Snowshill

Cloudy and foggy this morning. Once again, I awoke just about 0400 and heard the church bell chime four times so I assumed it was 0400. I recall that in Spain, the church bell sounded on the hour, but did not sound after 10 PM or so. Perhaps it did, but I was too tired and asleep to notice.

We met a couple from San Fran and another from Philadelphia at breakfast. One was walking towards Chipping Campden and the other was walking towards Bath. Once again, breakfast lasted us all day as it was filling and delicious.

After getting the luggage downstairs (I should be ready for some serious arm wrestling after we get home given the weight of the duffles), we left and walked through Stanton noticing the lovely stone work and the old red phone booth near the post office. We also checked out the church before walking out of town. Fields of green, trees full of leaves, and warm temperatures greeted us as we walked from field to field. We passed Stanway House, the church, and the gate house. For 1300 years, the Stanway House has changed hands but once (except through inheritance). Quite a record!

We passed through fields of sheep and cows, noting at one gate a sign that read "bull in the field". Well now, that gave us concern, but also got us to thinking that since we saw no cows, what kind of bull could it be? Seeing parked cars resulted in the conclusion that the bull in the field was nothing more than a meeting of local politicians. And we think we have problems in the States!

Met an English gentleman walking up a steep slope and he told us that he does a 10 miler with his wife every Sunday, but she had other things to do this week so he was by himself. We but wonder if that was true. Quite a rugged 10 miler.

Then we ran across a herd of sheep in the road before we stopped and chatted with a small group of walkers, two from Australia and one from Sweden. They were also going to Winchcombe but in the opposite direction...go figure. We did see them again at Hailes Abbey so small world after all.

We enjoyed coffee and scones at Hayes Fruit Farm, then continued on the trail soon arriving at Hailes Abbey.

Hailes Abbey consists of ruins today, being built in 1251 and destroyed at a time that the guide book has decided to keep secret. Across the road was the Church of Saint Nickolas. What's really interesting about this is that it was built in the 12th century and there are original wall paintings covering a large part of the interior. Amazing that they're not protected with hard plastic, or something, as one could touch them like the walls at home.

Pretty flowers and fields of sprouted corn marked our way and we arrived at the White Hart Inn in time for me to haul the bags up a set of stairs, through the door, up and down two sets of steps until I could get them into the room.

Dinner was at the White Hart. Fish and chips, and sausage for Arlene. We topped it off with a peckish sized brownie with ice cream, then walked down the street to locate the church, noting the gargoyles, and to figure out how to walk to the castle which we shall do in the morning.

All's well that ends well. Tomorrow is another day.Read more