It was holiday
time again. Easter Holidays to be exact and time for the “Boys”
to have another ramble. Larry had come up with a walk. “It’s
only about 10 miles!” I was informed so it should be easy for
my aging legs, particularly
as I was almost in peak fitness having recently spent a holiday in Malta
where, with Anne, I had walked the length of the island in easy stages.
In addition to this, two days before, accompanied by Anne, I had had
a pleasant excursion of about 7 miles on, and around, Leckampton Hill
above Cheltenham. So I was ready for a pleasant days walking
and the opportunity to have lunch at a country hostelry.
Arriving at Dursley
at about 9.30 a.m. we were able to secure a parking place, which was
free, which naturally made Mick very happy, and soon with Larry and
Peter the four of us were toiling uphill along the Cotswold Way.
To see a map of
the locality of Dursley on Multiap then click
here.
Stinchcombe Hill. |
Stinchcombe
Hill was the first high spot of the day, with a height
of 219 metres, or about 720 feet. Although we did wander off the most
direct route up the hill this was only a minor aberration and we soon
reached the golf course which utilizes the hill’s plateau top.
We then walked around the top of the hill in an anti clockwise direction
generally following a Cotswold Way detour. On the north rim of the hill
we had views towards the River Severn, but regrettably, because of mist,
we were unable to get really good views of the landscape to our north
and west. Continuing around the hill to Drakestone Point, we had views
south towards North Nibley and the Tyndale Monument, which looked like
Cleopatra’s Needle, perched on top of Nibley Knoll. We then left
Drakestone Point and walked the Cotswold Way, along the rim of the hill,
first north-eastwards and then south, before descending through the
oak and beech wood as we aimed for North Nibley.
A
field of Oil Seed Rape and a very beautiful country residence
seen between Stinchcombe Hill and Nibley Knoll. |
This was very
pleasant. Although there were a few ups and downs, particularly an ascent
along an old sunken lane on the outskirts of North Nibley, the going
was fairly easy, or it would have been if Peter had not been jet propelled
and making it difficult for the older members of the group – me
-, to keep up. Oh to be young and fit.
It was at this
point, probably because I was trying to keep up with Peter that I nearly
made a navigational error, and guess what, I was reminded about it for
the rest of the day with comments about ”upside down compasses
and maps”. Seems like my “friends” were getting their
own back for previous comments I may have made about them.
Mick
and Larry on the steps leading to the top of Nibley Knoll. |
Nibley
Knoll, at 660 feet, was reached. The “Boys” however
had been a bit crafty. It wasn’t until we were nearing the Knoll
that I was informed we were going up to the monument on the top of this
hill. Fortunately part of the path to the top consisted of a large number
of steps, which helped the ascent. I didn’t bother to count them,
but there were plenty, so it was a real relief to get to the top of
the knoll, sit on the stone “seats” around the Tyndale Monument
and have a well earned break. However, although I was very warm having
toiled to the top, the wind whistling around the monument soon cooled
me down and I was pleased I had brought a fleece top that I could wear.
The
Tyndale Monument in memory of William
Tyndale who translated the Bible into English in about 1530. |
Looking
back towards Nibley Knoll and the Tyndale Monument. |
Two
of our number entering the woodland between Nibley Knoll and
Wootton Hill. A very pleasant part of the walk. |
Break over, it
was pleasant to walk the mile or so southwards along the ridge from
Nibley Knoll to Wootton Hill where, now that the mist had cleared, we
had wonderful views downhill to Wootton under Edge and the bridges over
the River Severn to the west.
The
clump of trees on Wootton Hill overlooking the town of Wootton
under Edge. |
Mick
and Larry trying to get on film (or should that be on digital
camera) the view of the River Severn and the Severn Bridge. |
A
part of Larry's photograph of the River Severn and Bridge seen
from Wootton Hill. You can just see the "towers" of
the bridge. |
By now we were getting hungry.
It was fast approaching 12.30 p.m. and Larry had booked a table for
us at the New
Inn at Waterley Bottom for lunch. So it was best foot forward, leaving
the Cotswold Way to get on to the London Road, which despite the impressive
name is no more than a narrow lane. In less than ½ mile we turned
left off the London Road and then it was northwards to the Pub at Waterley
Bottom, a mile or so further on at grid reference ST758693.
