Winchcombe Cotswolds Walking Festival 2014

For more informatin and booking see www.winchcombewelcomeswalkers.com

Friday 16 May 

1 Cotswold hamlets in Spring - 14 miles – Strenuous – 9.00 to 16.30 
Leaving Winchcombe on the Gloucestershire Way, we visit the
hamlets of Temple Guiting, Ford and Cutsdean. 

2 Aspects of Stanway - 7 miles – Moderate – 9.15 to 16.15 
An undulating route through orchards, past an iron age hill fort and along the escarpment before dropping down to the Stanway estate. 

3 Stone beneath our feet - 9 miles – Moderate – 9.30 to 16.30 
Transport to Huntsmans Quarry for a guided tour. Here we will learn about the geology and see the whole process from quarrying to the final products.

4 Isbourne Way - from source - 6 miles – Energetic – 9.30 to 13.00 
Join us on this new route. The Isbourne begins on Cleeve Hill and flows north to meet the Avon at Evesham. 

5 Town History 
1.5 miles – Easy – 14.00 to 15.30.
A stroll through Winchcombe with a knowledgeable guide who will fascinate you with local knowledge of this ancient town, once the capital of Mercia.

6 Sunset walk 3 miles – Easy – 18.00 to 19.30
A different route from previous years. A short ride up Sudeley Hill before we walk along the Salt Way and descend past Stancombe Wood towards the welcoming sight of Winchcombe in the valley
below. 

7 Dinner and Quiz – local Cotswold pub - 20.00 to 22.30 
A social evening for festival goers.

Saturday 17 May
8 Cotswold Way - the best bit! - 12.5 miles – Strenuous – 9.00 to 16.30 
Broadway to Winchcombe via Stanton and Stanway, where we will get the opportunity to see the highest
gravity-fed fountain courtesy of Earl Wemyss.  

9 Isbourne Way - to the Avon confluence - 12 miles – Easy – 9.15 to 16.00 
This walk follows the route of the Isbourne Way from Winchcombe to the Avon. Mike Lovatt, the author of a book about the Isbourne, will tell us about the mills along the river.

10 History, myths and vistas - 6.5 miles – Moderate – 9.30 to 13.00 
A pleasant walk past Sudeley Castle up to Parks Farm, past the inner deer wall to St Kenelm's Well before returning to Winchcombe.

11 Cleeve Common - a living landscape - 9-10 miles – Energetic – 9.45 to 16.00
Learn more about the conservation and management of this Site of Special Scientific Interest, how the historic land use has shaped its rare plants and habitats.

12 Yesterday’s jam - 10 miles – Moderate – 10.30 to 16.30 
Learn about the history of soft fruit growing and jam making in this area. We hear first hand from a local worker from a jam factory and visit Hayles Fruit Farm.

13 Steaming into the Cotswolds - train ride and walk - 4 miles – Easy – 13.30 to 16.15 
We meet at Greet for a ride on a nostalgic steam train to Toddington. By special permission we will walk back through Toddington Manor grounds and see the historic manor close up. Price includes train ride.

14 Town History - Winchcombe and the Great War - 1.5 miles – Easy – 14.00 to 15.30
Find out about Winchcombe and its links to the Great War from a knowledgeable guide.

15 Meals on Wheels - Fish & Chip supper on GWR train - 18.45 to 21.30 
Meet at Greet, watch the world go by while you enjoy a fish and chip supper on board a steam train.


Sunday 18 May
16 Three hills walk - 12 miles – Strenuous – 9.15 to 16.00 
We leave the valley for Cleeve Common to the highest point in the Cotswolds with airy views before following the escarpment. 

17 Wild flower circular walk - 4.5 miles – Easy – 9.30 to 12.15 
A circular walk in the Sudeley Valley looking for and identifying wild flowers with a knowledgeable guide. A great way to learn and share information.  

18 Monuments in the landscape - 5.5 miles – Energetic – 9.45 to 12.45 
Our goal is Belas Knap, the Neolithic barrow high above the town. 

19 Man, dog and frog  7 miles – Moderate – 10.00 to 14.00 
A nice Sunday morning walk to the valley with Frog Wood, over Stanley Hill to see the restored Millennium wood carving before decending to Stanley Pontlarge with its Norman church. 

20 Linking farming and the environment - 5 - 7 miles – Moderate – 10.00 to 15.30
Meet at Guiting Power village car park and follow drovers’ trails and quiet lanes with much to see on the way. We visit Castlett Wood and the River Windrush at Kineton before lunch. 

21 GPS for dummies - 2 miles – Easy – 13.30 to 16.00
Want to understand what GPS is all about? Come along and find out more about global postioning systems and using a hand-held device.

22 Town history - various benefactors of Winchcombe - 1.5 miles – Easy – 14.00 to 15.30 
A stroll through Winchcombe with a knowledgeable guide who will explain what some of the benefactors have brought to Winchcombe.

For more information and booking see www.winchcombewelcomeswalkers.com

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