Photograph Gallery Stage 57 Winchcombe to Birdlip
Photograph Gallery Stage 57 Winchcombe to Birdlip, Wednesday 20th July 2011
The Story:
Today was one of the best days of my walking life, undoubtedly. I enjoyed brilliant views throughout, I met wonderful people, I had interesting conversations, I marvelled at beautiful flowers and I walked through the most divine countryside. I had WOW moments so often. The day was spectacular and one I shall never forget. It was brilliant.
The day started well with a great breakfast at Blair House in Winchcombe, courtesy of the wonderful Sarah Chisholm, proprietor extrodinaire. If ever I stay in Winchcombe again it is Blair House for me. At breakfast I shared the table with a very nice Danish couple who were enjoying a walking holiday in the Cotswolds. On leaving Blair House I followed the Cotswold Way to Belas Knap and continued in infuriating drizzle toward Cleve Hill. As the weather was dismal I concentrated in making ground but when I reached Cleve Hill the weather actually provided my first WOW moment of the day. After passing a golf course I reached the crest of the hill and everything changed. I could see far and wide. I could see Cheltenham down below me, resplendent with its white buildings. I could see the Vale of Evesham, Tolkeins Middle Earth. I could see the Brecon Beacons, majestic mountains in Wales. I could see the south west, my eventual destination in three weeks time. And I could see the weather. I didn’t need weather forecasters, I could see it for myself. A band of rain was sweeping into Cheltenham. Further out a band was sweeping over the Vale of Evesham, blocking out my view of the Beacons. Further away I could see fair, I felt confident I could cast my coat soon. While on Cleve Hill I also had two meetings with people. The first was with a lady studying the local flora, particularly the flowers on Cleve Hill. The second was with two happy young men enjoying a stroll on the hill. On asking about my journey one gave me a couple of quid for the charity. Thank you.
On leaving Cleve Hill I tracked through a small coppice and to my astonishment came across a herd of young male cows lined up on the narrow path. The first few bolted as I approached but a black one stood his ground. We were practically eye to eye before I waved my poles and shouted him off. Should he become a bull then beware.
From Cleve Hill I walked through Prestbury Wood and then made for Dowdeswell Wood. As I approached I caught up with the couple from Birmingham I met yesterday in the ice rink field before Winchcombe. We shared a laugh about it before I moved ahead. I then descended from the high ground to cross the A435 before ascending again to Lineout Wood, a spectacular place. In the wood I met a chap with Binoculars looking for Flotillary Butterflies. He said conditions were not quite right but a couple of degrees more would see them in abundance. It was warming up so I guess he was satisfied. I asked him about some of the beautiful flowers I was photographing and he named them for me including the bell shaped blue Lily of the Valley which he told me was a nettles companion. I learnt something. From Lineout Wood I descended to a common and the immediately climbed again, steeply this time to Witley Hill and to enjoy another WOW moment. As on Cleve Hill the views were fantastic and this time with the sun out the Vale of Evesham looked stunning, as did the mountains beyond. I sat on a bench, took lunch and enjoyed a brilliant 15 minutes taking in the magnificence of it all. There is no better place than Britain in summer and I was looking at its beauty as I rested. A gentleman passed me and stopped to talk a while with me, we both revelled in what we were enjoying before I said farewell and resumed my walk.
The day wasn’t done, I continued on high ground to Devils Chimney, then another delightful meeting with a gentleman walking his dog and then to Barrow Wake where I had yet another WOW moment. A great swath of south east England lay below me and a sign board at a viewpoint explained it to me. I could see Birmingham, the Malvern Hills and the Black Mountains of Wales. I could see smaller hills locally and I could see the traffic of the M5 rushing through it all, most not noticing much but tarmac. Shame. After the final view of the day I was almost done, just a short walk through Birdlip Wood to my hotel. Even that was great as the rain came again to end my day but the dense wood sheltered me from it. The whole day was great.
Meandering Mikes Daily Marks:
Scenery: 10/10 – Yes, it has to be top marks, so many WOW moments in one day.
History: 3/10 – Hill fort on Cleve Hill.
Interest: 9/10 – The people I met told me so much. Thank you everyone.
Track: 8/10 – Very well signed.
Comment: One of my very best walking days.
The Photographs:
Cottages on Dent
Corner Cupboard Inn, Winchcombe
Elder Grove
Leaving Elder Grove and reaching Cleve Hill
Ben
Rainstorm approaching Cleve Hill.....
....and now its here
Rain now clearing and looking from Cleve Hill south to Cheltenham and the Vale of Evesham
Despite the rainy morning the Walking Englishman keeps smiling on Cleve Hill
In tune
From Cleve Cloud I descended to a track and was confronted by curious cows
Walking from Cleve Cloud to Huddlestone
Cheltenham, the Vale of Evesham and Welsh Mountains
Delicate delictable Bellflowers
Owl wood sculpture on a gate post at Arle Grove
After the ridges comes the woodlands
Dowdeswell Wood
Lineover Wood, simply WOW!
Into Lineover Wood, a place which provided me with a great experience
Lineover Wood was so rich in flora
Nettle-leaved Bellflower (Campanula trachelium)
More fantastic Nettle-leaved Bellflowers in Lineover Wood, this time in white
Beauty, no other word for it
Today was divine, such a wonderful day walking
Rowan Berries in Lineover Wood
Lineover Wood near Old Dole Farm
I'm not going round in circles
The track from Lineover Wood to Ravensgate Hill
A fantastic view from Ravensgate Hill
The Vale of Evesham (or Middle Earth?)
Tolkien
Poppies on Ravensgate Hill
Along the fieldside on Ravensgate Hill
Wonderful yellow cornflowers on Ravensgate Hill
Yellow Foxglove on Ravensgate Hill
Blue heaven near Wistley Hill
Crossing a field full of beautiful yellow flowers on Wistley Hill
More super woodside walking
Field side track on Leckhampton Hill
View from the Peak towards Gloucester
Panorama from the Peak
Commuters on the M5 near Gloucester
Looking east from the Peak to Cooper
The track south from the Peak to Birdlip Hill
Birdlip Wood
The Royal George in Birdlip was an excellent staging post
Starting to look at the photos of this part of your walk I loved what I saw more and more and felt a ‘happy feeling’ growing and growing and would really want to walk in those parts – and then came across your comment that it was a wonderful day’s walking! What views!!