Cotswold Way 2014 Day 1

Tuesday 29^th July 2018 Wood Stanway

After a noisy night and a fitful sleep, I showered again and then went for a breakfast of kippers.  Then I went to sort my luggage transfers and payment for such.  While doing that, I met a couple, Rick & Barb, who had decided to walk the Cotswold Way at the last minute and were trying to organise accommodation; they couldn’t find anything for that night so I suggested the place I was staying.

I headed out to a sandwich shop to get a Brie & Cranberry sandwich and ran into Rick again.  After finding some nectarines an old lady started talking to me on the street, pointing out the old buildings nearby; Grevel house, the almshouses, and the gate and banquet hall of the ruined Campden House. 

Campden House gates

Almshouses

On the advice of my guidebook, I went to the St. James churchyard to check it out (the book suggested the Cotswold Way should really start here).

Then I retraced my steps back through town, past the market hall and St. Catherine’s church to officially start the walk proper and then on with the trail.

Up Drover’s Hill, along the (very straight) Mile Drive, and then into some farmer’s fields where I caught up to Rick & Barb, who had thought I was far ahead of them.  After explaining why I was delayed, and discovering they had indeed booked accommodation at the same place as I tonight, I overtook them and carried on.

Next up was Broadway Tower, an impressive castle-type tall tower on a hill in the middle of nowhere.  However, with an entry fee of £4.80 I felt it wasn’t worth going inside, so just took photos from all angles outside.

I descended into Broadway with it’s wide thoroughfare but it felt a bit upmarket for me so I breezed on through and out the other side to make my way up into the hills again.  Shortly thereafter I came across the shittiest place I've ever seen...

That's some manure pile!

After sitting in the shade of a tree to munch on my sandwich, I made my way down into Stanton, where I thought I’d get something refreshing to drink but there was naught to be found.  It was a pretty little village though.

I moved quickly through Stanway to Wood Stanway and arrived at the B&B at 2:30.  Oops.  While I was standing out on the street a woman walked up the road toward me, and I discovered it was the B&B owner.  She showed me a table outside around the back where I could sit for a bit, so I did, reading and getting a little sunburnt.  Their dog kept me company out there.  At around 5 the dog started barking, so I walked out to the road and found Rick and Barb at the front door, so I showed them around to the back to gain entry.  Rooms were sorted, I showered and changed, then headed to a lounge to sit and update my journal.  Rick popped by to say they had organised their accommodation for tomorrow and I thought it was the same place as me again.  As the B&B was miles from anywhere they offered dinner as part of the price.  Another couple, Alan and Angela joined us.  The meal was okay, but certainly not worth the £17 it cost.  After chatting in the lounge for a while it was off to bed to read and realise it was my Mum’s birthday today.

Day 2