Sunday 5th March 2023 - Prestbury

With the Cleeve ramblers from Prestbury. Steeply up the escarpement to the Cotswold Way just below the masts, then on to a lower leve path to Picadilly Farm. Down to Hewletts Reservoir and finally on the Cheltenham Circular Footpath back to Prestbury.  A cold dull day. 6 miles with 900 feet of ascent.

Spring lambs

Going up

The view across to the Malvern Hills

The racecourse below

Cheltenham

Tuesday 28th February 2023 - Winchcombe

 

Always good to start a walk from Winchcombe, even on a cold dull day! Across the fields to Waterhatch, up to Roel Gate. Down Campden Lane and on to Little Farmcote. Returning past St Kenelm's Well and Sudeley Castle. Just over 10 miles with 1200 feet of ascent.

Waterhatch

Getting up the steep bit with no views anywhere.

The always impressive Spoonley Farm House

Crop spraying

Catkins on Campden Lane Track

On the Winchcombe Way

St Kenelm's Well

Sudeley Hill Farm with Winchcombe below

Sudeley Castle

Thursday 23rd February 2023 - Church Westcote

A recce for another day from Church Westcote.  Following the Diamond Way to Bledington. Then to Foxholes, Fifield, Idbury and Nether Westcote. A very cold wind on a dull day. 8 miles

St Mary the Virgin Church

St Leonards church Bledington

Jasmine Cottage, Bledington

Idbury

Tuesday 21st February 2023 - Broad Campden

From Broad Campden, initially on the Diamond Way. Around Norhtwick Park and through Northwick Business Centre reurning to Broad Campden. Then a much smaller loop towards Chipping Campden. Just 6 miles.

On the Diamond Way

Campden Hill Farm

The deer park at Northwick Park

Northwick Business Park. Originally built in 1943 as an American Field Hospital. From 1948 it was used as Polish resettlement camp where many displaced Polish families lived until 1970.  This is the Polish Memorial.  Today it is a thriving business centre. 

Looking down on Broad Campden with Chipping Campden in the distance

St Michael and All Angels church, Broad Campden

Broad Campden

Saturday 18th February 2023 - Rococo Gardens Painswick

 The first time we had been to these gardens to see the spectacular snowdrops. Just stunning.

Thursday 21st February 2023 Birdlip

A solo walk and a recce for another day. 7 miles with 1350 feet of ascent. From Birdlip and steeply down to Great Witcombe.  Across the reservoirs then steeply up to the edge of Cooper's Hill.  Up again to The Buckholt. Through Buckholt Wood and on to the Cotswold Way to return. A dull grey misty day.

This walk was not suitable for the intended group. I will save it for a different group at another time

The woods on Birdlip Hill

The path goes steeply down. The reservoirs in the distance and Cooper's Hill

Across the reservoir

Looking back to Birdlip Hill

Buckholt Wood

Cotswold Way to return.