Stage four - Dowdeswell to Birdlip
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 a...