The Inaugural Walk

When we began to contemplate this trip, well over a year ago, the idea of staying in the Cotswolds and going our for walks on the footpaths was probably the thing I most anticipated. Today it happened. We discovered that the Monarch's Way, a 681 mile walk which recalls Charles II's flight from the Battle of Worcester, proceeds past our gate. After doing a few errands this morning we set off across the fields out of town following Chucky's footsteps.

With the sun gamely trying to poke her face through the cloud cover, we dodged the puddles and passed through the kissing gates. The countryside is green with the first haze of new leaves touching the branches of the ancient and new trees.

Batsford Park, the ancient home of the Mitford Clan, lies sprawled along the hillside. It now draws tourists to the Arboretum, a 50 acre collection of plants and trees started by the first Lord Redesdale (Bertie Mitford) in the 1880's. There were a group of odd sisters who married odd men. They seemed to have had an affection for Hitler and his ilk. We went in for a quick look and decided that the collection would be more worth the 6.50 entrance fee in a couple of weeks. We did however make note of the tea house that has a mouthwatering collection of pastries and cakes. That has been earmarked for a visit in the near future.

On from there up a steady but gentle grade passing along a wonderful old dry stone wall through a well treed pasture. The sheep were noisy, but no sign yet of the spring lambs that will soon be arriving. Taking another trail that crossed ours we dropped down into the town of Bourton On The Hill. By now we were ready for lunch and The Horse and Groom did not disappoint. We had very unpublike Vietnamese Salads which hit the spot and made us feel nobly healthy. The Gloucester Wheat Beer was a bit pale but OK.

As soon as we left the rain started and we were thankful for the Queen Elizabeth bus shelter courtesy of the Parrish council. After the rain passed by we went on out of town past the Retreat for the Elderly 1831, past Bourton House and through the fields back to M in M.

It was only about 5 miles in all but more importantly it was a start. We will do this as often as the weather lets us from now on.