Tewkesbury to Worcester-19 miles

The weather forecast for this morning had been filled with doom and gloom with wet weather and strong winds by 11 am.I felt that my best plan was an early breakfast and to try and get as near to Worcester before the deluge began. Leaving Tewkesbury I crossed two large rivers,the Avon and the Severn. My plan was to follow the Severn all along the Severn way footpath to Worcester . After three mile of doing this all seemed well, all I had to do was to follow the river. Suddenly without warning everything changed. The path I was following stopped and disappeared into a large jungle of Hymalian  balsam . This was about 8' tall and provided no clue on where to go. I thrashed my way through and by now my coat was soaked and covered with pink debris from the flowers. After about 20 yards more of jungle warfare I found traces of the path again and arrived at Shipton upon Severn. I decided after this episode that I would take the minor roads along side the Severn until they took me via a cycleway to the centre of Worcester. As I reached Worcester the cathedral bells were ringing and I found my B and B and reflected on my days adventure. It had stayed mostly dry all day and the prophets of doom were proved wrong. My journey had come to the end for another year. Next year it would be time to visit Shropshire and Cheshire God willing.

Cheltenham to Tewkesbury- 13 miles

It had rained most of the night and the morning had a similar theme to it, as I broke free of the urban area and out into the countryside. My route left the Cotswold way and followed a series of minor roads and footpaths in order to join up to the Gloucester way that would take me to Tewkesbury. There is always something very uncertain about public footpaths, that centres around their maintenance (or lack of it).This is how it was to be today as the footpath I had been following suddenly headed into a maize field with just a very muddy track through the middle. I emerged through the other side with mud laden boots only to be confronted by the path continuing across a ploughed field. This was too much for me and I headed around the narrow field margin to ensure I picked up the minimum of mud on my boots. I still managed to reach the other side walking like an astronaut with heavy space boots on. It took a few miles and lots of wet grass to shake off the farmers field.  Eventually I reached Tewkesbury and found a tea room where I ate my way through a toasted sandwich,some carrot cake and ice cream, washed down with a pot of tea and a glass of beer. I thought I would push the boat out! I found my B and B which was friendly and comfortably and showered away my aches and pains before finding an Italian  restaurant for my evening meal.

 

Painswick to Cheltenham - 15miles

As I drew back the curtain I could see that it was going to be one of those damp drizzly mornings. I had breakfast with some Australians, before loading up and heading out of the town, via a footpath across the golf course.  I was back on the Cotswold way again which headed over the hills to Birdlip through a series of dark damp woodlands. Every so often I would meet American walkers dressed in ponchos which they must have found useful as the rain got heavier. The woods following overnight rain had become sticky with mud and slopes had to be taken with care to avoid falling over. The swirling mist got denser the higher I got as I approached Birdlip. It was a bit like a scene from the Hounds of the Baskervilles. At Birdlip the welcome sight of The Air Balloon pub came into view and I stopped for lunch and to dry myself out. After lunch the sun came out and I descended off the hills to Cheltenham. After a while I reached the town centre and found my bed and breakfast. When staying in B and B's you have some pleasant surprises and unpleasant ones. This definitely fell into the latter category as the lady of the house had to be one of the least humorous people I have ever met. She seemed totally unsuited to the role that life had appointed her to of meeting and greeting  and reminded me of one of the Stepford wives, although less helpful. Breakfast next morning was a poor affair so I left early for the road to

Tewkesbury.  

Wotton-Under-Edge to Painswick 19 miles

Coughing and sneezing I washed,packed and went down for breakfast. Weatabix ,tea and toast were the order of the day. I decided to "man up" stock up on Lemsips and Vic vapour rub at the local store and hit the road. Getting out of Wotton is a hilly affair and the first two miles were tricky for a man with a blocked nose, but as the day went on my throat felt better and I was back in the groove of lo

ng distance walking again. This is one of the most beautiful parts of the Cotswolds as you get nearer to Painswick. Wonderful woodlands with great views to little valleys and mellow stone villages.  I descended from the hills across a Nature reserve into the splendid small town of Painswick. My B and B was excellent and after a long hot shower I meet up with my nephew Nick for a meal at the Falcon Inn. It was the perfect end to what had been a challenging day.

