Cotswold Ring Day 2 - 8 April 2022

Walking 6.30am to 6.15pm

Distance walked 15.5 miles

Across a misty field into an early morning in Lower Slaughter, surely one of the most beautiful (and photographed) villages in England. I passed through quickly following the Macmillan Way to join the Windrush Way just west of Bourton-on-the-Water. I t was turning into a lovely morning. I followed alongside the winding River Windrush and then left it to ascend and then descend into Naunton and across fields to Guiting Power. Here, I supported a local business, The Old Post Office cafe and succumbed to an excellent coffee and a sourdough sausage sandwich together with a couple of things to take away.

On then through Hawling and Brockhampton. On high ground approaching the abandoned buildings of Wontley Farm I found myself in a quick and sudden blizzard but it didn't last. I joined the Cotswold Way which took me past Belas Knap tumulus. Descending through fields, I found myself a pitch for the night in discreet woodland high above a little used road a couple of miles from Winchcombe.

Cotswold Ring Day 1 - 7 April 2022


Walking 3.10pm to 6.00pm
Distance walked 5 miles

This is the first day of a shakedown walk prior to the TGO Challenge next month. I need to check that my legs will carry me for a few days. I'd planned to bring along a new backpack that I finished only yesterday but one of the shoulder straps isn't right so I'm using my Gossamer Gear Mariposa which is tried and tested.

The Cotswold Ring is a circular route of about sixty miles. The official start is on the western edge of Cheltenham and the furthest point of the route on the west is Moreton-in-Marsh. That was a convenient place for me to start and Amanda dropped me off this afternoon. I have to be home on Tuesday so I probably won't go as far as Cheltenham and have identified on the map where I'll shorten the route.

There was a rain and hail shower as we left home but it cleared up very quickly. I located the footpath I wanted in Moreton and set off at about 3.10pm. My route so far has variously followed the MacMillan Way, the Monarch's Way and the Heart of England Way. At Longborough I decided to vary my route so as not to go through Broadwell and Stow-on-the-Wold and, instead, went through Upper Swell and Lower Swell.

I've found a nice woodland pitch just before Lower Slaughter although I have a noisy muntjac for company.