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LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOODDerek Harwood's Walking Records If you have any queries about the pictures or descriptions e-mail me at: derek@harwoodonline.com | ||||
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| COUSINS' WALK - ROMAN MOSAIC | |||||
| Winchcombe - Gloucestershire
Friday 16th February 2007 ...................................Walk No. 692 |
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COUSINS' WALK No. 11 Total 92 miles Time Taken: 3.75 hrs Distance: Enjoyment: Weather: Wet but Warm 10:30 am - 2:10 pm 6.5 miles 85% Varied & Interesting Walk Temp: Cloud: Rain: Visibility: Ground Conditions: Wild Life: Lambs 11oC 100% 60% Poor Extremely Muddy Gulls Total AA: Total MH: Total LD: Total AW: Other: Total Distance: 1027.5 mls 931.5 mls 1823.5 mls 162 mls 1078 mls 5022.5 miles Companions: (Derek) Ken, Larry & Dennis Points of Interest and LINKS: Cotswolds Winchcombe Village Sudeley Castle Cotswolds Way Wadfield Farm The Walking Englishman Gloucestershire Web Pictures Humblebee Cottages Walk Spoonley WoodDescription: Parked Dennis's car in the free car park in Back Lane, the centre of Winchcombe. The rain started as we put our boots on. Walked down Cowl Lane to the picturesque Vinyard Street via High Street. Continued past Sudeley Castle entrance on the Cotswold Way. Extremely muddy crossing the fields before the slopes of Wadfield Farm. Excellent views of Sudeley Castle on this section of the walk. As we passed Wadfield Farmhouse I remembered walking this section of the Cotswold Way (Walk No. 34 on 28th July 1982) and the photo that I took was of Wadfield Farmhouse. When we reached Humblebee Cottages we turned left infront of the wood on the track to Corndean Lane. We originally planned to visit Belas Knap Long Barrow, but due to the rain we decided to cut the walk short. From Corndean Lane we walked downhill past the a farm building to the edge of Willis's Coppice and onto Waterhatch Buildings. These buildings were very quiet with some in a derelict state. After Waterhatch we took the wrong track to Spoonley Wood where we noticed a marker for a 14 inch buried oil pipeline, belonging to Esso. We studied the map carefully and followed the edge of Spoonley Wood until we found a convenient path taking us to the remains of the Roman Villa. The Boyz soon found the shelter protecting the mosaic. Laz temporary removed the plastic bags protecting the ancient masterwork, revealing the mosaic so we could take photographs. Obviously, the mosaic wasn't in perfect condition, but considering it is approximately 2,000 years old, it is remarkably good. From the Villa we took the footpath straight back to Winchcombe, passing strangely brown coloured tree trunks in Spoonley Wood and a small picturesque lake. As we passed Sudeley Lodge, on the hill to the east, , the sky was filled with gulls, all flying in circles. We never found out why, because the birds suddenly dispersed. We entered 'The Home Parks', grounds of Sudeley Castle, to good views of the castle & buildings. We were surprised when three newly born lambs played 'Peepo' with us around a tree trunk, just before Castle Street, Winchcombe. As the rain eased the big clumps of snowdrops infront of Winchcombe sign, added to the magic scenery of the Cotswold village. We walked back to the car park and the end of another pleasant Cousins' Walk, despite the weather. We drove to Evesham and enjoyed a pint and meal in the 'Strawberry Field' public house on the by-pass. Well, we did but Laz didn't. I successfully tipped a pint of beer into his lap. How embarrassing. Sorry again Laz. Location: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start & finish: from Winchcombe 402365/228480, - via: Humblebee Cottages 402335/225920, - via: Roman Villa - Spoonley Wood 404525/225665. (Click on location and use Zoom). Hazards: Take care while walking around Cotswold villages and countryside. The very narrow streets/lanes and the large quantities of cars touring around the Cotswolds makes life dangerous for the walker. Click Here to Return to 'Lifetime of Walks' Homepage | |||||
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Derek Harwood: Copyright 2007 Devised: February 2007 | |||||