The forecast for Thursday was showery at first, soon clearing up. It was certainly chilly as we headed down to the first bus to Cheltenham. A Starbucks coffee later and onto the second bus and we were already a little warmer. As we headed up the walk from Linover woods car park it just got warmer still. By this point there was no rain and just a moderate northeast wind at our backs. We soon climbed to the top of the hill and across the top heading southwest. Near Wistley, or perhaps Chatcombe woods, there seemed to be hunters out shooting. As we descended toward the A436 Kilkenny road we left them behind. I had hopes of a bacon bap in the coach diner that usually sits in the layby there, but sadly that was not to be, as it was missing. Instead, we headed on up the lane across the roundabout toward the east end of Leckhampton hill, with its wonderful view over the golf course, as well as the vista back the way we'd come. Pretty soon we were strolling across a hill I know very well and we paused for a photo of my two walking companions.
We continued on along the top of the hill, having decided to carry on and look for a café further on, probably at the Star college about another half an hour's walk away. We paused again for a quick snap at the northwest viewpoint and again at the Devil's chimney.
A little further on, we passed a few minutes chatting to John, one of the Cotswold volunteer wardens, as he was rebuilding a dry-stone wall. It was intriguing to see the craftsmanship the goes into his work. Once finished, he was telling us, there would be commemorative memorials attached to some of the large stones built into the outside of the wall. Down past the quarry car park we took a left and then a right back onto the path. Through these woods we soon found ourselves near the 19th hole of the Cotswold Hills golf course on our left. Following our signpost to the right we soon found ourselves at the Star college and navigated to the Star Bistro, where we had some refreshment. Refilled and refreshed, we headed off, following our route to the northwest, taking us up and across the northern escarpment leading to Crickley hill, another location we've explored before. Cornering the northwest end of Crickley hill, we headed back in a southerly direction to another place we've known well. I use the past tense here, with some sadness, as the 'Air Balloon' pub is now, as of last month, closed and boarded up. This marks the end of our first little 'era' in the area, as I have been in this pub on many occasions; a Valentine's meal with Elena; a drink with the kids whilst out and about and quite a few times for a post-flight beverage. Very sad to see it go. It will soon be bulldozed to make way for a new road layout.
Getting across the road near the pub was a challenge, as this is one of the busiest junctions in the area, one of the main reasons, as an accident black-spot, why the re-routing and road reorganisation needs to take place. The Cotswold Way will do quite well out of the overhaul, as it will benefit from a new bridge across the main road here, meaning walkers no longer will have to take their lives in their hands crossing it. From here, the route runs a hundred metres or so along the Cirencester road, before heading out onto the hillside again and then into and through Cowley woods, crossing Birdlip hill. Here, this stage of our journey ended for today, as we headed up the hill the hundred metres or so to the Royal George pub, where we had some more refreshments and waited for the 4pm bus. Exhausted, but happy with our progress we headed home for the day.
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