Walks 12 and 13: Dursley to Hillesley (13 miles in three chunks)

Walk 12 from Dursley to Wotton-under-Edge planned for last weekend was jinxed, with all of the participants, including us, having to cry off for various very good reasons. So instead we undertook it in two stages during the week. Today walk 13 went ahead as planned, so this blog combines all three sections.

Part 1. Circular walk from Dursley around Stinchcombe Hill

The path from Dursley to Stinchcombe Hill is very steep, but we set off in very good spirits. It was lovely to catch up with Leon after a few months.

Lily was happy to have Ida as a companion.

The path emerges at Stinchcombe Golf Club, and the walk goes around the perimeter of the golf course, so we had to watch out for flying golf balls, as well as persuading the dogs not to pick up the balls. We occasionally stopped to admire a shot being taken. The views as usual were spectacular. 

After the 12th tee, we came around the corner to see the Severn in front of us, and the views of the Severn bridges brought home just how far we had come since starting our walk in Chipping Camden nearly 70 miles away.

Rounding the hill, we could see the Tyndale monument in the distance, which we would be climbing up to in the next part of the walk.

After admiring a few more golf shots, we walked down the very steep hill back to Dursley and our cars.

Part 2. Stinchcombe Hill to Wotton-under-Edge

Starting at the golf club again 

the Cotswold Way leaves the hill and meanders down a steep track before emerging into farmland with lovely views of  Stancombe Park to the west of us, and the Tyndale monument in front of us.

Eventually we reached the village of North Nibley, and started the very steep climb through woods up to the monument. 

Once at the top, We were not too upset that COVID restrictions meant that we were not able to climb the 121 steps in the tower.  

Even without climbing the tower. The views were outstanding in all directions.

From the top, we ambled downhill through the beautiful Westridge Wood until we arrived at Wotton Hill. Here there was a stand of trees surrounded by a wall. These were first planted to commemorate the victory at Waterloo in 1815.

It was another extremely steep walk down to our destination of Wotton-under-Edge. Deborah's knees were very pleased that we did not do both legs on the same day!

Part 3. Wotton-under-Edge to Hillesley

Wotton under Edge is a charming town in the South Cotswolds, built on the prosperity of the wool trade, with a vibrant Long Street full of interesting shops, and a very friendly and helpful Heritage Centre, in the main town car park, which has lots of useful information about the Cotswold Way. Its street layout remains largely mediaeval. 

For today's walk, we were joined by many good friends who had travelled to Wotton from around the country: Ben, Tim, Kay, Paul, Jenny, Tim and Helen. This was possibly the walk with the most participants. Lily the collie even had a walking partner again, Ginny the spaniel. Both spent the whole time ignoring each other.

We started going downhill through Wotton, following a stream, before climbing back up to the escarpment. We'd looked at the OS map and knew that climbing up Blackquarries Hill was going to be tough, and so it was, but thankfully short in length. Having reached the top, we walked along to Wortley Hill, again with lovely views.

We could see back to the Tyndale Monument 

The wonderfully named Nanny Farmer's Bottom was off down to our right. We walked down through commercial woodland, and we stopped here for lunch.

 In addition to our own picnics, Ben brought delicious smoked salmon sandwiches for everyone. Thanks, Ben!

The Trail took us to Alderley, past some interesting statues of stags

through a lovely meadow

and along a delightful sunken woodland track. 

From Alderley it was a gentle stroll along the side of a valley to a junction with the Monarch's Way, and the lane into Hillesley, where we finished the walk with refreshments at the Fleece Inn. 

We are 75 miles along the Cotswold Way with less than 30 miles to Bath!

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