A lovely afternoon along the north Cotswold Edge

Great views across the Vale of Evesham from the Cotswold Edge near Saintbury and Chipping Campden

Lovely weather for walking.

Anne
Walk the Landscape

Just become a Landscape Ambassador for the Cotswolds and the North Wessex Downs

Join our guided walks and learn more about the countryside through which you walk.

Anne
Walk the Landscape

Signs of spring in the Cotswolds

Things are looking up.  The cold weather and icy winds of winter are still hanging on, but despite this there are cheerful signs of spring wherever you look.

Snowdrops blooming under trees, in hedgerows and in churchyards.  

Snowdrops have been cultivated since the middle ages and are associated with abbeys and churchyards as they are a symbol of the Catholic festival of Candlemas.  They are normally flowering  on 2nd February when Candlemas is celebrated and they are looking particularly fine this year.

A robin collecting material his or her their nest.

(male and female look the same)

According to folklore it is said that when Jesus was crucified on the cross, a robin flew down and removed a thorn from the crown on his head and sang to him, thus relieving his suffering.  The blood of Jesus stained his throat and chest, and ever since his breast has remained red.

 Lambs appearing in the fields.

These babies are sticking close to mum where there is always a constant supply of food.

Mum is a type of sheep known as a 'mule' and is a crossbreed between a hardy upland ewe and a lowland ram.

Best

Anne

Cotswold Country Houses: History and Grandeur along the Trail

Scattered through the Cotswolds are fine country mansions, manor houses and there is even a palace. Our network of public footpaths, which date from ancient times, often pass very close to them and here are some of the historic houses next to our routes.

Chastleton House

Chastleton House is a Jacobean country house built between 1607 and 1612.  It was built by Walter Jones, a wealthy lawyer and wool merchant, with no expense spared.  But the family were Royalists during the English Civil War (1642-1651) and in the 18^th century they supported the Jacobite cause, which aimed to restore a Stuart king to the throne removing the Hanoverian dynasty.  As a result the family was heavily fined for its political views.  Subsequently, their fortunes did not improve and when the National Trust took the house over in 1991, the interior was much the same as it had been in the 1612.  It remains so today, as the National Trust have done only essential repairs, thus retaining the unique 17^th century atmosphere.

Our guided and self-guided day walk, ‘Adlestrop: Where for a moment a blackbird sang’ passes Chastleton House, and the house is open to the public on Wednesday to Sunday afternoon from early March to the end of October.

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace is the sumptuous home of the Dukes of Malborough.  The estate together with funds to build the palace were given to John Churchill, 1^st Duke of Malborough, by Queen Anne and parliament, who were grateful for his victory over Louis XIV of France on 13 August 1704 at the Battle of Blenheim.  John Churchill went on to win other battles in the War of Spanish Succession (1701-1714) and the palace is a memorial to him and his military victories.
  

Set in a country estate, the view of the house and lake was described by Randolph Churchill as ‘The finest view in England’ to his future wife on her first visit.   Their son, Sir Winston Churchill(1864-1965) was born there and he is buried in the churchyard at Bladon, next to the estate.

We can arrange a short break of walks in and around Woodstock and Blenheim Palace. Walkers along Shakespeare’s Way and the Oxfordshire Way pass through the estate getting magnificent views of the lake and palace beyond.  The palace is open daily from mid-February to mid-December.

Sezincote House

Sezincote House, which lies on the spring line at the eastern side of the North Cotswolds, was designed in the “Indian Style”, by the architect, Samuel Pepys Cockerell in 1805.  The gardens were designed by Humphrey Repton, the eminent horticulturalist who is considered the last of the great British landscape gardeners.  When the Prince Regent visited the house in 1807 he admired the unique combination of Hindu and Muslim architecture, and it is said that it influenced the design of his exotic oriental retreat, the Brighton Pavilion.

Our ‘Classic Cotswold’ tour passes Sezincote on the routes from Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Campden to Stow-on-the-Wold.

Abbotswood House

Abbotswood is a lovely country house near Stow-on-the-Wold.  The estate dates back to 1253, but the current house was built in 1867.   Shortly afterwards it was remodelled and enlarged in 1902 by Edwin Lutyens, the eminent British architect who adapted traditional designs for modern day living.  Lutyens also designed the stunning gardens and these are open to the public in April when the rhododendrons in bloom and in October when the acers are in full autumn colour and at other times of the year – this photo was taken in mid-summer.  For people with deep pockets, the house together with the estate and 13 cottages was recently on the market for £30 million.

On our shortbreak based in Stow-on-the-Wold one of the walks passes through the estate.

Please contact Anne, to find out more or to book a walking holiday.

Happy hiking

Anne

Walk the Landscape

Visit Ancient Cotswold Churches Steeped In History

On your walking tour through Cotswold towns and villages take the opportunity to visit ancient churches  

These historic buildings are steeped in history and are often the oldest building in the town or village, some dating back to before the Norman Conquest in 1066.

