Toddington Rambling Club Holiday 1st - 5th July 2024
Harrington House Bourton On The Water 19 members travelled by car to Harrington House Bourton On The Water joined by other guests from England, America, Holland and Germany for a really enjoyable holiday. We had a daily choice of three walks with plenty of options for those who chose not to walk.
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| Outside
Harrington House ready for our short walk before checking in. |
Monday 1st July 2024
13 members arrived for lunch in the grounds followed by a 3mile gentle
stroll from the house through wild flower meadows led by John. We passed
through the Greystone Nature Reserve stopping to look at a replica Iron
Age round house.
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| Greystones
Farm Nature Reserve |
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| The replica round house took 5 months to build. |
After checking into our lovely rooms we enjoyed a delicious cream tea. Later enjoying a 3 course dinner and getting to know other guests after which we retired to a lounge for tea and coffee.
Tuesday 2nd July 2024
There was a choice of 3 walks all walking from the house.
Walk 1 Bourton to Cold Aston 6.5miles
Walking on the Windrush and Gloucestershire Ways to arrive in Cold Aston. Led by Yvonne, a lovely lady full of interesting information. Cold Aston a pretty village arranged around a green and a sycamore tree. Continuing across fields on the Sabrina Way and Monarchs Way back to Harrington House.
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| Hilda Hilary and Denise in Cold Aston |
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| The large Sycamore tree in Cold Aston |
Walk 2 Cold Aston and Clapton 8.5 miles
Walking along the Sabrina Way to Clapton on the Hill visiting the church then Descending down through Marshmouth Farm to Harrington House.
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| Setting off along the River Windrush |
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| Rarely
seen Edward V11 post box in Cold Aston |
Walk 3 Cold Aston, Notgrove and Turkdean 12 miles
The same start to Cold Aston then continue to Notgrove, a picturesque village with its Manor House and beautiful church, then onto Turkdean. Returning to Cold Aston on the MacMillan Way. Then following Monarchs Way to Harrington House.
Wednesday 3rd July 2024
Walk 1 - Toddington To Winchcombe 6 miles
Walking through gently rolling countryside, passing a heritage railway, ancient churches, and the ruined Hailes Abbey, before ending the day at the interesting Cotswold town of Winchcombe.
We strolled on and to our amazement arrived at Toddington heritage railway Station for a delicious snack and time to watch volunteers helping with the steam trains.
Just in time for this amazing sight!
Walk 2 - Winchcombe Circular 8.5 miles
Enjoying the views over the far reaching Evesham Vale, the chapel of ease at Farmcote before passing Hailes Abbey and following the Cotswold Way to end at Winchcombe.
Highlight: The little chapel of ease at Farmcote.
Walking along the Cotswold Way from Winchcombe
Hailes church A Norman church with various medieval wall paintings.
Diane looking at the organ. You can just make out the wall paintings.
Walking on, passing Sudeley Castle
Walk 3 - Langley Hill, Cleeve Hill & Belas Knap 10.5 miles
Ascend Langley Hill with views out towards the Vale of Evesham and the Malvern hills, before continuing on to Cleeve hill, the highest point in the Cotswolds, with stunning views of Winchcombe and Sudeley castle in the valley below.
Highlight: Belas Knap - a Neolithic long barrow situated on Cleeve hill.
Thursday 4th July
Following The Monarch’s Way Through The Cotswolds
Walk 1 - Broadwell To Bourton 6 1⁄2 miles Walking along the Monarch's Way from the village of Broadwell to Bourton-on-the-Water. Stopping to explore Stow-on-the-Wold and enjoying a coffee stop then onto the delightful village of
Lower Slaughter, voted the 'most romantic street in Britain'. With its idyllic cottages and watermill.
Hilda at Lower Slaughter
Walk 2 Longborough To Bourton 9 miles
The walk starts in the village of Longborough. Visiting St James’s church, wonderful architecture, then walking to Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswold, following the Monarchs Way, then onto Lower Slaughter and onto Bourton-on-the-Water.
The wonderful 13th Century St James’s church Longborough
Beautiful St James’s church Longborough
Having a rest after the climb up to the Battle of Stow monument with our friends from America, Germany and Holland.
The Fox Inn Broadwell - Another picturesque village.
The old Water pump
Crossing the River Dikler at Hyde Mill
The water mill at Lower Slaughter
Walking through idyllic Lower Slaughter stopping to admire the pretty cottages.
Walk 3 - Moreton-in-Marsh To Bourton 11.5 miles
Following the Monarch's Way through gently rolling countryside. Starting from Moreton-in-Marsh our route takes us through Stow-on-the-Wold and Lower Slaughter back to Bourton.
During our last delicious evening meal of the week we enjoyed plenty of laughter and chatter with our group and new friends, catching up on our week.
At Harrington House it is tradition to have a hand made boat/raft race on the last day. Not compulsory! So, during the week we collected items. Members voted on the rafts and any monies donated went to HF Holidays Pathways fund for those who could not otherwise afford a holiday.
After dinner we took our hand made boats and rafts and took them to the river. Members of the public came to watch and enjoy the fun.
Bets placed!
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| Catching the rafts as they come to the finishing line. |
Friday 5th July Departure Day
After breakfast we said thank you to all the staff and our friends before making your way home.
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| Ready to go home! |
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