Walk 10: Uley Bury - North Nibley
17th May 2013: We set off from Uley Bury at 8:05am. The early morning mist, which had lifted from surrounding areas was still lingering on Uley Bury and Cam Long Down, rendering them invisible. The route descends rapidly below the steep slopes of Uley Bury and emerges at Hodgecombe Farm. Cam Long Down rears up ahead, its summit in the mist. As we ascend steeply through fields to reach the trees on Cam Long Down bits of the surrounding escarpment begin to appear through the mist.
We reach the lumpy summit ridge of Cam Long Down - "one of the few places on the Way to offer an uninterrupted 360° view" - well not today as it's still wreathed in mist, offering only the occasional glimpse of the fields below. As we descend to the saddle between Cam Long Down and Peaked Down (Cam Peak), the mist starts to lift, giving views of Downham Hill.
The official route no longer goes over Cam Peak, but we nipped up it through the bluebells to look back at the emerging escarpment and onward past Dursley to Stinchcombe Hill. Then we returned to the official route which takes you through the fields to enter Dursley via Long Street, past the Market Hall and along the pedestrianised shopping street.
Passing the new Library and leaving Dursley on Hill Road (which is aptly named) we pass The Old Spot, venue for many Macaroni Penguins gigs (the next one is on 14th July), and then ascend sharply up the road and continue climbing to the plateau of Stinchcombe Hill via a wooded track. Emerging on the golf course by the Club House the path now follows a circuitous route around the golf course following the edge of the plateau. For three miles the paths weaves in and out of the woods ending up only 1/3 mile from the point where you first emerged. (Although to be fair the signposts do offer you the choice of shortcutting this part of the route). When you reach Drakestone Point the view improves, and the escarpment topped by the Tyndale Monument is clearly visible. There is also a Topograph, trig point and impressive stone bench here.
The plateau curves around Hollow Combe and then drops down along a wooded track, and continues through fields to cross a stream and a road (the B4060) before following a track lined with wild garlic that ascends into North Nibley. The hedgerows shield the views of the Monument until you arrive in the village. We finished the walk at 11:05am.
North Nibley is about two-thirds of the way along the Cotswold Way.
We reach the lumpy summit ridge of Cam Long Down - "one of the few places on the Way to offer an uninterrupted 360° view" - well not today as it's still wreathed in mist, offering only the occasional glimpse of the fields below. As we descend to the saddle between Cam Long Down and Peaked Down (Cam Peak), the mist starts to lift, giving views of Downham Hill.
The official route no longer goes over Cam Peak, but we nipped up it through the bluebells to look back at the emerging escarpment and onward past Dursley to Stinchcombe Hill. Then we returned to the official route which takes you through the fields to enter Dursley via Long Street, past the Market Hall and along the pedestrianised shopping street.
Passing the new Library and leaving Dursley on Hill Road (which is aptly named) we pass The Old Spot, venue for many Macaroni Penguins gigs (the next one is on 14th July), and then ascend sharply up the road and continue climbing to the plateau of Stinchcombe Hill via a wooded track. Emerging on the golf course by the Club House the path now follows a circuitous route around the golf course following the edge of the plateau. For three miles the paths weaves in and out of the woods ending up only 1/3 mile from the point where you first emerged. (Although to be fair the signposts do offer you the choice of shortcutting this part of the route). When you reach Drakestone Point the view improves, and the escarpment topped by the Tyndale Monument is clearly visible. There is also a Topograph, trig point and impressive stone bench here.
The plateau curves around Hollow Combe and then drops down along a wooded track, and continues through fields to cross a stream and a road (the B4060) before following a track lined with wild garlic that ascends into North Nibley. The hedgerows shield the views of the Monument until you arrive in the village. We finished the walk at 11:05am.
North Nibley is about two-thirds of the way along the Cotswold Way.
Walk Distance: 8.0 miles (12.9 km), 3h01m.
Cumulative Distance: 75.1 miles (121.0 km), 27h25m.
The next walk will probably be on Saturday, 18th May.
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