Tormarton to Wotton-Under -Edge 14.0 miles

Morning broke and after breakfast I packed and hit the trail which started just outside the door of my B and B. A gentle flattish walk began across farmers fields which eventually lead to parkland and then onto rolling hillside villages. I made good progress and just around mid day found a really good pub for lunch run by the local community. The sticky toffee pudding was particularly excellent and refreshed by this I came to the hilly woodlands and deep lanes that make up the "Edge" that Wotton nestles beneath . These deep lanes are beautiful and wild. As the day went on and the effects of my glass of Butcombe bitter wore off I became aware of a feeling of slight unease. My throat felt slightly sore and by the time I reached my B and B things had got seriously worse. It was very sore by now and I had started coughing with a streaming cold. I purchased some throat sweets and druged myself up for the night. I awoke about 3 am feeling really rough, and wondered would I be able to go on in the morning? At 3 am in a strange place, feeling rubbish, everything seems bad, but I prayed that I would feel different when daybreak came.I thankfully

fell off to sleep until the murky light of morning crept through my curtains and woke me up.

Bath to Tormarton 18.5 miles

Alison waved goodbye and drove away down the narrow lane from Pennsylvania farm and in a minute she had disappeared from sight. I find it always hard starting out on a journey by myself, but once under way I relax and enjoy the moment. Perhaps I am just very poor at saying goodbye. I followed narrow tracks past travellers wagons and trucks parked in an old lane before crossing the busy A4 and finding the cycle path that leads from Bath to Bristol. After a few miles and having been "buzzed" by  middle aged men in Lycra, I left the cycleway and joined a footpath that took me along side the river Avon. I then headed into the hills to join the Cotswold way. The sun had broken through and I peeled of my layers as the path rose upwards.The Cotswold way is fairly well signed, but has occasional moments where it does not bother very much and you and your map are left to fend for yourself. My afternoon settled into its routine of ups and downs, of wind and sun, but as always happens when I feel hungry,  there is nowhere to stop. I face the fact that I am going to have to eat another Milky Way when out of nowhere, two miles from Tormarton a burger van is parked in a lay-by. As is the case with this type of "dinning" it usually smells and looks better than it tastes, but it was cheap and I was very hungry!  My B and B at Tormanton was lovely and a bath takes away all my aches and pains. I wondered what tomorrow would bring?

September's Big walk through the Cotswolds and The Severn Way to Worcester-95 miles

The Big Walk starts again in September.This time my journey is from Englishcombe just south of Bath to the city of Worcester. So far I have walked from Land's End to just outside of Bath a journey of 218 miles. Septembers route will take me by way of the long distance footpath called the "Cotswold way" and then I head towards Worcester via the Severn Way, making a journey  total of approximately  95 miles. Each of the stages are as follows:
10th September Englishcombe to Tormarton 17 miles

11th September Tormarton to Wooton- under- Edge 14 miles

12th September Wooton-under-Edge to Painswick 14 miles

13th September Painswick to Cheltenham 18 miles

14th September Cheltenham to Tewkesbury 15 miles

15th September Tewkesbury to Worcester 18 miles

All being well 2014 shouldtake me as far north as the edge of the Peak district.

Day 7 Okehampton to Crediton 19.1 miles

Sunday morning had come and it was my last day on the road. After breakfast I left a sleepy Okehampton where few people seemed up and about and headed out of town. Gradually the suburban landscape changed to countryside and I followed a deserted byeway with deep rooty banks . This eventually  emerged in the village of Sticklepath before leading in a northerly direction to South Zeal . On this path I noticed a pair of Jays looking for food in the hedge row.  A series of long country lanes take you to Yeoford and eventually to Crediton. On the road to Yeoford I saw a sign saying "free range chickens". A few yards along the road there they were in a field, with most attractive hen houses. I noticed however one of them was somewhat too free range as she had got through the fence to greet me by the road. As I neared Crediton the whole landscape changed and the soil turned a rich red colour with deep hedgerows. Soon I was into the town

 and found the sports centre where I had arranged to meet Alison.  She arrived 5 minutes after I got there and it was so good to see her again.  We headed home another journey done and looking forward to September's route from Bath to Worcester  along the Cotswold and the Severn Way.

