Walk 15: Old Sodbury to Dyrham Park (6 miles)

Back again after a break in warmer climes, and joined on this walk by Rod and Di and Katherine, all of whom have walked with us on previous walks. 

Katherine had taken the train up from London, and although Paddington Bear has nothing to do with these walks, this photo is so charming it begged to be included:

We started from the village hall car park in Old Sodbury, making our way through the village and out the other side through fields towards Doddington Park. Doddington House is privately owned, and the Cotswold Way passes through the parkland. The book describes the walk through the park as "surprisingly rewarding" and it was. However, there were many signs, we thought too many, telling us to keep to the footpath, not to stray into the private land and keep the dog on the lead.

There was a pretty bridge

and we lunched early in the park (not straying from the path of course). 

Di and Rod win a prize for the most elegant lunch. Note the matching plates and napkins.

Crossing the busy A46 we entered the village of Tormarton, having to climb over several strange looking stiles. Apparently these are examples of some very old Gloucestershire stiles which there is a project to maintain (Gloucestershire stone stile project - CPRE Gloucestershire (cpreglos.org.uk).  Some were quite difficult to navigate!

Next to one of the stiles, there was a waymark saying it was only 10 miles to Bath (in fact it was still about 15 miles for us along the Cotswold Way.) Shortly after, we crossed the M4 

Both of these were a real reminder of how far we have travelled from our start at Chipping Camden. After crossing the motorway, we walked across lanes and fields, but then met a diversion on the path due to work being done on the path at Beacon Lane Plantation. Crossing the A46, we paused to admire a field of sunflowers and took an obligatory selfie.

The path took us down the side of a valley where, opposite, the OS map told us there were 'strip lynchets', which are earth terraces on the side of a hill and a feature of ancient field systems. We continued downhill skirting Dyrham Park and eventually reached the village of Dyrham, where the leaning Cotswold Way sign reflected how we were feeling at this stage of the walk.

Unfortunately Dyrham Park does not allow dogs, so the party split, three of us going into the grounds and taking the mobility bus up to the car park, the others waiting with Lily outside the church to be picked up. Dyrham Park is well worth a visit, so we shall be making a separate trip soon to visit the house. The cakes in the tea shop are worth a detour.

We are now only two walks and 12.5 miles from our destination. 

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