I really enjoyed
the walk to the pub. It was down a narrow country lane between high
banks full of trees and plants. It was so pleasant I won’t even
mention, in detail, the short cut Peter took us on, which meant we had
to retrace our steps. Yes we can all make navigational errors! The distance,
we had covered by the time we reached the Pub, according to Mick’s
GPS was just over 10 miles. We really needed our lunch stop.
Mick admiring
the vegetation, or was he just posing, in the narrow lane leading
to the New Inn. |
The Pub was really
good. There was an excellent choice of real ales to enjoy, so we all
tried half pints of some of the different varieties, to wash down our
lunch. All were much appreciated after the morning’s endeavors.
The
New Inn at Waterley Bottom. |
After the inevitable photo shoot
outside the pub, when Larry had to almost lie on the ground to get
us in focus and set off his camera’s self timer so we could
all be in the picture, we were off up another hill.
Larry's
photograph of the "Boys" outside the New Inn. |
The New Inn is
located at the farthest point that is accessible by vehicles up a very
narrow lane. Although the lane continues beyond the pub it becomes a
steep sunken track, probably an old salt way. Not the sort of track
you really want to ascend after 10 miles, lunch and beer, but ascend
we did.
Breakheart
Hill is the name of this “little” ascent. Seemed
quite apt, although it was probably easier than the previous two “pulls”
we had had earlier in the day. Don’t know the highest point but
from looking at the OS map for the area I estimate it to be in excess
of 600 feet.
The
ascent of Breakheart Hill. |
At the road at
the top of the hill we went right (east) for about a mile before going
into Folly Wood and then Coppers Wood before going downhill over fields
to Uley.
Mick,
Peter and Larry on the road to Folly Wood. |
Originally the
intention was to go from Waterley Bottom – “Don’t
you just love that name” – more or less straight back to
Dursley and then home. But Mick was aware of a small brewery in Uley
and he was keen to have a look at it and visit its “visitors centre”.
Well he was right about being a small brewery. It looked like a house
with a big garage and it was only by luck that we spotted it.
And,
hidden away behind a hedge was the infamous Uley
Brewery. It looked nothing, but the beer is delicious. |
Uley however seemed
a very pleasant community. Looked like a good place to live. But we
had no time to spend admiring it. We had to get back to Dursley. We
were fortunate that Peter had picked a very scenic route for our return.
Yes you’ve guessed it. Having found the correct path behind Uley
Church we went straight up another hill.
The
view of Uley Bury which we saw as we left the woods and approached
Uley. |
Walking
through Uley. |
Uley
Bury, height c 750 feet, was the next ascent. It is an
old hill fort. If you want to find out more about it click here. So
we walked uphill across a field and then along a steep path through
a wooded area. Needless to say I brought up the rear, but I did stop
to take some photos and admire the view.
Going
up the hill to Uley Bury. |
Uley
from half way up Uley Bury. |
Peter and Mick
then went the wrong way and I’m very grateful to them for doing
so. It had been intended to take the Cotswold Way back into Dursley,
via Cam Long Down. However, before we reached the top of the Down”
we would have to loose height and then have an ascent of about 300 feet
to the top of the Down. Not the most energy efficient way to get back
to Dursley. But thanks to
a wrong turn on the top of Uley Bury, Peter and Mick lead us south west
along the north west side of the “Bury” before descending
to Hydegate and then it was west along the road until just after Uleyfields
where we turned off left (south east) to take a right of way across
fields back to Dursley.
Peter,
Mick and me, navigating a stile, as we descend from Uley Bury. |
It had been an
excellent, and very enjoyable day’s walking, but oh those ascents.
Unfortunately
during the later stages of the walk Mick’s GPS had a malfunction
– the batteries went flat. However, after the walk Mick checked
the total distance on some very clever computer software that came with
his GPS. The program showed that the total distance of the walk was
15.5 miles. It actually seemed longer than that, which was probably
because of the ascents, which the software calculated as being 2,800
feet.
If
you would like to do this walk the OS Explorer Map for the area is
No. 167 (Thornbury, Dursley and Yate).
