Day 2 - Wednesday 15 June 2022
Stanton to Winchcombe (8.4 miles)
My 60th Birthday today - what better way to celebrate than a beautiful walk over to Winchcombe. At breakfast I opened my cards and our B&B host kindly placed a candle in my sausage (ooh err Missus). The mileage today was short and at 8.4 miles I would be in no rush to travel over to Winchcombe. I was also in for another excellent weather day - clear skies, warm and sunny with the odd light breeze.
Couldn't even be arsed to howl me Happy Birthday - cheers Fudge
The birthday boy about to depart from Stanton - it was another beautiful day in the Cotswolds
The route leaves the village in the direction of Stanway via a public bridleway
The walk to Stanway was over open pasture which felt very much like parkland. The walkers ahead of me were also walking The Cotswold Way with their Springer Spaniel Molly.
Fudge has a breather as we follow the national trail acorn to Stanway. The temperature was ok for him today and during this 10 day walk we made sure we looked at each day separately in order to gauge how much walking he could do each day. As well as the expected temperatures, we took into account the terrain, the amount of shade on that days walk and places where he could have a dip. I also made sure he drank regularly even though drinking is the last of the little tinker's priorities when on a days walk.
This was a beautiful section of the walk and one we have walked a couple of times
A beautiful Beech Tree as I near Stanway - the photo does not do it justice
The 12th Century church of St Peter in Stanway
The grand entrance to Stanway House. The property is open to the public but only on Tuesdays & Thursdays. The building is an outstandingly beautiful example of a Jacobean manor house and famous for its 300 feet high single-jet fountain, the tallest in Britain and the highest gravity fed fountain in the world. I was a bit early for the fountain but hopefully I would be able to see it a little later from the vantage point on Wood Stanway.
Near Stanway House I stopped for a quick break in the shade - meanwhile Fudge contemplated when his next meal would be.
Stanway Mill
The Stanway Estate was established in the 8th century and is known to have had four watermills in 1291. They have been used over the centuries for fulling wool cloth, for paper production, for sawmilling, for electricity generation, to grind flour and to grind animal feed. The mill in Stanway, now fully restored as a working flour mill, was re-opened by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2009. Its massive 24-foot overshot waterwheel, the 8th largest waterwheel in England, was made by local iron-masters James Savory of Tewkesbury circa 1850 and drives traditional cast-iron machinery and heavy French burr-quartz millstones, to produce stoneground Cotswold flour from wheat grown less than one mile from the mill on the Stanway Estate.
The Stanway Estate was established in the 8th century and is known to have had four watermills in 1291. They have been used over the centuries for fulling wool cloth, for paper production, for sawmilling, for electricity generation, to grind flour and to grind animal feed. The mill in Stanway, now fully restored as a working flour mill, was re-opened by HRH The Prince of Wales in 2009. Its massive 24-foot overshot waterwheel, the 8th largest waterwheel in England, was made by local iron-masters James Savory of Tewkesbury circa 1850 and drives traditional cast-iron machinery and heavy French burr-quartz millstones, to produce stoneground Cotswold flour from wheat grown less than one mile from the mill on the Stanway Estate.
From Stanway the route headed over lush farmland - the other 2 Cotswold Way walkers are ahead of me with their dog Molly.
Ah there it is - the Stanway Fountain
Leaving Wood Stanway the way climbs steeply to reach this welcome bench where I stopped to have a chat to the 2 ladies & Molly the Springer. One of the ladies was a Police Officer whilst the other ran a shop in Wotton-under Edge - they were doing the route in a series of day walks. The bench is a memorial to a lady called Pinky Dickins who lived in the area for 26 years.
It was a bit early for my lunch however it had just gone midday therefore Fudge tucked into his.
After lunch it was time for a quick cuddle whilst one of the ladies took our photograph
Molly the Springer Spaniel - she was so full of beans
Leaving the comfort of the seat, it was time to crack on as we had a date with Angie at Hailes Farm for a late lunch
Stumps Cross
Wayside crosses are one of several types of Christian cross erected during the medieval period, mostly from the 9th to 15th centuries AD. Despite a number of elements of the cross being missing, the socket stone with broken shaft at Stumps Cross survives in what is likely to be its original location. Its position marks a crossroads which was probably more important in the medieval period than it is now. Two of the four roads are now only trackways, but appear to link Chipping Campden with Winchcombe.
Wayside crosses are one of several types of Christian cross erected during the medieval period, mostly from the 9th to 15th centuries AD. Despite a number of elements of the cross being missing, the socket stone with broken shaft at Stumps Cross survives in what is likely to be its original location. Its position marks a crossroads which was probably more important in the medieval period than it is now. Two of the four roads are now only trackways, but appear to link Chipping Campden with Winchcombe.
The monument at the iron-age Beckbury Camp. This monument stands on the Cotswold escarpment by a clump of trees known as Cromwell's Clump (after Thomas Cromwell) where he is said to have stood and watched nearby Hailes Abbey being dissolved. Specific information on the monument has not been located but it is thought not to be connected with the iron-age camp.
The route joins a track which leads to the village of Hailes
But first I had a date with a young lady for lunch here at Hayles Farm
Hailes Church
The parish church (dedication unknown) was consecrated in 1175. It later served as the capella ante portas (Latin for chapel outside the gates) to Hailes Abbey until the Abbey's dissolution in 1539. Inside the church are fine 14th century wall paintings depicting St Catherine and St Christopher, on the north wall, and St Margaret and coursing scenes, on the south. The church is a Grade I listed building and is part of the Winchcombe benefice with occasional services held.
The parish church (dedication unknown) was consecrated in 1175. It later served as the capella ante portas (Latin for chapel outside the gates) to Hailes Abbey until the Abbey's dissolution in 1539. Inside the church are fine 14th century wall paintings depicting St Catherine and St Christopher, on the north wall, and St Margaret and coursing scenes, on the south. The church is a Grade I listed building and is part of the Winchcombe benefice with occasional services held.
The sorry ruins of Hailes Abbey
From Hailes Abbey the route headed through a crop field towards Puck Pit Lane
Fudge gives me his "have it" pose as Winchcombe comes into view
Lovely play on words as we arrive in Winchcombe
St Peter's Church, Winchcombe
Winchcombe War Memorial
Having settled in at our accommodation it was now time to celebrate my Birthday at The Corner Cupboard pub in Winchcombe. This pint of Peroni was one of several I had this evening.
We had a great night at The Corner Cupboard and were really glad we chose this place to have Dinner - despite the fact that the Tomato Sauce was out of the bottle and my chips were served in a miniature shopping trolley.
Double Duffing with an audience - these were both mine and they gave me the Brownies for free as the candles would not stand up in the Ice Cream. Never mind eh! The staff at the Corner Cupboard sang Happy Birthday to me - a great evening.
The less said about this place the better although if having Breakfast by the light of a Dart Board is your thing then this is the place for you.
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Day 2 Data
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Mileage
Cumulative Mileage Time Total Ascent |
8.4 miles
19.4 miles 4hrs 30mins 1023ft (312m) |