Day 4 - Friday 17 June 2022
Cheltenham (Southam) to Birdlip (14.8 miles)
I would be flying solo all day today as one look at the weather & terrain meant the walk was strictly off limits for Fudge - instead he would accompany Angie to Bridport to see her Mum. Therefore Angie would drop me off not too far away from Southam and from there I would make my way back on to the Cotswold Escarpment and carry on along the route. I would meet Angie & Fudge later on in Birdlip and whilst the mileage was just under 15 miles, I would have plenty of time to get to the end of today's walk. I was once again blessed with fantastic weather - blue skies, warm with the odd light breeze.
From Cheltenham, Angie drove me out to Southam and dropped me off at the top of Upper Mill Lane. From Whites Barn it was a short walk uphill of 150 yards to reach The Cotswold Way at a point approximately half a mile south of Huddlestone's Table.
Now back on The Cotswold Way the route headed south along a narrow well worn path
Emerging from the woods I entered Prestbury Hill Reserve which is a Butterfly Conservation area
A glorious view of Cheltenham from Prestbury Hill
Back on the tarmac now as I head to Colgate Farm
The entrance to Colgate Farm and the carved Bunny Ears - the route passes down the left hand side of the main track
However your graffiti isn't - what an idiot
From Colgate Farm the route heads south along the western edge of Dowdeswell Reservoir to reach the A40 at the Koloshi Restaurant
Crossing over the A40 the way heads through Lineover Wood
The small Car Park at Lineover Wood - the Cotswold Way path is the one to the left
I was now up on Wistley Hill with a view down to Cheltenham
The path continued towards Seven Springs via the escarpment of Wistley Heights with the A436 to the left
What a load of sh@t!
The roundabout at Seven Springs. The source of the River Thames is just over the other side of the roundabout.
Once clear of the Seven Springs traffic, the route headed up Hartley Lane towards Charlton Kings Common
The steep escarpment of Charlton Kings Common
By this time it was extremely warm and I stopped to have lunch on Charlton Kings Common complete with a glorious view of Cheltenham
Lunch over it was just a short walk over to the Iron Age Hill Fort on Leckhampton Hill - complete with gaudily painted Trig Point
To the north west of the Trig Point on the edge of a precipice is a well built toposcope. The structure is sponsored by the Nixon family in memory of Roger Nixon who enjoyed living and walking on Leckhampton Hill for 40 years.
Not far from the Toposcope is The Devil's Chimney
The Devil's Chimney is a limestone rock formation that stands above the disused quarry below Leckhampton Hill. It is named for its peculiar shape, that of a crooked and twisted chimney rising from the ground. In 1926 it survived an earthquake, but not without a few cracks. In 1985 it was repaired and protected from further erosion. Legend holds that the Devil's Chimney is the chimney of the Devil's dwelling deep beneath the ground. Supposedly the Devil, provoked by the many Christian churches of the area, would sit atop Leckhampton Hill and hurl stones at Sunday churchgoers. However the stones were turned back on him, driving him beneath the ground and trapping him there so he could not further harass the villagers. Now he uses the mass of stones as his chimney to let free the smokes of hell. Visitors to the Devil's Chimney would leave a coin on top of the rock as payment to the Devil in exchange for his staying in his underground home and not leaving to create mischief and spread evil in the local area.
The truth is probably that the Devil's Chimney was left behind by 18th-century quarrymen, who quarried around it as a bit of a jolly jape.
The Devil's Chimney is a limestone rock formation that stands above the disused quarry below Leckhampton Hill. It is named for its peculiar shape, that of a crooked and twisted chimney rising from the ground. In 1926 it survived an earthquake, but not without a few cracks. In 1985 it was repaired and protected from further erosion. Legend holds that the Devil's Chimney is the chimney of the Devil's dwelling deep beneath the ground. Supposedly the Devil, provoked by the many Christian churches of the area, would sit atop Leckhampton Hill and hurl stones at Sunday churchgoers. However the stones were turned back on him, driving him beneath the ground and trapping him there so he could not further harass the villagers. Now he uses the mass of stones as his chimney to let free the smokes of hell. Visitors to the Devil's Chimney would leave a coin on top of the rock as payment to the Devil in exchange for his staying in his underground home and not leaving to create mischief and spread evil in the local area.
The truth is probably that the Devil's Chimney was left behind by 18th-century quarrymen, who quarried around it as a bit of a jolly jape.
Below Leckhampton Hill were lots of examples of "stone graffiti" - mind you, the names and various messages were a lot easier on the eye than what was here a few years ago - look away please, those people of a delicate nature.................
The remains of Salterley Quarry (also known as Wagon Quarry) on Leckhampton Hill
The National Star College at Ullenwood
Set up in 1967, the college is a charity which enables people with disabilities to realise their potential through personalised learning, transition and destination services.
Set up in 1967, the college is a charity which enables people with disabilities to realise their potential through personalised learning, transition and destination services.
Virtually next door to the National Star College is Greenway Manor
From Greenway Lane a rising path heads through Barrow Piece Plantation up on to Crickley Hill
Sitting alone at the cafe at Crickley Hill Country Park - it was very, very warm now and these two went down a treat
Looking towards Gloucester over the ancient settlement from Crickley Hill
I left the Woolly Thistle well alone
A quick selfie before I run the gauntlet of trying to cross the A417 at the Air Balloon
The Air Balloon pub on the A417 - probably one of the busiest junctions of road in christendom. It took me about 15 minutes to cross two lanes of traffic such was the attitude of the many ignorant arseholes driving along that day. To cross I literally had to stop the traffic by walking into the road and putting my hand out - much to the admiration of the American couple who were also heading my way.
Heading for Birdlip Hill via more escarpment on Barrow Wake
On reaching the road at Birdlip, in normal course it would be a simple case of crossing here to carry on along the path on the other side. However, we were staying in Birdlip tonight therefore I had to endure a 200 yard walk along the road into the village. The road has no pavement and is busy with fast flowing traffic - thankfully I reached my lodgings unscathed.
I arrived well in advance of check in therefore I amused myself in the Beer Garden until Angie & Fudge arrived back from Bridport. A couple of these went down very well indeed.
Overnight Accommodation
The George Hotel, Birdlip - www.greenekinginns.co.uk/hotels/royal-george-hotel/
The George Hotel, Birdlip - www.greenekinginns.co.uk/hotels/royal-george-hotel/
We had a very pleasant evening meal here although the ambience was marred by overbearing & loud wedding guests plus the worst pub singer in seven lifetimes who murdered every song in his repertoire. A bit on the expensive side and sadly no comparison to last nights stay in Cheltenham.
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Day 4 Data
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Mileage
Cumulative Mileage Time Total Ascent |
14.8 miles
46.8 miles 6hrs 10mins 2460ft (750m) |