Day 5 - Saturday 18 June 2022
Birdlip to Painswick (7.7 miles)
Another short day today and also a complete u-turn in the weather. Today would be mainly overcast with a 15 minute period of light drizzle therefore much better walking conditions for Fudge meaning he could walk with me all day. I was off to Painswick - a beautiful Cotswold village and I was really looking forward to walking in much lower temperatures.
Can I come with you today please Dad? I mean it's not hot, it is overcast and I've heard it is going to rain later - oh pleeeeeaaassssse!!
Fudge goes through his pre walk paw waxing regime in the Car Park of The Royal George in Birdlip - he tolerates this procedure rather than enjoying it. I was taking no chances with the weather today - as you can see my rain cover was already over my rucksack.
Off we go - leaving The Royal George for Painswick
Heading through Witcombe Wood. Thankfully I didn't have to run the gauntlet of the busy road again as I rejoined the route via a path just over the road from the pub.
"Which way is it Dad? I reckon it is right!!" Of course, he was wrong - we went to the left. The path to the right is a private drive to Witcombe Park.
Three miles in and I was nearing Cooper's Hill. The hill hosts the Annual Cheese Rolling event and the notice is warning future entrants that Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust "are not involved in its organisation in any way".
The top of Cooper's Hill and the venue for the Cooper's Hill Cheese Roll. This dangerous sport (yes it really is) has claimed many, many casualties over the years but thankfully nobody is yet to die from chasing a large Double Gloucester down a hill. Basically what happens is that the cheese is let go from the top of the hill and people then have to try and catch it. Nobody has ever caught the cheese however the winner is determined by who crosses the line first. Casualties over the years include being struck by lightning, snapping a thigh bone and last but not least a 59 year old grandmother who was knocked out by - you guessed it, a lump of cheese. A video explaining all can be found here
At Cooper's hill a myriad of paths leads away - we would be taking the one to the right of the way mark. As you can see, because of his last pitiful effort, Fudge was no longer in charge of navigating.
As I made my way through Brockworth Wood I noticed several Ash trees lying about. Apparently they are part of a flood management project whereby the timber generated from the felling of Ash trees is used to create small dams.
This was lovely woodland walking although more worrying was that Fudge was now looking like he was auditioning for The Exorcist
Cranham Corner
It was here it started to chuck it down for about 15 minutes. The route crosses the A46 in the direction of Painswick Golf Club
It was here it started to chuck it down for about 15 minutes. The route crosses the A46 in the direction of Painswick Golf Club
Entering Painswick Golf Course - an active Golf Course don't you know!
"Shall I use the putter from here Dad or give it a go with my Lob Wedge?"
The Cotswold Way passes right through the middle of the course - had it been a nicer day, this would have made for an interesting transit trying to dodge errant small round white objects. As it happens I saw no golfers at all.
Once clear of the golf course I passed a notice about litter. Clearly, like most people in this country, the locals here have had enough of wanton littering and have therefore left a "live exhibit" in the hope of deterring people from dropping it. Sadly, the way society is at the moment, I doubt very much whether the people who this is aimed at will really care. We live in hope.
The former Catbrain Quarry - thankfully recycled and now used as the HQ of a local stonemasonry company
Painswick Golf Club's Clubhouse which houses The Waypoint Cafe (whilst dog friendly, I didn't stop)
I also didn't stop at this small converted horse box selling hot drinks and cakes situated in the Car Park just as I entered Painswick. I did however have a chat with the lady owner who informed me she does a roaring trade and is here most days.
The road into Painswick - despite this being a short day it was a lovely walk. The village is known as the ‘Queen of the Cotswolds' and is one of England’s oldest ‘Wool Towns’,
Our bed for the night at Troy House in Painswick - our hosts for the night, Alan & Denise won an episode of the show in 2017. We resisted the urge to give the place a good once over - as it happens it was spotless.
An honesty bar in our room - if Carlsberg did B&Bs
Overnight Accommodation
Troy House, Painswick - troyguesthouse.co.uk.websitebuilder.prositehosting.co.uk
A lovely stay with Alan & Denise - what you see is what you get. Honest people who run a delightful B&B.
Troy House, Painswick - troyguesthouse.co.uk.websitebuilder.prositehosting.co.uk
A lovely stay with Alan & Denise - what you see is what you get. Honest people who run a delightful B&B.
GPX Files - if these are required then please use the Contact Form to let me know and I will gladly forward them on
Day 5 Data
|
Mileage
Cumulative Mileage Time Total Ascent |
7.7 miles
54.5 miles 3hrs 15mins 1656ft (505m) |