of steep uphill sections for a strenuous walk with 2600 feet of ascent.

Low cloud everywhere

Just the odd glimpse of the view below

On the Worcestershire Beacon

A glimpse of the sheep on North Hill

Less cloud at the lower level

Lunch on the Worcestershire Beacon with flood visible in the distance

Sunday 24th November 2019 Brand Green

A dull and misty cool day. Starting from the village hall at Brand Green. Past Pauntley Court and on to Playford Bridge. Through Cobhill Rough to join Poets' Path 1. Then on to Ketford and through the orchard to Poolhill. Down to the ponds and back through Compton Green.

8 miles and 900 feet ascent















Pauntley Court Farm

Deserted on a Sunday morning

The nearby church

Down the hill towards Playford Bridge

Coffee stop in Cobhill Rough

The flooded field adjoining Poets' Path No1

The steeper bit near Ketford

On of the orchards

The big ponds near Durbridge Mill