Cotswold Way Landmarks: The Devil's Chimney

The Cotswold Way, one of England's most picturesque National Trails

The Devil's Chimney

One of the most popular legends for the origin of this pillar of rock standing on the Cotswold Edge above Cheltenham, is that it is the home of the devil who resides deep in the ground below.  

Angered by the many churches in the region, it is thought that Old Nick, as the Devil is affectionately known, sat on top of Leckhampton Hill and hurled stones at pilgrims who were on their way to prayer down in the valley below. However, his wicked ways backfired as the stones turned and hurled themselves back up the hill, burying him beneath the ground for ever.  The heavy stones piled one upon the other, forming the chimney, locking him in and ensuring he could never escape. 

For extra protection, Cheltenham inhabitants would climb to the top of the chimney to leave a coin as insurance against the Devil's anger and, as some believe, to ensure the privacy of its most infamous inhabitant.

Generations of young people have climbed the rock, including 13 brave souls who hold the unofficial record for the largest number of people to stand on the top at the same time.   Sadly, owing to the gradual erosion of the landmark, climbing has been prohibited, but it remains one of the iconic sights along the Cotswold Way.

Contact us for hiking holidays along the Cotswold Way and other National Trail in the Heart of England.

Happy hiking
Anne
Walk the Landscape

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

Sunset from Broadway Tower on the Cotswold Way

Happy hiking

Anne

Walk the Landscape

The Thames Path - a journey through English history

The Thames Path, a National Walking Trail from the source of the river in the south Cotswolds, through prosperous and historic towns west of London, to the capital city and the Thames Barrier in the east. 

Easy walking along the flat Thames Valley. Some walk the full distance of 184 mile (294 km) in one trip, others walk part of the trail.

Lechlade Bridge, over the young River Thames

Willows in spring at the Rose Revived, Newbridge, near Oxford

The Houses of Parliament and London Eye, Westminster, London

A great walking tour for people who like history, passing by Oxford University, Abingdon Abbey, Henley the home of the Royal Regatta, Windsor Castle, the Houses of Parliament, St Pauls, the Tower of London and many other famous sites.

Happy hiking

Anne

Holiday Memories

Still think of our wonderful walk in May, The Thames Path. Have told everyone how beautiful it was and how well we were looked after. Read 'Wind in the Willows' and ' Three men in a boat' again. Our friend from Australia joined us for a day and is still talking about it. 
Walking is the best way to see the countryside. 

Anita Campbell, December 2012

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

Late Afternoon on the Thames Path near Reading

Enjoy walking over the festive season.

Best

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)

Berries bring colour to hedgerows along the Ridgeway National Trial

Spindle tree (Euonymus europaea) 
The wood was used to make ‘spindles’ for spinning and holding wool in the old days 

Black bryony (Dioscorea communis) berries
The only species from the Yam family of plants in Britain. All parts of the plant are poisonous.

Old Man's Beard ( Clematis vitalba)
A climbing plant associated with devils and witches because it was thought to choke plants to death.

Rosehips (Rosa canina)
One of the richest sources of vitamin C in plants, used for tisanes, jams ...  The fine hairs inside the hip are also used as itching powder. 

Happy hiking
Best
Anne
Walk the Landscape

Green Pastures

Happy hiking
Anne
Walk the Landscape

Wittenham Clumps for Real Atmosphere and Magnificent Views

The British painter Paul Nash was inspired by Wittenham Clumps in South Oxfordshire.  He first encountered them in his late teens and was immediately enthralled by their atmospheric shapes and mystical associations. The Clumps became a rich source of inspiration and he returned to paint them many times during his life.

The Clumps painted by Paul Nash in 1935 

Wittenham Clumps today close up

Wittenham Clumps today from afar

The Clumps at Little Wittenham next to the River Thames, just south of Abingdon, are now owned by the Earth Trust Centre.  A great place to stop off on your walk along the Thames Path, enjoy the stunning panoramic view, the magnificent woodland, the wildlife  and learn about the work of the Trust.

Now that the spring has come the walking is good and it's a great time to plan a walking holiday.

Anne
Walk the Landscape

Early Spring is Nest Building Time

At last, sunshine and blue skies.
Time to plan a walking holiday?

Happy walking
Anne
Walk the Landscape

Magnificent Views Along The 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

Broadway Tower

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

Walk the Landscape

Winter along 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

Walk the Landscape

The Thames Path east of Westminster, London

 St Paul's Cathedral from the south bank

St Paul’s Cathedral, was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and constructed between 1675 and 1710.  This architectural masterpiece is at least the fourth cathedral to have stood on the site, and was built following the destruction of its predecessor in the Great Fire of London. 

Tower Bridge

In the 19th century the area east of London Bridge had become a busy port and the East End became so densely populated that a new bridge to the east of London Bridge was needed.  Horace Jones, the City Architect, in collaboration with John Wolfe Barry, won the pubic competition for the design of the new Thames crossing, and the bridge was opened in 1894.

 The Tower of London

Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, first built by William the Conqueror in 1066 to keep hostile Londoners at bay.

The Shard 

The Shard, or 'Shard of Glass', is a 95-storey skyscraper in the shape of an irregular pyramid.  Clad entirely in glass it has 72 habitable floors and an open-air observation deck.  It was designed by the Italian architect, Renzo Piano and was inaugurated on 5 July 2012.   It is currently the highest building in London and the second tallest free-standing building in the UK.

 Canary Wharf from the east

Canary Wharf is one of the two major financial districts in London.   The skyscrapers were built at the West India Docks on the Isle of Dogs. East London. From 1802, this area was one of the busiest docks in the world, but by the 1950s the port industry was in decline and the docks were closed by 1980.

Woolwich Arsenal

The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich dates from 1671.  It carried out armaments manufacture, ammunition proofing and explosives research for the British armed forces.  The area has been redeveloped for housing and also hosts the “Firepower: The Royal Artillery Museum”.

Happy exploring the historic sights along the Thames Path

Anne

walkthelandscape.co.uk

Walking the Thames Path in Winter

Happy walking
Best
Anne

The Classic Cotswold Tour, October 2012

Yee walking out of Blockley 

Hei leaving Bourton-on-the-Hill 

Sheep along the route

We thank Siu Yee for providing the photos.

The Classic Cotswold Tour is a 3 to 6 day self-guided walking tour of the north Cotswolds, taking in famous towns and villages such as Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden and The Slaughter, and the beautiful Cotswold landscape.

Contact us to find out more.

Happy Walking

Best
Anne
Walkthelandscape.co.uk

Glorious spring sunshine along the Thames Path

The Thames Path is an 184-miles National Trail, that follows the river for the whole length, from the source in the Cotswolds to the Thames Barrier, east of Greenwich.  The river meanders it's way through rich farmland and historic towns, such as Oxford and Windsor, before passing through the heart of the city of London, then onward to the estuary in the North Sea.

The walking is easy (the terrain is flat and the trail well maintained), the countryside picturesque and the pubs and inns are inviting - a good way to spend a relaxing break.

Here are a few photos of the trail in the fresh spring sunshine.

Passing through Ewen in the Cotswolds

The Rose Revived, Newbridge, near Oxford 

 Hazy sunshine near Windsor, west of London

The City Skyline from Wapping, East London 

Canary Wharf, East London

We organise walking holidays along the Thames Path.

We source good quality accommodation, arrange luggage transfer, provide walking guides and maps, and support in case of emergency.

Contact us for more information.

Best

Anne

Walk the Landscape