Monday 4th June - Avebury: A Stone-Age Perambulation

Another great Mullett walk, 11 miles with Ellie.  This was a very open walk, with many distant, if not spectacular views, and the interest of Avebury's prehistoric stones and tumuli throughout much of the time.

 Silbury Hill was the start point of the walk.  You are not allowed to climb it now for 'Environmental Protection'.... but many people do.

 West Kennett Long Barrow evidence of prehistoric mortuary practice and the ONLY evidence that R was on this walk.

 Ellie shows her usual class by drinking freshly brewed tea from a china cup... M is ripping open the Cadbury's Whole Nut.

 The Ridgeway.  87 Miles from here to Ivinghoe Beacon.  Referred to as the 'Wessex Ridgeway' when it goes through this area.  A good part of the outward leg was a straight, gentle ascent on this very rutted surface.

You know that bit in Lawrence of Arabia where Omar Sharif first appears as a dot on the horizon?

 'What's going on?  Why has this wall got a roof?'

 On top of Windmill Hill

The blackest cattle.... ever.

Saturday 26th May: Conham and the Avon

A real surprise... the first half was hidden paths and quiet woodlands, somehow snaking between the ring road (crossed twice...peril adding to the thrill of discovery), the always close railway, and various streams and ponds.

 Some sort of archery event, and at least one excrutiating pun around 'no ifs or butts'

A peaceful footpath.... just above the treeline on the right the ring road thunders by.

By some very secure looking gated properties on the outskirts of Brislington.

A managed nature reserve along the river revealed promising picnic spots to bear in mind for future occasions.

 The outward leg ended at Beesey's Tea Rooms which turned out to be Lager rooms, cold pints of Amstel being consumed before we got ferried across the  Avon for the trek back along the river to the car, improved by the sight of two herons on the opposite bank, near the now-defunct Cadbury's factory.  (We started this walk at the nominal halfway point, the Lockkeepers Arms at Keynsham).  Bit of  a hot trudge home, but overall a really enjoyable 7.5 miles.

Saturday 12th May: Monkton Farleigh

Described as 'undulating' and '8 miles' in WW3, we were rather hesitant to launch into this, but were glad we had by the end.  Brown's Folly, was followed by about two miles of rather boring trudge on an uneven path, with few views through the trees.  However, things improved on the northward leg.  The walk became open and scenic, with variety and interest especially after Monkton Farleigh.  There was a very demanding ascent, first through a gorgeous buttercup encrusted meadow and then through woods, to the car park at the end.

 Orchids mixed in with bluebells

 House in Monkton Farleigh. 

Sunday 6th May: Luckington and Sherston

We weren't sure at first if we had done this Geoff before... but we hadn't.  A really pleasant walk, apart from a very muddy byway (we're talking over the boots here), with lots of gorgeous if unspectacular views.

 Enormous horses - ready for the hunt

 Looking back at Sherston

 You do know it's illegal to pick cowslips don't you Margie?

How do you mean?  I have no idea what you're talking about.

Purdown - Tuesday 17th April 2012

Decided to tick off this 4 mile one-way walk from WW3, although we were broadly familiar with the area covered.  A bus to Filton, and finished up on Ashley Hill, so it worked really well.  A very good walk, which took us on to the top of Purdown, where we have not walked before.  Fantastic Bristol views, a real success.

 Good view of Glenside

Chedworth: Friday 13th April 2013

From the Gloucestershire walk book, we decided to tackle this 5 mile stroll, taking in Chedworth Roman Villa about 2/3 of the way round.  The walk was pleasant, although a bit more hilly than the '1 mountain' code suggested, and the Villa was certainly interesting, with lots of mozaic, and a brand new visitor's centre.  Bit shocked at the NT price of £8.50 each,  but having come this far...

Tormarton and Dodington Park - Wednesday 11th April 2012

From a book: 'Pub Walks along the Cotswold Way' published in 1996, this was designed to be 4 miles, fairly flat, and quite quick to get to, as part of R's recuperation from two weeks of chest infection.  Interesting to see the village of Tormarton, with many grand houses but a derelict-looking pub.  The walk was interesting and pleasant for the first half, which was up Dodington Lane....

 In the distance is 'Dodington Manor', easier to see with the zoom...

 Lots of very young looking lambs in the fields...

The return section, through the planted estates alongside Dodington Park (apparently owned by James Dyson who has 'spent more on trees that we would spend on a house') was strangely boring... a rather empty landscape which undulated, but didn't have any points of interest.  A bit like farmland which is not being farmed. 

Beer and chips in the pub at the end was good for morale, referred to as The Portcullis, but with a pub sign showing it is now known as 'The Major's Retreat', apparently the ex-military landlord's response to much ribbing from the locals.