Batsford's Walking Guides: The Cotswolds E-Book

Jilly MacLeod

• Herausgeber: Batsford
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 118

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Beschreibung

Batsford's Walking Guides is an exciting new gift series of walking books, aimed at the weekend, family walker. These ebooks have an attractive retro feel, with nostalgic line drawings and hand-drawn maps. Each of the 20 walks have been carefully selected to appeal to family walkers, most are circular and none are too strenuous. Each walk contains the following: - Clear, easy-to-follow route directions - Detailed hand-drawn maps - Refreshments and pubs - Parking information - OS map referencesIn addition, each walk contains information on wildlife, or other special attractions to watch out for while walking. The ideal gift for anyone wanting to explore the countryside within easy reach of London.

Leseprobe

First published in the United Kingdom in 2011 by Batsford 10 Southcombe Street London W14 0RA An imprint of Anova Books Company Ltd

Copyright © Batsford, 2011

Materials kindly provided by individual organizations, as credited at the end of each walk.

Walks on pages 28, 64 and 76 © Natural England 2011. Material is reproduced with the permission of Natural England, http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/copyright

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

First eBook publication 2013 eBook ISBN 978-1-84994-117-4

Also available in Hardback Hardback ISBN 978-1-90638-885-0

This book can be ordered direct from the publisher at the website www.anovabooks.com, or try your local bookshop.

Neither the publisher nor the author can accept responsibility for any changes, errors or omissions in this guide, or for any loss or injury incurred during any of the walks.

Contents

Map of The Cotswolds

Introduction

Five Fields Walk

Cornbury Park Walk

Oxfordshire Ramble

‘Cider with Rosie’ Walk

Cleeve Hill Common Ring

Bath Skyline Walk

Wotton to Waterloo

Historic Winchcombe Walk

Windrush Valley Walk

In the Footsteps of a King

Golden Valley Walk

North Face of the Cotswolds

Ancient Woodland Walk

Cranham, Cooper’s and the Beechwoods

Cotswold Canal Walk

Mills and Meadows Walk

Broadway Tower Walk

String of Pearls Walk

Three Cotswold Villages

Woodchester Park Boathouse Trail

Useful Contacts

Map of The Cotswolds

Introduction

With its picturesque villages, rolling hills, ancient woodlands and tranquil valleys, the Cotswolds is known as one of the most beautiful areas in Britain, comprising a quintessentially English landscape. It is also designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the largest of 40 such areas in England and Wales, where the precious landscape and rich biodiversity is safeguarded in the interests of the nation. The term ‘Cotswold’ refers specifically to an area of gently rolling hills in south-west England, roughly bounded on three sides by motorways – the M4, M5 and M40 – and stretching 160km (100 miles) from Bath in the south to Chipping Norton and beyond in the north, covering much of Gloucestershire and parts of Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Somerset. The northern and western edges are bounded by a steep incline, or escarpment, from where, on a clear day, walkers may be rewarded with spectacular views across the Severn Estuary and beyond to the Black Mountains in Wales. This escarpment is formed by the uplifting of the limestone layer that underlies the region, exposing its broken edge.

It is this limestone that gives the area one of its most distinctive qualities – the warm honey-coloured building material that is found extensively in manor houses, cottages, churches, town halls, barns and walls. This characteristic Cotswold stone helps to unify a landscape that is otherwise diverse in nature, the open downlands, broad arable fields and grazing pastures with dry-stone walls contrasting with the intimate river valleys and dense woodlands, each habitat supporting its own variety of flora and fauna – dormice in hazel coppices, blue butterflies on limestone grasslands, kingfishers along the riverbanks. The landscape is criss-crossed by a network of public footpaths and long-distance paths, over 4,830km (3,000 miles) in all, including the 164km (102 mile) Cotswold Way that runs along the Cotswold escarpment from Chipping Campden to Bath, plus the Monarch’s Way, Warden’s Way and Windrush Way, all of which feature in this book. Such walks link the numerous small towns and villages scattered across the region, many of medieval origin dating back to the Domesday Book of 1086, with picture-postcard thatched cottages, archetypal village greens and historic churches. These villages help to give the area its distinctive character and charm, and combine with the rolling landscape to make the Cotswolds such a popular destination with walkers and tourists alike.