St Eadburga's church, Broadwayy.  This 12th century church is dedicated to St Eadburgha, the grand-daughter of Alfred the Great.  The legend goes that as a child, her father King Edward, tested her faith and when offered the choice of a gift of jewels or a bible, she chose the bible and subsequently dedicated her life to God's service. In the 19th century by a new building closer to the centre of the town, but St Eadburgha’s continued to be used in the summer, for special candlelit services over Christmas and for burial services.

Flower arrangement at St Nicholas, Oddington with the 14th century Doom painting on the wall behind.  Painted when most of the population could not read or write, when the service was in Latin, wall paintings told worshippers bible stories.  The Doom or Last Judgement painting shows God in Heaven with souls on their way to heaven on his right hand side and others on their way to hell on the left hand side. 

The chancel at St Michaels, Buckland, a beautiful small village church under the Cotswold edge.

St John the Baptist, Cirencester is one of the famous Cotswold ‘wool churches’.  In the middle ages, the fleeces of many thousands of sheep raised in the Cotswold were exported into Europe and the wool merchants in area became very rich indeed.   In the 15^th century some of this wealth was used to rebuild parish churches in grand style and the church as Cirencester is one such.    

Happy Hiking

Anne

Relax and enjoy wandering through beautiful Cotswold scenery on the network of footpaths at any time of the year

Why not join us in 2015 on one of our guided or self-guided walking holidays. 

Happy hiking
Best
Anne

Any dry land near here?

Need to get the old welly's out!
Best
Anne
Walk the Landscape

Sunset over the Cotswolds in late November

Happy hiking

Anne

Walk the Landscape

Malmsbury, a quiet, unspoiled Cotswold town

Went to a festival about the 'Philosophy of Walking' recently and it was my first visit to Malmsbury.
What a lovely little Wiltshire town it is, snuggled to the south-east of the Cotswold Hills. Here are a few pictures of the abbey, the town and the lovely Abbey Gardens.

Happy walking through the Cotswolds in our unusually warm autumn weather.

Anne
Walk the Landscape

A lovely day walk in the Cotswolds

Happy hiking

Anne

Showers over the Vale of Evesham

Striking views across the Vale of Evesham from the Cotswold Edge when weather fronts pass through.

Happy hiking

Anne 

WalkTheLandscape

A Day Out along the Cotswold Way

Happy days,
Best
Anne

Coln Saint Denis in the Coln Valley, one of the loveliest valleys in the Cotswolds

Coln Saint Denis

The Coln Valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in the Cotswolds.  A tributary of the River Thames, it lies on low ground to the south of Northleach and meets the great river near Lechlade-on-Thames.
It is best walked on foot, starting from the source at Withington in the north and passing through picturesque villages like Chedworth, Coln Saint Denis and Bibury.
A quiet walk north of Bibury, which is one of the main tourist attractions in the Cotswolds.

Good walking
Anne
Walk the Landscape

Late afternoon shadows over Snowshill

A lovely view of sheep on the hillside above Snowshill, taken in late afternoon just as the sun was going down.

Happy hiking
Anne
WalkTheLandscape.co.uk

Trails for all - from amblers and ramblers to serious hikers

Amble along the Oxford Canal

Ramble through Cotswold villages

Hike along the Cotswold Way

Happy days

Anne

Walk the Landscape

Snowdrops, a sign that spring is round the corner

Snowdrops coming into bloom in a Cotswold churchyard

Make most of the bright, crisp, sunny days of late winter.
Good walking
Anne
Walk the Landscape

The Cotswold Lion

The Cotswold Lion

During the middle ages, wool from Cotswold sheep was amongst the the finest in Europe, and the reign of Henry VII (1485 - 1509) woollen cloth contributed half of England's wealth. Hence, the sheep producing the wool was called the 'Cotswold Lion'.

St James, the 'wool church' in Chipping Campden

The wool trade made the merchants living in the Cotswolds very rich indeed, as wealthy as Bill Gates is today.  The merchants funded impressive 'wool churches' in towns like Chipping Campden, Northleach and Burford, hoping their charity and benevolence would ease their path to heaven on their death.  

These 15th century churches are the lasting legacy of the times. 

Enjoy your walking.
Anne
Walk the Landscape

The Classic Cotswold Walking Tour

Discover

historic market towns

picturesque villages

rolling hills

Take a few days out to relax and enjoy walking through the beautiful landscapes of the North Cotswolds. 

Walking 5 to 12 miles (8 to 12 km) per day with B&B, luggage transfer, maps, directions and info on places of interest, the tour can be tailored to meet your preferences.  

Contact us for more information.

