Sunday 21st April 2013: Landsdown

Two walks in 2 days! This 8.25 miles described by Geoff as 'undulating' which it certainly was. Lots of dramatic views which would have been stunning on a clearer day, but navigation was often difficult ( strange how often I get lost when Margie isn't there) and a fair bit of field walking with testing terrain. Glad to have done it, but won't repeat it. From this weekends walks, Maes Knoll was definitely better.

Saturday April 20: Maes Knoll

Another R solo as M in Lisbon with Nicola. 8 miles which Geoff describes as 'energetic' but which I found very agreeable. Lovely views for much of the walk on very good terrain.

We tried to do this walk a couple of years ago but got put off by the horrible start, about a mile of walking through the Grundy's farm. After that though, it's really enjoyable with varied scenery and simple navigation.

Sunday 7th April 2013: The Limpley Stoke Valley

One of Geoff's very few one-way walks, train from Bradford-on-Avon to Bath Spa, then 10 miles back along mosly attractive scenery and rather a lot of canal towpath, to the station car park.  This walk, despite the introductory comments from Geoff, has a very tough (to me) start, big climb up Widcombe Hill, then Claverton Down, nearly killed me!  After that it's fine, although there is another steep road section after Iford Manor:

Rather knackered by the end, but glad to have done this walk.  Margie was away in London, the one-cup thermos tells of a sole walker!

Saturday 9th March 2013 - Westerleigh

Getting back on the bike so to speak. 5 miles, very grey day, but fun.

Saturday 26th January - Blaise and Kingsweston

We did this on 27th Oct last year, and I notice that the blog entry ends 'we will return'

A cold day, with the snow more thawing than thawed, with Margie suffering from a sore and severely 'Thompsoned' back, we thought we'd give this a go.  Mostly fun, but with large stretches very muddy and slippery, with semi-thawed ice lacing the sticky mud, made it hard work, and we were glad about three quarters through to revert to a road finish.  What made this weekend great wasn't so much this walk, as this new car:

2nd December 2012 - Cleeve Hill

A shortish walk from 'Pub Walks along the Cotswold Way' (see 11th April this year for previous expedition from this book),  4.5 miles on a clear, but fresh day.  The book was published in 1996, which may partly explain why we feel that the route description did not really work for some of this walk.  Specifically, the second half should have been on the Cotswold Way, which is places is the same as the Winchcombe Way, and although we used some common sense to find our way back to the Golf Clubhouse which was at the start of the walk (on very open terrain), it was impossible to later reconcile the route as described and mapped in the book, with existing paths as shown on OS maps, aerial views, or anything we could find on the ground.

These were views over the Severn Valley to the Malvern Hills.  We also got great views of Cheltenham, both city and racecourse, during the first half of the walk.  The second half was rather dull.  Lovely pint and toasted sandwich in the clubhouse at the end for which we were mysteriously undercharged!

Sunday November 18th - The Marlborough Downs

Lovely bright (and warmer than expected) November day, and a walk from Barbury Castle, ending with a 5 mile stroll up the Ridgeway back to the car park.  Enjoyed what was 'Ellie's Birthday Celebration Walk' with a birthday cake on the way round (well a Sainsbury Iced Muffin).  Surfaces a bit dodgy in places, but 10.6 miles from WW3 mostly lovely open view, quite a few people, and lots of interest.