Photograph Gallery Stage 61 Hawkesbury Upton to Wick
Photograph Gallery Stage 61 Hawkesbury Upton to Wick, Sunday 24th July 2011
The Story:
Yet another pleasant day on the Cotswold Way with plenty of interest throughout. I set off from Hawkesbury Upton on a sunny and warm summers day. As it was Sunday the village was peacefully quiet; the place is so laid back it probably is most days. I walked out of the village and noticed a sign on an adjacent road to Petty France and Dunkirk. Was I in the right country? On checking the map I reassured myself I was but a diversion to the French namesake places was just too much of a detour. Shame, I might have seen men on bikes covered with garlic. Is there a reason for two places with French equivalents here?
Leaving continental thoughts behind I followed a minor road to Highfield Farm where I saw a magnificent display by swallows before tracking south and then west to Horton. On this section I met four lovely people from Chipping Sodbury’s famous ‘Hogweed Trotters’ running club. Thank you Rob, Kim, Anne and Kaye. I really enjoyed the chat. Following my first encounter of the day I continued on to the small hamlet of Little Sodbury and while taking a short break on a bench near the church I had my second lovely chat, this time with Jill Hows who was out walking with Tigger and Honey. Jill took great interest in my journey and the places I had stayed. When I mentioned the north west of Scotland she told me she sometimes sails around the islands and when not sailing she will put the boots on and take a walk. A lovely lady.
The meetings had heartened me as if I wasn’t heartened by the wonderful day and wonderful scenery I was amidst. All the villages and small hamlets held interest, the countryside was beguiling and soon after leaving Little Sodbury I was in history too as I climbed through woodland to Sodbury Hillfort, an early Englanders community fort of banked up earth formed into a round enclosure with a second outer bank on the southern end. I walked directly through the centre of the fort and imagined it many many years ago with family groups in huts living the austere early farming life. From the fort I descended through the wood to cross a road then a field to Old Sodbury. Here the Cotswold Way took me through the churchyard to a viewpoint which gave extensive views west to Bristol. Now I could see I was in a direct line with the Severn Bridges, soon to be south of them.
From Old Sodbury I continued to revel in my walk while making my way to Tormarton. First across huge meadows the final approach to the village was through a field of giant sunflowers. With the sun shining the yellow was brilliant. During the walk across the field I had a WOW moment. Naturally it was a slow section; I took photographs galore. In the village I sought out a shop to quench my hot day thirst but there was not one so a chap guided me to the pub. I took pleasure in a pint of iced Orange and Lemonade. After my reviving drink I left the village and crossed a bridge over the M4 before following tracks on the side of huge wheat fields toward Dyrham, the least exciting part of the day and after walking through the quaint village I followed permissive paths across farmland fields toward Doynton. I had left the Cotswold Way at Dyrham and with it the good signs too. Despite being on a permitted route the signs had been allowed to be overgrown but with GPS checks I kept to the path. While on the section between the villages I met a lovely couple who like me were exploring the off the beaten track paths. Mark and Julie Fleming were walking with Archie and our meeting was a reassurance that we were indeed on the right line. Mark and Julie have been getting to know the quieter paths in the area for some time which is good as many would be allowed to deteriorate were it not for like minded people. Keep it up you two, I enjoyed meeting the both of you and Archie in the middle of a seldom walked field! From Doynton the walk was an uneventful final mile to Wick, along a quiet roadside. Inconsequential, I had my fill of adventure earlier.
Meandering Mikes Daily Marks:
Scenery: 7/10 – Typical parochial England. I love it.
History: 6/10 – Old villages and a very old hillfort.
Interest: 8/10 – Lots of good views and lots of great conversation.
Track: 5/10 – Signs better on Cotswold Way than others. Some road, some high grass fields.
Comment: The meetings with complete strangers were fulsome, the walk a good one.
The Photographs:
France Lane in Hawkesbury Upton leads to Dunkirk and Petty France
Leaving Hawkesbury Upton
Highfield Lane, Hawkesbury Upton
It was poignant and ironic to see a Poppy field near Dunkirk and Petty France
Choices
Illustrative Monarch's Way sign
The meadows near Hawkesbury Upton were incredibly beautiful
Pink paradise
Fields of flowers
Colourful walking
The wood where I met the Hogweed Trotters
Wonderful countryside south of Hawkesbury Upton
Shadow walker
Folly in field at Horton Court
The reason for the folly
Weird tree shape in Horton
On no, they have seen me coming
I had to remonstrate with my poles to shift them
Bench in Little Sodbury where I met Jill Hows
Site of ancient hillfort near Little Sodbury
Old Sodbury Church
Despite being hooded he could see and almost managed to open the gate
A beautiful Sunflower in the field full of them
Remarkable
Another beautiful Sunflower
The field of Sunflowers was simply stunning
I had a strange encounter with the landlord and a cool Orange and Lemonade at the Majors Retreat in Tormarton
Next stop, Dyrham
Near Lower Lapdown Farm
One of the long fieldside tracks between Tormarton and Dyrham
Dyrham Park
My Bed and Breakfast in Wick where I got fresh homemade Apple juice at breakfast