Happy New Year
Anne 
Walk the Landscape

Merry Christmas from Walk the Landscape

Walk the Landscape Newsletter

Enjoy a tranquil few days hiking through some of the most picturesque villages and landscapes in the whole of England. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser

In this Newsletter: New for 2014: Walking and Photography Weekend  Our best selling walking tours: The Classic Cotswolds and the Thames Path National Trail Tours coming up soon: The ancient landscapes and wide open spaces of the North Wessex Downs  Guided Walking Holidays for 2014  and Self-Guided Walking Trails       Walking and Photography Weekend   Friday 25th to Monday 28th April 2014 Do you often take photos of magnificent scenery and nature during walks? Do the images capture the full beauty of the landscape? Or are you sometimes disappointed with the results?   If so, why not join us at the Guildhouse, Stanton where you can take short walks with us and learn how to improve your images with help from Ruth Davey, a professional photographer and facilitator?   The venue offers great opportunities for photography. The Guildhouse, is a stylish 20th century manor house, set on the Cotswold Edge, with long views to the west as far as south Wales, and Stanton is considered one of the most beautiful villages in England .  Click here to find out more. The Classic Cotswolds Walking Tour "Excellent Adventure! Thank you so much" Diane Harsha, Franklin, USA The Classic Cotswolds Walking Tour is our most popular short holiday.  Planned to start and end at railway stations on the Cotswold Line, with direct links to Oxford, Worcester and London, it is an easy to moderate hike taking 3 to 8 days to walk through famous towns and villages like Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-on-the-Water, the Slaughters and Northleach, walking 5 to 12 miles (8 to 20 km) each day.  The tour can also begin at Cheltenham railway station (with links to Bristol and the south-west) and can be based in one town.   We can of course customise to meet your preferences and often do, e.g. with shorter daily distances, rest days, excursions to Oxford, Blenheim or Stratford-upon-Avon. Check out our year round photos of the Classic Cotswold route on Flickr.  Although beautiful throughout the year, late April / early May is an especially good time to visit as the spring flowers and bluebells are blooming and the leaves on the trees are unfurling. Prices are typically £80 per person per night based on two people sharing good quality accommodation.  Included in the price is B&B accommodation, maps, written directions of the route, a booklet with information on places of interest, luggage transfer (as required), advice on travelling to and from the Cotswolds within the UK and support in the unlikely event of an emergency.   The Thames Path "Thanks for an excellent Thames Walk - we will be back to do the next stretch in 2014" Judy Wiseman, London,UK   The Thames Path is our most popular walking trail.  We offer hiking tours along the full length of 184 miles (294 km), from the Source, near Kemble in the Cotswolds to the Thames Barrier, east of London (or reverse).  Some groups do the full distance in one trip, walking as far as 25 miles (40 km) in a day, but many take it easy, walking, for example, the 54 miles (86 km) from the Source to Oxford, or the 74 miles (118 km) from Oxford to Windsor (which is convenient for Heathrow airport) and averaging 10 miles (16 km) per day.  There are even sections where you can take a river cruiser if you prefer not to walk for a day or so. The route offers a fascinating range of contrasts.  Upstream and to the west, the River Isis (as the Thames is also called) is peaceful and in places remote.  From Oxford to Windsor the river passes through some of the most historic and affluent towns in England. Closer to London, the river becomes the great tidal waterway that passes through the heart of the grand capital city.  You can see our photos of the Thames Path route on Flickr. Prices start at £75 per person per night but they do increase on the approach to London. They include B&B accommodation, maps, guide books with written directions of the route and information on places of interest, luggage transfer (as required), help with arranging transport within the UK and support in the unlikely event of an emergency.   Coming up early next year: Holidays on the North Wessex Downs:  A 3 to 4 day walking tour through the ancient landscape in and around Avebury, where you can walk amongst the stones in the largest Prehistoric stone circle in Europe. A linear walk from Avebury to Stonehenge.  See the route and with some of the interesting history in a recent TV programme, Walking Through History, presented by Tony Robinson of Time Team.  Short Guided Walking Holidays in 2014 Friday 16th to Monday 19th May: The Historic Cotswolds Wednesday 18th to Friday 20th June: Chipping Campden and the Cotswold Escarpment Wednesday 10th to Friday 12th September:Classic Cotswold Villages Friday 7th - Sunday 9th November: Prehistory in the Cotswold Landscape If you cannot make these dates and have a group of 6 or more, please contact us to discuss alternative dates. If you are in a smaller group, you may be interested in a customised walking tour. Self-guided Walking Trails Cotswold Way - 102 miles along the Cotswold Edge from Chipping Campden to Bath (or reverse) Cross Cotswold Pathway - 86 miles from Banbury in the north east to Bath in the south west Oxford Canal Walk - 77 miles of easy walking from Oxford to Coventry Oxfordshire Way - 68 miles from Bourton-on-the-Water to Henley-on-Thames Shakespeare's Way - 146 miles from Stratford-upon-Avon to The Globe Theatre, Central London Thames Path - 184 miles from the source near Kemble to the Thames Barrier, East London (or reverse) The Ridgeway - 87 miles from Ivinghoe Beacon to Overton Hill, Avebury (or reverse)