Winchcombe, Circuit

Besides Mick, today I was with Larry, and Peter. Larry, a product of the Mark Thatcher School of Navigation, was in charge of map reading, so I think we all knew there was a strong likelihood of additional/unnecessary mileage. We were not disappointed.

Brilnote. When we approached the main road through Winchcombe we should have gone right and then left down Vinyard Street.
Soon we were crossing fields as we gradually ascended away from Winchcombe. Although there was a cold wind, the sun was out and visibility was very good giving excellent views of Winchcombe below and the surrounding countryside.
Our route took us past Wadfield Farm and Humblebee Cottage as we walked south to the road below Belas Knap. On reaching the road we turned right and in about a ¼ of a mile we turned left and ascended through woods. Then there was more uphill work over fields until Belas Knap was reached. Now seemed a good time for coffee and a mid morning snack, which we enjoyed as we viewed this long barrow. If you would like information on Belas Knap then click on the photographs,
Break over it was time to head to our next “port of call”, the remains of a Roman Villa in Spoonley Wood (grid reference SP 045257). Rather than doubling back on the Cotswold Way to the road, Peter found a track going downhill through the woodland to the east of the “barrow”. This route, which was not marked on the map, brought us to the road to the south of Humblebee Cottage. The intended route was to go south east down the road and turn off left at grid reference SP 028250. We would then skirt the north side of Willis’s Coppice to reach the Windrush Way (one of the two footpaths between Winchcombe and Bourton on the Water) at Waterhatch (grid reference SP 037256). But Larry, who insisted on navigating, was talking instead of map reading, lead us to an unknown farm. At this point we realised something was wrong and after Larry had used his GPS to establish the grid reference (SP 030248) and opened his map, we could see we were at Goldwell Farm. We realised what had happened; we had walked past the footpath Larry had intended to take us on. Still the error was soon rectified. By following the field tracks that went to the east of Willis’s Copse we got back onto the correct route and Waterhatch was soon reached.

Larry had said that there was an eeriness about the site of the Roman Villa. I certainly found it a little strange and was reminded of the film location for the Blair Witch Project. It was very atmospheric, but it did not stop us having a break and a look at the mosaic Roman Floor covered by a corrugated tin roof and sheets of plastic to protect it. Here are details of these Roman remains.
Brilnote. If I went to see these remains again I would go on the path north east from Waterhatch and then south east into Spooner Wood. This would easily have been less than ½ the distance of this part of Larry’s intended route and would have reduced the hill climbing significantly.

Although initially the gradient was against us the walking was a lot easier, traffic was minimal and route finding was easy. The only downside was my squeaky boots, or at least one of my boots. I have this pair of Berghaus boots. I’ve had them for a number of years and they are very comfortable. The only problem is on a hard surface, such as tarmac, one of them squeaks. In fact it has always squeaked. When road walking and I start slowing down Larry, Mick and Peter know they have to wait if they can no longer hear the squeak. This happens a lot. I stop to take photographs and they carry on and suddenly they will realise the squeak has gone and it’s time for them to slow down or wait for me.


From here Mick took us swiftly to the Redesdale Arms in Moreton in Marsh, which is one of the few pubs/hotels in this area that we know that is not only open all day for beer but also does quite acceptable food during the afternoon when most other establishments have sent the cook/chef home.
Larry reckons the total distance covered, excluding navigational diversions, was 13.2 miles.
If you intend to do this walk you will need the OS Outdoor Leisure Map for the Cotswold No. 45.