THE WALKS

The walks featured in this book cover a huge range of different landscapes and points of interest: several follow the escarpment (pages 28, 36, 40, 64 and 76), affording spectacular views in all directions; others pass along quiet river valleys (pages 44 and 52) or through peaceful farmland visiting picturesque villages (pages 72 and 84); and some explore ancient woods (page 60), nature reserves (pages 24 and 52) and deer parks (page 16). Wildlife features widely, with walks across some of Britain’s most precious habitats: limestone grassland with its associated wild flowers and butterflies (pages 28) and ancient beech woodland carpeted with bluebells in May (page 64). Then there are the special-interest walks: seeking out deserted villages (page 44) and battle sites (page 56); exploring the industrial heritage of canals (page 68) and old flour and woollen mills (pages 72 and 80); and following in the footsteps of famous people, such as author Laurie Lee (page 24), designer William Morris (page 76) and King Charles II (page 48).

Many of the routes are waymarked, making them easy to follow, and nearly all are circular, with traditional country pubs along the way where you can stop off for some welcome refreshments. General advice on how to reach your starting point is provided, and although some areas are relatively remote it is always good to consider whether you can leave the car at home and take public transport (check online at www.traveline.org.uk before you go, especially as many bus services do not run on Sundays). Also provided are suggestions for local attractions that you may choose to visit after your walk, such as nearby gardens, country-house estates, Roman villas, railway museums and wildlife parks.

WALKING THE COTSWOLDS

•

Many of the walks may be damp and muddy after rain, so always wear suitable footwear: walking shoes or boots are advisable.

•

The maps in this book provide a good guide to the routes, but it is often handy to have an Ordnance Survey map with you when out walking, to supplement the maps provided.

•

If you are walking alone, let someone know where you are and when you expect to return.

•

Consider taking a mobile phone with you, bearing in mind coverage can be patchy in rural areas.

•

Some of the walks take you along small country lanes without pavements. Always walk facing oncoming traffic (except when approaching a right-hand bend when it is advisable to cross the road for a clear view), keep children and dogs under close control, and wear something light or brightly coloured when visibility is poor (at dusk, for example).

•

Take special care of children beside water, particularly alongside canals where the sides can be steep and the water deep.

•

Support the rural economy by spending your money at local facilities, such as shops, cafés and pubs.

•

While the author has taken every care to ensure the accuracy of this walking guide, changes to the routes may occur after publication. Where advised to do so at the end of the directions (that is, on the Cotswold Way National Trail walks on pages 28, 64 and 76), you should check the routes on the appropriate website before setting out.

•

Public transport may also change over time, so if you are thinking of taking a bus to your destination, always check timetables and routes online or with local tourist information centres before setting out.

FOLLOW THE COUNTRYSIDE CODE

Here’s how to respect, protect and enjoy the countryside:

• Always park sensibly, making sure that your vehicle is not blocking access to drives, fields and farm tracks.

• Leave gates as you find them or follow instructions on signs. If walking in a group, make sure the last person knows how to leave a gate.

• In fields where crops are growing, follow the paths wherever possible.

• Use gates, stiles or gaps in field boundaries when provided – climbing over walls, hedges and fences causes damage.

• Don’t leave litter and leftover food – it not only spoils the beauty of the countryside but can be dangerous to wildlife and farm animals as well.

• Keep all dogs under strict control, particularly near livestock, and observe any requests to keep dogs on leads. (Remember, by law farmers are entitled to destroy a dog that injures or worries their animals.)

• Always clean up after your dog and get rid of the mess responsibly.

• Take special care not to damage, destroy or remove flowers, trees or even rocks: they provide homes and food for wildlife, and add to everybody’s enjoyment of the countryside.

• Don’t get too close to wild animals and farm animals as they can behave unpredictably.

• Be careful not to disturb ruins and historic sites.

• Be careful not to drop a match or smouldering cigarette at any time of the year, as this can cause fires.

• Get to know the signs and symbols used in the countryside. Visit the ‘Finding your way’ pages on Natural England’s website for more information*.

