Winchcombe

30,423 steps (21.83 km)... we caught rain part way today... rain and wind! And cows that blocked the bridge we needed to cross...

From Broadway, the Cotswold Way climbs up onto the escarpment to the Iron Age hill fort of Shenberrow Camp. (That was excavated in 1935 - pieces of pottery, a bronze bracelet, and two bone needles were found.) The trail then descends into the village of Stanton. This was a farming settlement as early as 2500 BC and developed into a village around the 9th century; the village is made up of 16th-century cottages and farmhouses.

After the village, we crossed the Stanway Estate, with its Jacobean manor and the highest gravity fed fountain in Europe (which was closed). It's a very impressive group of buildings.

The next section started with a steep climb up from Wood Stanway onto the escarpment. We came upon a monument we believe to be Stumps Cross, which is where it is reputed that Thomas Cromwell watched the destruction of the Hailes Abbey brlow. Passing the Iron Age Hill fort of Beckbury Camp, we descended to Hailes with its ruined abbey and little church. (The abbey was closed, the church was open, however it was just too much to remove our boots to enter). Hailes Abbey was built in 1246 and was the home of Cistercian monks, and when a vial allegedly containing the blood of christ was presented, this site became a place of pilgrimage for nearly 300 years. The abbey was destroyed in 1539 during the country wide dissolution of monasteries by Henry VIII.

The Trail then went through farmland into the town of Winchcombe along the curiously named Puckpit Lane. Looking as bedraggled as we did,it was a pleasant surprise to have the accommodation upgrade us to a beautiful room... with a chandelier and a soaker tub!
Sunday roast dinner and a smokey whiskey, then to bed.Read more