Sunday 30th January - Charlton Kings

 

A walk with the Cleeve Ramblers group on a wonderful sunny winter's day. Starting from Charlton Kings and going steeply up through Timberlake woods to Wistley Hill. Then through the edge of Chatcombe Wood to Upper Coberley. On to Coberley for a picnic lunch stop. Returning through Severn Springs, Wistley Hill and finally down using the Cheltenham circular footpath. 

About 9 miles with 1100 feet of ascent.

Timberlake Woods

Hartley Hill in the distance

Upper Coberley

Coberley

Group photo on Wistley Hill

Going down with Cleeve Hill in the background

Tuesday 25th January 2022

A dull and cold day for our walk from Moreton-in-the-Marsh where led by Ivor we did the 'Moreton 8' walk. A figure of eight walk to the north west and south of the town. Good to be back with the walking group after an enforced break. 

About 8.5 miles and flat with a height gain of only 275 feet.

Tuesday is market day and the traders were setting up as we started the walk

Batsford park ahead but we turned right.

Over the main line

Lower Rye Farm

Diseased trees

Wednesday 12th January 2022 - Toddington

An easy flat walk from Toddington with the Winchcombe Probus group. A glorious morning to be out with a heavy frost, clear skies and bright winter sunshine. Of course the frost made the very wet and muddy ground a little bit firmer. 4 miles in total followed by lunch at The Phesant. My first group walk for 5 weeks.

Down the track by the cottages.

To the side of the railway station

To the little hamlet of Didbrook

A 14th century cottage with the classic 'A' frame gable end

To join the Winchcombe Way 

The church of St George Didbrook

27th December 2021 Wincombe

 Winchcombe looking festive

Wednesday 8th December 2021 - Diamond Way Final Section

The Final section of the Diamond Way from Bledington to Moreton-in--the-Marsh. Our route took us through Daylesford, Adlestrop and Evenlode. This was the day after Storm Barra had passed through. We started from Bledington in the rain and for a while the going was difficult because of the muddy ground.  An easy flat walk with no real hills.  About 10.5 miles with 752 feet of ascent.

Click here for the previous section

This shows the complete route.

Bledington in the rain

Some large puddles to navigate around

Past the Daylesford farm shop and then the equestrian centre.

The Daylesford estate is highly manicured and with this rather unusual horses head sculpture in on of the field.

From the old Adlestrop railway station which was closed as part of the Beeching cuts - on the seat is the poem by Edward Thomas 

Yes, I remember Adlestop -

The name, because one afternoon

Of heat the express-train drew up there

Unwontedley. It was late June

The steam hissed. Someone cleared his throat.

No one left and no one came

On the bare platform. what I saw

Was Adlestrop - only the name

And willows, willow-herb, and grass,

And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry,

No whitless still and lonely fair

Than the high cloudlets in the sky.

And for that minute a blackbird sang

Close by, and round him, mistier,

Farther and farther, all the birds

Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire

The village green in Evenlode for our picnic stop.

The barn was groaning in the wind

Across the main line.

The end of the walk - St David's church, Moreton-in-the-Marsh