We decided that, to make some progress, we would utilise the half term and press on with the walk for our fifth stage of this endeavour. Since we have brought the Cotswold Way journey to our doorstep, we thought that the weather might support a second successive day and I am pleased to report that it did - just! We were delighted to have the old team back together for this stage, as Kyle joined us for most of the day (he had somewhere to be in the afternoon). We hopped on the 62 bus from the end of our road and then the 882 so far as Birdlip (our finishing point yesterday).
We retraced our steps from the Royal George pub bus stop, downhill to the road's the intersection with the route and then continued down the path from there, where we proceeded to give up much of our altitude. We knew that could mean only one thing; more uphill later!
The Cotswold Way is very well route-marked, as I have mentioned before, but I do love some of the comical markers one can find along the way, sometimes seeming to contradict, until you realise that one marker applies from one direction and another from the other. The route descends quite some way down and then through Witcombe woods affording views north out over the reservoir and trout fishery and Great Witcombe Roman Villa. Our itinerary didn't allow for a closer look over the latter, so we will have to rectify that with a dedicated visit sometime soon. After some time and numerous climbs and descents, we found ourselves at the top of Coopers hill, the scene of much carnage every year as many competitors chase a Gloucester cheese down from top to bottom of the now famous steep slope.
Once again, we were in familiar territory, though we soon broke new ground for the next section of the walk through the forest and then climbed steeply up to the top of Upton wood, where we paused for a fruit snack and a long drink of water. Very soon we were passing the Royal William pub (no time yet for refreshment) and pressing on toward Painswick Beacon. Here the route passes just below the top of the beacon, but no one should pass here without taking the few steps to the top to look out over nearby Robinswood (which sits above our home, hidden behind).
Once we had descended from here, the route heads into Painswick village and, due to the pressing time, we said goodbye to Kyle at a bus stop here, as he made his way home for a rendez-vous with a friend and a trip to the cinema. So, back to the three travellers once more, we headed into town, stopping at the Falcon pub for some chips, a brief rest and some much needed refreshments. There is little hope of much by way of phone signal, or mobile network in Painswick, but I managed to get just enough to load maps and determine that we were 1.7 miles and 40 minutes to our pre-agreed destination for today, that being the small B-road connecting Whiteshill and Edge. I know this road fairly well and the number 63 bus would take us home from here, to within 300m of our front door. Another option would be the bus from the A4173, at the Edgemoor Inn, which we would reach slightly sooner. However, if we made the walk up the last little incline, the bus from there would be arriving earlier. Nice as the opportunity at the Edgemoor may be for another beverage and a short wait, we plumped for the few steps further and the 63, simply the sooner to be home. We paused here and there for some more photos to document our journey and were slightly disappointed to be reminded that we are yet to reach the halfway point, that will come on our next stage!
We were rewarded near the top of the hill, with the sight of a couple of Roe Deer, startled by our sudden and noisy, chatty appearance, which darted away and back into the cover of some woods. As the path again meets the main road, it also meets the Maitlands wood bus stop at the same point.
As we were about 40 minutes early for the next bus, we elected to walk downhill some 600m, to the next stop. Here we had maybe 30 minutes to while away and there was a stone bus shelter opposite, in case we might need to dive for cover, as it was just now beginning to spit with light drizzle. As it turned out, we didn't quite need the shelter, as the bus arrived just before it started to fall more heavily. All in all, the day worked out perfectly for us, even more so as we had Kyle with us for the majority of it. We couldn't help but feel fortunate that the rain held off for the entirety of the walk, just as the forecast had suggested it might. That concludes today's stage of the walk. Next; we will cross the halfway point!
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