A great first day’s hike of about 11 miles from Painswick to Frocester climbing about 1400 ft in about 6.5 hours. The day’s challenge was the 80 degF (27 degC) but we persevered and loved the clear views off the edge of the escarpment, the peacefulness of the woodlands, and the fun of spending time together.
At breakfast, we learned that Janet and I were the only ones who got a good night’s sleep. The combination of high temperatures and jet lag made sleeping difficult but somehow Janet and I slept like babies. We enjoyed an impressive breakfast spread from St. Michael’s before heading out.
Each bedroom has a coffee station similar to this one. I loved how there was a small bottle of milk in a nearby fridge to make the early morning coffee or tea even better.Breakfast was an impressive spread, unlike anything we’ve seen before at other B&B’s. We were encouraged to take leftovers with us which allowed us to have an enjoyable lunch later, sitting on a log in the woods, where we were visited by well behaved dogs that passed by on their walk.Starting the day with our obligatory selfie in front of our accommodation. Note that our B&B adjoins the Post Office.I had read that the Tourist Information Office was located in the Gravedigger’s Hut. Postal addresses of old British houses are often a name rather than a number. I wanted to get Dean in this photo as he was a gravedigger in his youth, but that employment did not end well so he refused and Max stepped up!
After the morning preludes, we were hiking at about 9am. It was already starting to get warm but it was bearable as we passed through several “themes” of sights.
The day was largely defined by great views from the top of the escarpment which is a feature of the Cotswold Way. Big views with a big sky. We could see the River Severn, its bridges, and Wales beyond it on this beautifully clear day. Pictures fail to capture how such views place you at rest. The colour of the day was a pinkish purple. So many flowers were this colour. Tomorrow might be yellow.We tackled several different stiles and bridges to navigate our way across fields and over obstructions. Max and Stephanie demonstrate the kissing gate!Everyone was in their own type of happy place, a feeling that strolling through the British countryside brings. Tracy felt more confident that Search and Rescue were nearby. They were doing some training exercises but what is wrong with the photo? You’ll need to zoom in.Can you spot what is wrong now? Note that there is nothing wrong with Tracy!This memorial reminded us of the initial large efforts to connect public footpaths into National Trails such as the Cotswold Way. The Coast to Coast has recently been made a National Trail. However, we are finding that such designations attract more people and we like to just find our own way through the countryside away from the crowds. Perhaps our future walks will be more like this though we are so thankful for this trail, the pioneers, and the volunteers who maintain it.We walked past this water well hut from 1810 with an engraved prayer thanking God for the bucket of water that overfloweth. The well has retired many years ago.It’s difficult to capture the tranquility of the woodland. We all particularly enjoyed its coolness, especially for a well earned lunch.We chose not to forage these mushrooms to add to our lunch!At one point on the trail, this creepy doll looked down on us. Some photos and other tales have to be excluded from the blog to maintain my “G” rating (ask Max!)Signs like this got me in trouble when I’d just said that Haresfield Beacon was about 1/2 a mile away…This butterfly landed on our path. There was also medium sized snake which we were told wasn’t poisonous, but we didn’t test it. Max was excited when he claimed to sees a 6-8 in. trout in a stream, but it swam away before anyone else saw it…Dean recorded stage two of Tracy’s reel. I can’t wait to see the result.After about 8.5 miles, our crossing the railway and canal marked a change in scenery as we left the hills for the valley on the edge of Stonehouse. The canal was a taste of the next stage of our trip. At this point, we had to leave the Cotswold Way to walk to our hotel in the hamlet of Frocester (FROS-tar). In the valley, the view changes from big vistas to wheat, corn, and vines. Max had to attempt his gladiator impression. We were very happy to reach our destination as the temperature increased and our thirst was at its limit. We were very thankful that Kylie could celebrate Saydee’s birthday at home. We missed her birthday last year too!A summary of the day’s profile.
It was a great first day. The weather made the views fantastic. While it was a bit too warm, it made us appreciate the woodland all the more. In the UK, the weather always shapes the walking experience. After some rest at the hotel, we enjoyed a fine dinner which included some fried fish (haddock) and chips, a roast beef and a roast lamb, and hamburgers. It was another warm night so sleep was difficult. One more day of the heatwave!
"Cajunlimeys" combines Lousiana (Janet) and England (Peter). For "limeys," check out scurvy in the English navy.
We love adventures and use blogging to write a photo diary to preserve our memories. Some crazy friends enjoy following us and my notes might help others plan.
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One thought on “Southern Cotswold Way: Day 1”
thanks for sharing the experience with us who are too old to actually do it ourselves.
The Adventures of the Cajunlimeys 
thanks for sharing the experience with us who are too old to actually do it ourselves.
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