I can’t quite believe I am so close to finishing this national trail. It’s been such an amazing experience…
The problem now is that it’s getting quite a long way away from where I live and even if I drive myself to the start of the next segment… I still need someone to pick me up and take me to my car as public transport is not so easily available. (Basically non existent).
My only other option is to break it down in smaller parts and go forth a little… and then back to the car… we’ll see. After this walk (which was done back in early August) I’ll have only 15 miles to go to reach the end in Bath!
This stage began in Wotton-Under-Edge-Edge on a grey morning. First a quick circumnavigation of the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin.
… but the trail soon return to the country, along streams and mills. Wotton was an important wool town with also two claims to fame: Kathering Lady Berkeley gave the town the first school ever funded by a woman in 1384, and in another school in the town Isaac Pitman developed the famous Pitman shorthand system. How about that?
Early blackberries kept me going during this easy stage. The path was flat or mildly undulating at best and it was a shame the weather was so dull. It would have been a really wonderful walk with blue skies for company…
What I liked is that it was really varied… it makes it easier not get bored or tired when the view changes constantly.
Kilcott Mill is really pretty, as are the houses along this lane.
I bumped into two ladies that had just started the Cotswold Way from the opposite way and we swapped trail stories… very tamed, but it was nice nonetheless.
The Somerset Monument, 1846, was erected in memory of General Lord Somerset who served under Wellington in the Battle of Waterloo. Very imposing.
This is the church of St Adeline in which William Tyndale used to preach. (THE one who translated the Bible into English and was put to death for it in 1540). It’s in the village of Little Sodbury.
The latter stage of this… stage… is through the parkland of Dodington House, now owned by Sir Dyson (the vacuum cleaner dude)… it is spectacularly immaculate. The area was landscaped by none other than Capability Brown and it’s beautiful.
And while there are no glimpses to the house to be had from the well signalled path (they really don’t want you to stray!), it’s worth it to slow down and have a look around…
It’s seriously stunning.
And then you’re basically in Tormarton… a couple of road crossing (be careful… !!) and you can rest at the pub!!
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