* For full details of the countryside code, visit www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/enjoying/countrysidecode

Five Fields Walk

MILTON UNDER WYCHWOOD AND FIFIELD

This ‘Step into the Cotswolds’ waymarked route starts in the west Oxfordshire village of Milton under Wychwood – an old village dating from medieval times. The gently undulating route takes you across fields and streams, past grazing sheep and hovering kestrels, to the village of Fifield, mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Its name probably derives from its Anglo-Saxon name of Fifhides, meaning ‘five hides’ (a hide being a field). From here you can extend your walk to take in Little Rissington Airfield, an RAF aerodrome and former RAF station built during the 1930s and once home to the Central Flying School, the Red Pelicans and the Red Arrows.

D

ISTANCE:

9.5km (6 miles) (circular) with 3km (2 miles) extension

T

IME:

Allow 3–4 hours (with extension: 4–5 hours)

LEVEL:

Easy (with one short, steep section on extension route)

S

TART/PARKING:

The Quart Pot public house at Milton under Wychwood (OX7 6LA), with on-street parking. OS grid reference SP263183 (OS Explorer map OL45)

G

ETTING THERE:

By car:

Turn off A40 Oxford to Cheltenham Road at Burford on to A361 towards Chipping Norton; after about 6.5km (4 miles), bear left in Shipton-under-Wychwood to Milton-under-Wychwood.

By public transport:

Train to Kingham then bus no. X8 (or bus no. 233 Sunday, limited service)

R

EFRESHMENTS:

The Quart Pot or Wychwood Deli at Milton under Wychwood, or The Merrymouth Inn, Fifield

L

OCAL ATTRACTIONS:

Foxholes Nature Reserve

DIRECTIONS

1.

From The Quart Pot pub, turn left into Church Road heading towards Lyneham and Kingham. After 400m (440yd), opposite the turning to Lyneham, turn left through a gate into some allotments and immediately left again. At the corner turn right and walk straight on to the far side of the field.

2.

At the far side of the field turn left and cross the footbridge to reach a gate. Cross the next field towards Breurn Grange, reaching a field gate by a garden wall. Bear slightly right to the corner of the garden then continue up to a gate and on to the lane.

3.

Turn left up the lane. After approximately 130m (140yd) take the bridleway on the right marked ‘Fifield 1’. Go diagonally left across the field to a gate. Once through the gate, turn right and follow the field edge to a gap in the hedge. Cross the footbridge and walk straight ahead alongside a stream.

4.

Where a bridge crosses the stream, turn left and go through the gate into the next field. Bear right across this field to a gate next to an electricity pole. Continue diagonally up the next field following the electricity poles to a bridlegate in the corner. Turn left and follow the edge of the playing field into Fifield.

5.

If you wish to extend your walk to Little Rissington Airfield, go straight to direction 10 below. Otherwise, turn left and follow the lane round to the right and up to the church. At the top of the lane, turn left and then right on to the Darcy Dalton Way, following the path between a fence and hedge to a gate leading into a field. Continue diagonally across this field to a gap in the hedge. Bear left and follow the edge of the next field to another gate. Continue diagonally right across the next field to the A424.

6.

Cross the road carefully then bear diagonally right across the next two fields before going through a gate. Continue across the next field before passing through a gate at the back of the farmhouse at Tangley Farm on to a lane.

7.

Turn left and follow the farm track and lane leading uphill, past Tangley Farm Cottages, to the main road. Cross the road then almost immediately take the footpath on the right. Bear diagonally right across the next three fields using through-gaps in the hedges. At the far edge of the third field, pass through a gate and cut across the corner of the next field to another gate. Cross the paddock to a field gate on to the lane.

8.

Turn right and follow the lane until you meet a crossroads. Here, turn left on to the lane marked ‘Milton under Wychwood’, then turn right on to a footpath beside Lower Farm House. Go straight ahead to a field gate and continue straight on across the field to a bridge.

9.

After crossing the bridge turn left and follow the stream along the edge of the next three fields. Halfway along the third field turn left over a stone bridge, through a gate and straight on to a gate leading into Jubilee Lane. Follow Jubilee Lane then turn right into the High Street to return to The Quart Pot.

10.