St Mary's, Painswick
Rather a murky day, but time to renew our struggle with the Cotswold Way. A planned attempt on 30 December was frustrated by the remains of the snow. We set off from Birdlip and descended through Witcombe Wood, a delightful beech wood, with visibility at first obscured by low cloud.
From there, we entered Buckholt Wood - more beeches. There was now a fine view over Witcombe Reservoir and the surrounding valley - at least there would have been if it had not been so cloudy. According to the map the remains of a Roman villa lie down there too.
The route then led into further woodland - Cooper's Hill Wood - and a steep climb brought us to an open grassy area, with more cloud-obscured fine views. Cooper's Hill is of course famous for cheese rolling - an event which is apparently to be extended to two days this year.
We crossed the A46 at Cranham Corner and climbed up towards Painswick Beacon through very uneven ground which amazingly accommodates a golf course. At the top is a dramatic iron age hill fort and more fine, misty views.
We descended into the small town of Painswick with its handsome off-white stone buildings offering a contrast to the more usual yellow stone of the Cotswolds.
We passed the 15th century St Mary's church and admired the lychgate built in 1901 using old timber from the belfry. The churchyard has 99 yew trees and legend has it that the devil won't let the hundredth one grow.
Map: Explorer 179 (Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud).
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Conditions: cool, cloudy, misty (obviously).
Distance: 6.5 miles.
Rating: four stars.
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