Cleeve Hill, Cotswolds

Off to the Cotswolds we go! Although my navigation to get to the start point was much to be desired.. First of all I went straight past the turn off, then I drove all the way up to the Golf Club only to turn back out again. Luckily Rowena, Jon (first timer) and Mikey (first timer) found their way okay and I waited at the start of the road to flag down Antony who was on his own and Jon, Marta, Paul and Helen who were in another car.

After trying to drive straight up the bridleway, I realised my error and turned left into the disused quarry which had been converted into a car park. Now with the whole group together we began the walk from the coordinates (SO98915  27512). We walked through the golf course which was a little odd in itself. Dodging any misplaced golf balls we walked over a cross dyke, just a bit west of the summit of Cleeve Hill (317m). A set of radio/TV masts dominated the skyline as we walked across Cleeve Common. It was quite a gray day really. Not looking like it was going to rain but equally the sun was on holiday as well. As we walked across the Common we saw quite a few people kite flying and what can only I guess be described as grass skiing by kite. Very interesting contraption this gent was driving!! As we got to the masts at SO 99415 24817 we followed the fence wall, across another minor top (330m) towards the car park at West Down.

We had a break whilst various members of the walking group ran off into the bushes, one at a time. No scandal here. We then marched on down the road towards the village of Brockhampton, where we found a pub for some lunch. Finding an empty beer garden, we had a rest and a beer. The sun made an appearance which was pretty good timing!

After lunch we walked passed Brockhampton Park – very nice house in the country and wandered up the road past Cotehay Farm towards Charlton Abbots. At the crossroads we turned left up towards Westwood House, through a lovely little wooded valley. We heard some strange noises in the woods!! Maybe some deer or birds not sure. We climbed out of the valley and up a long reaching field to a disused barn before joining the Cotswold Way.

We cut back across the Common, the guy in what appeared another contraption still hurtling along pulled by the wind!! We headed north west to the top of Cleeve Hill (317m), where we sat to admire the view. After negotiating the golf course we made it back to the car with lovely views back across towards Cheltenham and the Black mountains far in the distance.

Details

Attendees: 10
Start and End Point: SO98915  27512
Total Distance: 17.2km
Total Ascent: 205m 
Time: 5hr

Cotswold Way, Moreton-in-Marsh, Cotswolds

Up early on a spring morning and off to Moreton-in-Marsh we go! Helen P and I met up with Ed, Matt, Becky, Alice H, Luke, Alice L, Chris, Louise and Tom at the railway station. Helen E and Paul were in transit and were hopefully going to catch up with us later in Blockley. Of and of course Max was there too :) 

We began by walking  through the centre of town, where I was trying to work out the path out westwards. You know you are on the right path as there is a caravan park to the left. In the distance we saw the first stately home of the day! I was also quite bemused on how hung over Matt and Becky were!!

The footpath crossed a few more fields and started to follow the hedge up to where it crossed the road to the falconry centre at Batsford Park. We continued up past the walled grounds of the old stately home and up into the woods. As we crossed the road we headed to a viewpoint which showed the lovely little village of Blockley.

To which point Chris was poking about a tree and clearly trying to find something. Then it dawned on me he was trying to find a geo-cache. The debate for me is out on this one. Some people call it blatant littering but I can see the fun side of it too – like a treasure hunt. Chris was clearly addicted! One of the treasures was one of those long party balloons which promptly got blown up and let off.It screeched and span around whilst we began to walk down the hill to Blockley.

On the way down we stopped at a pub in Blockley, had some lunch and a nice pint of ale. After lunch we made our way out of Blockley southwards through a little hamlet called Dovedale and into Bourton Woods.  I did another classic wait for people to go the wrong way and make them walk back oops. We strolled up past Hailstone Farm, at which point there was lots of wild garlic around which Helen P was picking up! We carried on over the road and down to the little village of Bourton-on-the-Hill.

At which point we walked  south towards the stately home at Sezincote. This place looked a bit peculiar, a cross between a mid eighteenth century ancestral pile and the Taj Mahal. It looked quite ridiculous. At this point I spot a few birds circling in the sky. We began walking down the track towards some farm outbuildings. At which point I lost my bearings and Chris helped out with his GPS.

Correcting the route we made our way along a field at which point at the end was a swing which many of us had a go on. It was getting late in the afternoon but still enough time to pick up an ice cream in Moreton. Which went down very well!!

The day was full of sunshine, hopefully a sign for many more days like this later in the year.