Day 6 Launceston to Okehampton 22.1 miles

On a bright morning I left the Southgate at Launceston and headed down Angel hill to the river Kensey. The coolness of the air was refreshing and I looked at map and weaved my way through the back street lanes and was soon out into the green lanes of Cornwall. The border with Devon  was soon reached as I crossed Polson bridge and the river Tamar into Devon. At Lifton a village founded by the Saxons I headed out across the meadows and by an old stone bridge crossed the river Wolf. From the village of Lewdown an ancient track climbs steeply through woodland and Galiford down is reached. From here you can look back across Bodmin moor and see Dartmoor ahead of you. Small lanes as straight as arrows with bluebell banks and wonderful views of Dartmoor lead to The Granite Way. This is a cycle path on the

route of a old steam railway that was closed in the 1960's.As Meldon is reached a quarry can be seen along with railway tracks and old rolling stock. The path grows narrow again and I picked my way through cyclists and emerged on the outskirts of Okehampton by the castle. My B and B was great and after a cup of tea and a shower I headed to an Italian restaurant for some pasta and white wine. It had been a wonderful day. 

Day 5 Altarnun to Launceston 10 miles.

I had  a good nights sleep once the music had subsided from the pub where I was staying  that evening. Content after my evening meal of chicken curry and Bakewell tart, I had drifted off to the land of Nod.The morning light coming through my window confirmed it was time to get up and have breakfast before setting out for Launceston pronounced "Lanson" by the locals. This was a short days walk before a long day to Okehampton the following day.It was sunny and bright with a cool wind as I walked along quiet lanes with sleepy villages. Time passed quickly and I soon came to Launceston about midday. As I was early, there was time for coffee, fruit cake and to take on some essential supplies. My B and B was not far out of town and the kindly owner showed me my room

. I relaxed after a shower and planned my route for tomorrow, glad that at least today had been a shorter days journey. 

Progress so far on the Big Walk from LEJOG

I have attached a map with red and blue spots showing the various stages I have travelled on foot

 and the total distance covered so far of 218 miles from Lands End to Bath. In September all being well I set out again from Bath and walk the Cotswold way, a journey of 100 miles. Truly "the journey of a thousand miles does begin with the first step".

Day 4 Blisland to Altarnun - 15.9 miles

It was a misty damp start to the morning as I headed up steep lanes leading to the edge of Bodmin moor.I had been warned not to attempt the crossing if it was very wet or foggy. I eventually found the foot path I needed at Penwood house that leads onto the remote part of the moor. Fairly soon a rustic looking farmhouse was reached at Lower Candra where the landscape is littered with large granite stones. An open stretch of moorland then leads to  King Arthur's Downs where the ancient rectangular compound of standing stones known as King Arthur's Hall is located. Onward I travelled now too far onto the moor to turn back as I headed on a compass bearing to Garrow farm. Located at the foot of Garrow Tor it is  a remote and spooky place. I have rarely felt so much alone. From the deserted Garrow farm the path now crosses a stream and follows the base of Butter's Tor before crossing another stream and climbing the flank of Brown Willy . From part way up and with the aid of binoculars I could see the old stone wall I needed to follow that would lead me to Tolborough Tor and the old footpath back to Jamaica Inn where I could have a lunch stop. I made my way across boggy moorland, crossed a stream and clambered over a fence and soon I was heading towards civilisation for a while.After lunch it was back to the moors again and I headed northwards to pick up a small road at Westmoorgate that would eventually take me to Altarnun where I would stay at the pub.
I  arrived safely after what had been a bit of an adventure and had a bath to soak off the days mud.