Day 4, Thursday, April 30: Stanton to Winchcombe

We began the day in the rain and spent most of it in a constant drizzle. We walked 8 miles from Stanton to Winchcombe. Our rain jackets were perfect for this weather. The temperatures stayed in the mid 60s most of the day. We mailed postcards to a few people (Randy and Meg be watching for yours to come!)

We passed through the lovely little hamlet of Stanway and saw the old gatehouse of Stanway House. This manor has been only changed hands once in 1300 years. That's a long time for a house to be in the same family.


We got lost twice today. With the rain we were walking with our heads down and were not paying close attention to the post markers. We had to back track to get back on the correct path. At one of the markers we say the following sign.

We did not see the bull!

We were walking down a steep, wet incline and I fell (I = Neil). The longer we walked today the more I felt it. Shortly after we arrived at the B&B this afternoon I spent time stretching before a shower. I couldn't figure out why I was so sore when all I ahve done today is walk. Kathy reminded me that I fell.

We had a great lunch at Hayles Family farm. We were the youngest people there for lunch. It must be quite the place for older couples to go for lunch.


We visited the ruins of Hailes Abbey. It was consecrated in 1251 for a group of monks. The museum and grounds were great to visit.


We’ve met several interesting people along the way. Yesterday we met a couple form Northern England who were walking the Cotswolds for the first time. They were doing the entire 100 miles in 7 days instead of 2 weeks like us. We did 10 miles yesterday and they were going to do 18!
Today as we started off from Stanton we met a guy from Buffalo, New York and his daughter from Rockville, Maryland. They are also going to do the entire 100 miles in a week. (And some of you thought that we were crazy!)
We met a 62-year old man today walking a few of his dogs. He has three groups of dogs that he walks every day. He said he walks 3 hours every day and gets in about 50 miles a week.


We're spending tonight a One Silk Mill Lane in Winchcombe. We had a fantastic meal tonight at the White Hart restaurant. (Last night's meal was awful! Probably the worst food we've eaten anywhere.)

Day 3, April 29, 2009: Chipping Campden to Stanton

We started our 100 mile journey from Eight Bells B&B in Chipping Campden, England. (Yes, this really is a picture of us!) We needed to cover 10 miles--over the hills, through the woods, and across the pastures filled with sheep. It was such a lovely day for us---sunshine and blue skies. We couldn't have asked for better weather.



Chipping Campden is a beautiful place to begin the journey and is the northern point of The Cotswold Way. (You don't pronounce the "p" in Campden.) The Cotswold stone is seen everywhere with its warm yellow coloring. The old market building (seen above) is in the center of the village. There are still many houses with the old thatched roofs. They cover them with a type of netting that keeps the birds from nesting in them.



This is Broadway Tower located on top of a hill. It is a landmark that can be seen for quite a ways away. We found a herd of red deer next to it in a field as we continued our trek onward.



Now, I don't think Neil was supposed to put in this picture of me with my mouth open! The village of Broadway is one of the prettiest Cotswold villages. Many of the honey-colored stone buildings have purple-flowering wisteria growing on them. Neil and I bought some baguets, cheese and fruit (that's the little deli in the upper right photo) and ate our lunch in the main park—while we watched the “tourists” go by.

You can tell it is spring by all of the lambs with their mothers. We have seen all sorts of different sheep---black ones, white ones, spotted ones, black faces, white faces. When we walk through the pastures the sheep all start calling to their lambs. It reminded us of the movie, “Babe” without the sheep dogs.


We are fortunate to be able to enjoy so many flowering trees and spring flowers. The wisteria we have seen is so beautiful and smells wonderful. We have found many different colors and varieties of flowers in the woods we have walked through. (Larry [Mallory] these are for your enjoyment!)


As we are walking there are lots of different "crossings" for getting in and out of fields and pastures. Sometimes we cross stiles (a structure built to help get over a fence), or go through large gates, or use a "kissing gate." See if you can figure out what that is! We have to keep our eyes open so we can watch for the trail markers---a post with an acorn on it and the words "Cotswold Way."


We spent the night at Shenberrow Hill Farm B&B at Stanton.

Days 1-2, April 27-28, 2009: US to Bristol

Day 1. We left home at 6:45 a.m. for the Salt Lake airport. We flew from Salt Lake to Detroit. Detroit to Amsterdam and then on to Bristol. Bristol is a great airport to fly into because it is such a small place. From the airport in Bristol we took a bus to the train station. Above is a photo of the train station, the sign at the station and Kathy picking up our tickets.

Yvonne and Rory Woolridge picked us up at the train station in Cheltenham and drove us to Chipping Campden and the first B&B. Yvonne has prepared well by checking out the first three places we are staying at. She was able to point out the Coltswald Way hiking trail and major landmarks we are going to see over the next few days.

Tonight we're staying at Eight Bells B&B in Chipping Campden (below).