A fascinating look at the places, people and histories encountered during a walk along the Cotswold Way.
Packed full of interesting facts this book is an essential companion for everyone who wants to expand their knowledge of the Cotswold Way.
Join me on my journey as I thread my steps up and down the hills of the Cotswolds while I travel between the old market-town of Chipping Camden and the historical Cathedral City of Bath.
The 102 miles of the Cotswold Way zigs and zags between the highs and lows
of this range of limestone hills. Nature has sculpted and nurtured the landscape into one of the most picturesque regions of England. Exhilarating views from the tops give way to sharp drops into wooded valleys where chocolate-box villages nestle among the lower folds of the hillsides.
The journey takes place in the autumn, a time when the limestone buildings are beautifully blended against the vibrant colours of the seasonal background. Fallen leaves crunch underfoot while others swirl in the breeze during their passage from the tree-tops before finally coming to rest among their fallen colleagues on the ground.
Wildlife abounds. Deciduous woodlands and varied hedgerows provide homes for flora and fauna. Orchids and wild garlic thrive on the ground. The meadows are filled with sheep and cattle, while deer graze peacefully in parkland reservations. Birdsong can be heard among the trees before the winter migration. High in the skies buzzards and kestrels are hovering, scanning the ground with their sharp eyes for their next meal.
Along the way we will take a look at the way that the development of mankind has changed the face of the Cotswolds, from the early Neolithic burial mounds to the grandeur of Bath Abbey, from hill-forts to the industrial mills, and from Roman villas to the great Georgian architecture of Cheltenham and Bath. We will look back into the histories of the people to see how their achievements have influenced the area. We will also examine how the lust for power cast its shadow as various factions from the Romans, Saxons and Normans through to modern man have fought to establish their respective dominances.
I will also be delving into the quirky aspect of the local customs. Where would we be without the Cotswold Olimpik Games or the annual mayhem that is the World Cheese-Rolling Championships? Add in the erratic contributions of a few of the more eccentric local characters and you will start to get the feel of where we are going with this adventure.
Packed full of interesting facts this book is an essential companion for everyone who wants to expand their knowledge of the Cotswold Way.
Join me on my journey as I thread my steps up and down the hills of the Cotswolds while I travel between the old market-town of Chipping Camden and the historical Cathedral City of Bath.
The 102 miles of the Cotswold Way zigs and zags between the highs and lows
of this range of limestone hills. Nature has sculpted and nurtured the landscape into one of the most picturesque regions of England. Exhilarating views from the tops give way to sharp drops into wooded valleys where chocolate-box villages nestle among the lower folds of the hillsides.
The journey takes place in the autumn, a time when the limestone buildings are beautifully blended against the vibrant colours of the seasonal background. Fallen leaves crunch underfoot while others swirl in the breeze during their passage from the tree-tops before finally coming to rest among their fallen colleagues on the ground.
Wildlife abounds. Deciduous woodlands and varied hedgerows provide homes for flora and fauna. Orchids and wild garlic thrive on the ground. The meadows are filled with sheep and cattle, while deer graze peacefully in parkland reservations. Birdsong can be heard among the trees before the winter migration. High in the skies buzzards and kestrels are hovering, scanning the ground with their sharp eyes for their next meal.
Along the way we will take a look at the way that the development of mankind has changed the face of the Cotswolds, from the early Neolithic burial mounds to the grandeur of Bath Abbey, from hill-forts to the industrial mills, and from Roman villas to the great Georgian architecture of Cheltenham and Bath. We will look back into the histories of the people to see how their achievements have influenced the area. We will also examine how the lust for power cast its shadow as various factions from the Romans, Saxons and Normans through to modern man have fought to establish their respective dominances.
I will also be delving into the quirky aspect of the local customs. Where would we be without the Cotswold Olimpik Games or the annual mayhem that is the World Cheese-Rolling Championships? Add in the erratic contributions of a few of the more eccentric local characters and you will start to get the feel of where we are going with this adventure.
