Wednesday, 27 February 2013

Magnificent Views Along The Cotswold Way

The Devil's Chimney on the Cotswold Edge above Cheltenham, Cotswold Way
The Devil's Chimney, on the Cotswold Edge, above Cheltenham

The Cotswold Way is one of just 15 National Trails in England.  
It follows the Cotswold Escarpment for 102 miles (164 km) between the beautiful medieval town of Chipping Campden in the north and the city of Bath in the south, which is famous for it's Roman Baths, Abbey and Georgian architecture.


Bath Abbey from the Roman Baths at the beginning of the Cotswold Way
Bath Abbey from the Roman Baths

Broadway Tower on the Cotswold Way
Broadway Tower
Timber framed cottage on the Cotswold Way
Timber framed cottage


Passing through picturesque towns and villages such as Broadway, Stanton, Winchcombe and Painswick, and offering magnificent views to the west across the Severn Valley to the Malvern Hills, the Severn Estuary and South Wales,  the Cotswold Way offers an extremely satisfying tour with moderate to strenuous walking.

Contact us and we can organize walking holidays to fit your itinerary along all or part the Cotswold Way National Trail.

Happy walking
Anne

Wednesday, 20 February 2013

Winter Sunshine in the Windrush Valley, the Cotswolds

Winter can be a lovely time to walk.
Clear fresh air, blue skies, warm sunshine and long views through leafless trees.

The Upper Windrush Valley
The Upper Windrush Valley
The River Windrush
The River Windrush
Upper Slaughter Manor
Upper Slaughter  Manor
Dappled shade along treeline footpath
Dappled shade along treeline footpath
Happy walking
Anne
walkthelandscape.co.uk

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Winter along the Ridgeway National Trail

Ridgeway signpost in snow near the Uffington White Horse

Snow covered hillside near the Uffington White Horse on the Ridgeway National Trail

Snow covered landscape near the Uffington White Horse on the Ridgeway National Trail

Open countryside near the Uffington White Horse on the Ridgeway National Trail

The Ridgeway National Trail runs for 87 miles from Overton Hill near Avebury, Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon, Buckinghamshire, England. It is thought to follow the oldest route in Europe, dating back to the Stone Age (4000BC) and passes next to numerous prehistoric sites, notably, Avebury Stone Circle, the Uffington White Horse and Barbury Castle. 

For most of the route, it follows high ground along the chalk ridge, and after the last few months of heavy rain the footpaths are is not so muddy as those at lower levels, so a good trail to choose for a spring tour. 

For a self-guided tour along The Ridgeway check out walkthelandscape.co.uk/ridgeway.php

Happy Walking
Anne


Friday, 8 February 2013

Snowdrop time



Snowdrops in churchyard at Milton-under-Wychwood, Cotswolds, England
Snowdrops are now in full bloom.
Native to the west of England and Wales, snowdrops are associated with abbeys and churchyards, and are a Roman Catholic symbol of Candlemas, as they are normally in flower around 2nd February, the date of the festival. 
They were also planted to mark a line to outside privies in the Wychwood area.

Happy hiking
Anne
Walk The Landscape

Wednesday, 6 February 2013

Walks in the Cotswolds: Chastleton

Chastleton, in the north-east Cotswolds, has a stunning Jacobean country house dating from the early 1600s, and the area offers easy to moderate walks of 4 to 12 miles (6.5 to 20 km) in a lovely landscape.
Ancient footpaths take you through picturesque countryside, with beech woodland, cattle grazing green pastures and arable fields brimming with deep green wheat and vibrant yellow oilseed rape.  Not only that, walks present long views over the Cotswold Hills to Broadway Tower in the west and to Moreton-in-Marsh in the north.

The Jacobean Garden at Chastleton House, Cotswolds, England
The Jacobean Garden at Chastleton House

Dappled shade under fresh spring foliage, Cotswolds, England
Dappled shade under fresh spring foliage


Ancient footpaths through a yellow sea of oilseed rape, Cotswolds, England
Ancient footpaths through a yellow sea

Hay bails in the golden countryside of mid-summer, Cotswolds, England
Hay bails in the golden countryside of mid-summer
Wide views in autumn sunshine, Cotswolds, England
Wide views in autumn sunshine
Contact us for guided and self-guided walk in the area with distances from 4 to 12 miles (6.5 to 20 km).
On our guided walks we provide a full description of the area, it's history and natural history.
On self-guided walks we supply a booklet describing the places you walk through, together with maps, written instructions for the route and suggestions for the best places for lunch.
For longer tours, check out the Oxfordshire Cotswolds Self-Guided Tour to enjoy this less well known part of the Cotswolds.

Happy Walking
Best
Anne
Walk the Landscape