Walk 3: Stanway - Winchcombe
[See the photos on Facebook]
6th May 2013: We set off at 10:30am from Stanway on a fine Bank Holiday Monday (if you can believe such a thing), passing through a well crafted kissing gate by the Watermill and crossing the B4077 and continuing through fields to Wood Stanway. Here the path climbs uphill through fields to rejoin the B4077 at Stumps Cross.
From here the path follows a broad farm track, past a tin barn raised on staddle-stones, and then across more fields to Beckbury Hill Fort (270m) perched on the edge of the escarpment. From here there were fine views back towards Stanway House and saw the 300ft fountain operating (the tallest fountain in Britain). We stopped for lunch by the monument (Cromwell's Seat, named for Thomas Cromwell, although the monument is dwarfed by the trees, Cromwell's Clump).
From here the path drops down, crossing more fields to come out at a track along the edge of Hailes Wood, passing Hayles Fruit Farm to arrive at the ruined Cistercian Hailes Abbey (originally founded in the 13th Century) and the non-ruined Hailes Church (dating back to 1135). The path crosses a field (allowing you to photograph the ruins of the Abbey through the hedge), and then proceeds across more fields to pick up Puck Pit Lane which leads to the B4632 into Winchcombe.
Instead of following the main road into Winchcombe we departed from the official way to follow a footpath parallel to the road along the River Isbourne (and Teasel had a paddle). This brings you out on Castle Street, which can then be followed to rejoin the official route on the High Street.
This completes "Section 1" (Chipping Campden to Winchcombe) of Cotswold Way from the OS Recreational Path Guide, which splits the walk into seven sections.
6th May 2013: We set off at 10:30am from Stanway on a fine Bank Holiday Monday (if you can believe such a thing), passing through a well crafted kissing gate by the Watermill and crossing the B4077 and continuing through fields to Wood Stanway. Here the path climbs uphill through fields to rejoin the B4077 at Stumps Cross.
From here the path follows a broad farm track, past a tin barn raised on staddle-stones, and then across more fields to Beckbury Hill Fort (270m) perched on the edge of the escarpment. From here there were fine views back towards Stanway House and saw the 300ft fountain operating (the tallest fountain in Britain). We stopped for lunch by the monument (Cromwell's Seat, named for Thomas Cromwell, although the monument is dwarfed by the trees, Cromwell's Clump).
From here the path drops down, crossing more fields to come out at a track along the edge of Hailes Wood, passing Hayles Fruit Farm to arrive at the ruined Cistercian Hailes Abbey (originally founded in the 13th Century) and the non-ruined Hailes Church (dating back to 1135). The path crosses a field (allowing you to photograph the ruins of the Abbey through the hedge), and then proceeds across more fields to pick up Puck Pit Lane which leads to the B4632 into Winchcombe.
Instead of following the main road into Winchcombe we departed from the official way to follow a footpath parallel to the road along the River Isbourne (and Teasel had a paddle). This brings you out on Castle Street, which can then be followed to rejoin the official route on the High Street.
This completes "Section 1" (Chipping Campden to Winchcombe) of Cotswold Way from the OS Recreational Path Guide, which splits the walk into seven sections.
Walk Distance: 6.7 miles (10.7 km), 2h32m.
Cumulative Distance: 19.3 miles (31.1 km), 7h17m.
Walk 4 will probably happen on the 7th or 8th of May.
Walk 4 will probably happen on the 7th or 8th of May.
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