View from Coaley Wood
Back on the Cotswold Way with Merv and Pud., after a break of almost two months. We resumed the walk at Coaley Peak and follow the Cotswold escarpment south to Coaley Wood, where I captured the fine view to the west. It would have been more normal to capture the view from Coaley Peak, but unfortunately a sharp shower struck just as we were setting out.
The path then descended through woodland to pass Hodgecombe Farm and emerge in a valley opposite Cam Long Down.
The change of level to the top of Cam Long Down was almost 100m and the section just below the tree line was especially steep. You emerge onto a thin ridge with fine views in all directions.
Looking back to the right (north east) the classic patchwork field pattern was very much in evidence, with a few highlighted in a patch of sunlight.
You now descend into the former wool town of Dursley. The 15th century church of St James is one notable building, but our attention was grabbed by the Market House and Town Hall of 1738. The statue depicts Queen Anne.
A second steep climb leads up to Dursley Golf Club and Stinchcombe Hill. We decided here to take the shorter route across a corner of the gold course, rather than the longer one which goes round the perimeter of the course and then around the side of Stinchcombe Hill.
The route soon became more open and we admired the des res of Stancombe Park, sitting serenely in its parkland.
Soon we reached and walked through the quiet - but wonderfully named - village of North Nibley. At the edge of the village the route follows a steep staircase of 120 or so steps ...
.. up to Nibley Knoll, where there is a splendid monument to William Tyndale.
Tyndale was the translator of the Bible into English who was martyred (in Flanders) for his trouble in 1536. He was born in North Nibley. The monument was designed by the Gothic Revival architect S S Teulon and dates from 1866. It is 111 feet high.
You walk along the grassy side of the Knoll and then enter woodland to pass Brackenby Ditches - an unglamorous name for another iron age hill fort to eventually emerge on Wotton Hill, with a view over the town and the surrounding plain.
A plaque explains the story of the trees in their brick enclosure: "Trees were planted here in 1815 to commemorate the victory at Waterloo. They had become thin by the end of the Crimean War and were felled for a bonfire. This walled enclosure was erected and the site replanted with trees to commemorate the Jubilee of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria (1887), following the burning on this spot of one of a chain of celebration beacons which then spanned the country."
We ended our walk at the Swan Hotel in Market Street, where we enjoyed some much needed drinks and hearty food. Just a short way down the street is the Town Hall of 1872. The columns which partly emerge from the facade are remains of the market built in 1798.
We look forward to seeing more of Wotton next time - it seems an interesting small town.
Conditions: often cloudy, but the threatened rain did not materialise.
Distance: about 9 miles.
Map: Explorer 167 (Thornbury, Dursey and Yate).
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