Stonehouse - Dursley, then bus to Wotton

The plan was a SIX-mile walk with one big hill, and then catch a bus to our accommodations.... walked almost DOUBLE - with significant elevation gain ove TWO big hills. Sunshine, spitting rain showers and WINDY. Joe figures the gusts were up to 70mph. 

With J, A & E planning to walk all 16 miles today, we headed out at about 8:30 after breakfast. (Joe stocked up with a full English breakfast, but I could only manage a half bowl of porridge.) Along the canal, we got to see the weirs and locks from the 1700s. The pathway crossed the canal and headed up over a long and steep pasture hillside.

Walked along the ridge. Windy! Met an older man out walking his dog. He promised we would be in the shelter of the woods soon.

Down through the woods

Up across Coaley Peak park

Neolithic burial site, with stones

Down through more woods

A&E followed what turned out to be the correct pathway for the CW; Joe and I chose a minor trail to avoid elevation loss & gain

At 11:30am, I really needed to rest.  Encouraged Joe to go on ahead, since he planned to complete the full 16 miles today. I took about 20 min to enjoy my half a cheese & chutney sandwich and fantasized about wrapping myself up in my poncho and laying down on the forest floor for a nap.

Shortly after I got on my way, I ran into an older English gentleman who really like to chat - history and current politics. Must have stood there yakking for about an hour. He was seriously disappointed for me that we missed the CW turn-off. "The views are so lovely!" Later on, I saw what he meant.

Down down down through the woods, and shortly rejoined the Cotswolds Way. Eventually, I climbed up another sheep & cattle pasture. Up up up when I got a phone call from Joe!! He was worried about my making it all the way to Dursley, but I was kind of committed at that point. The more I climbed, the more I saw what J had worried about (steep, muddy steps while being buffeted by gale force winds). I just kept concentrating on NOT tripping over my walking pole!

Got to cross the hilltop, with views 360°. You could see across the water to Wales!!

After that, it was mostly downhill, avoiding the cow pies, and eventually took a path through the woods. What a relief to be out of the wind!

Turns out there was more climbing up of muddy steps before starting down in earnest through the woods and into town.

There was one last cattle pasture with some bulls in it, but fortunately, they were more interested in finding grass to munch than in us passersby. Another woman (in a bright fuschia jacket) was ahead of me, and gave me the courage to navigate around the beasts.

That left the final pasture to cross and then to turn onto village streets. I found the Sainsbury grocery store where A&E had holed up, and decided to catch the 5pm bus with me for a 25-min lift ro the town we were staying  tonight. Joe had walked on ahead, and ended up arriving at the Swan Hotel in Wooten-under-Edge just before we did!! Amazing!

Nice dinner in the hotel restaurant where 3 of us got the beef lasagne. Eric ordered the chicken & bacon pot pie. Fished off with a slice of chocolate fudge cake shared among us. It's 10pm. Time to snuzz.

34.4k👣 (11+ miles) 303 min💛 🫣🫣Meer informatie