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Autumn Walk October 2017 Cirencester and Bath,
5/10/2017 - 9/10/2017
Thursday 5th October.
Travel day
Travel day. Despite the forecast predicting early rain it had cleared well before we departed leaving a fine and sunny day but quite breezy. A typical good autumn day.
Dick, Paul, Dave and Ian left Luton at 9:40 to go to Cricklade for a warm up walk arriving at 11:50. After refreshment in The Red Lion which was very good, where Pete joined them. It was now time to boot up for the walk, disaster, when bags had been transferred between Ian’s and Dick’s car Pauls boots had got left behind luckily he had another pair of trainers so could walk in one during the day and another for the evening.
We did a circular walk out on the Thames Path into the Cotswold Water Park going round some of the lakes and back along cycle path 45 into Cricklade and the car. A good walk but some paths were quite overgrown with nettles and brambles, not good for those in shorts. Several different types of birds were seen looked like a good place to go on another day. Once back at the car we moved on to Cirencester to check in at the hostel where we met Phil. After checking in, breakfast supplies were bought as we were self catering here then it was a wash and brush up. Once cleaned up we met John Stopani (who lived nearby) to go for dinner at The Twelve Bells. After dinner which was very good, John took his leave but arranged to meet us in the morning to come walking, we moved on to The Wheatsheaf for a nightcap before retiring for the night.
Friday 6th October.
The weather for the day was good sunny in the main though it did cloud up a bit later. It did not rain and was quite warm ideal walking weather.
Steve joined us for breakfast, a Paul and Dick special, then John met us and we set off on our walk. We walked out along the Monarch’s way until we met the Wysis way and the Thames Path at the Source of the River Thames (Spring). Whilst standing at the stone that marks the start of the River Thames we met some people from Adelaide Australia, what a small world as Paul and Steve are both going there later in the year. It was then back up the Wysis Way to the Thames and Severn Canal (disused) and on to the Tunnel Inn for lunch which was taken in the garden as the sun was shining. Again, great food and refreshments. After lunch we started off on the Monarch’s Way then turned off to go into Cirencester Park along Bath Ride, up to Ten Rides then down Broad Ride, Rough Hills, Broad Ride and into the town where we stopped for coffee and John went home saying he would meet us later for dinner.
Dinner was taken at The Golden Cross where Margaret (a member of Stopsley Striders, who had moved to Cirencester and knew Paul, Ian and Dave) met us for a drink. Good food and ale for all. Then it was on to the Marlborough for a nightcap before retiring for the night.
Saturday 7th October.
After Dick and Paul’s breakfast it was an early start as we had to move on to Bath to the next hostel (which was on a long steep hill) before we could get walking. The weather was not as good, as it had started to rain as we had breakfast and got worse as we got into Bath with patches of low cloud at times also.
After parking up at Bath we went to start walking to the bus station to get the bus to Wick, the start of the day’s walking, when one turned up so we took advantage and saved some steps. At Wick we picked up the Monarch’s Way to Upton Cheyney and the Upton Inn for our lunch time stop (very good). The weather remained dour throughout the morning, with low cloud and rain though not heavy. After a last heavy shower whilst we were having lunch the rain cleared much better for our next stage of the walk. This was across to North Stoke to pick up the Cotswold Way back into Bath. The walking was harder in the afternoon with several ups and downs steep at times. All made it back ok though Paul’s feet were very wet (his boots were dry and clean however being in Ian’s boot still).
The evening got off to a bad start as we had not booked anywhere to eat and Bath was rammed full of people. After stopping for a drink in the Assembly Inn, we asked about anywhere to eat being told about a French restaurant nearby LeBistrotPierre. This proved to be a good option as the food and service was great. We then returned to the hostel on a very crowded bus and raised a toast to absent friends especially those more recent ones.
Sunday 8th October.
We woke to a much brighter day, sun shining very little cloud getting quite warm in the afternoon.
After a hostel breakfast we walked down to the train station (excellent views of Bath as we walked down the hill). At the station we got a train to Keynsham to walk back along the River Avon following the River Avon Trail. We stopped at Saltford in The Bird in Hand for lunch (again very good food and drink). Steve and John said goodbye after the day’s walking the rest of us showered before going out for food. As it was Sunday night we had some problems, most places having stopped doing food. Eventually we found a place The Lion and Lamb good beer, (food was ready 5 minutes after being ordered). We then moved on to the Garrick’s Head and The Pig and Fiddle before returning to the hostel. Once again we toasted our absent friends before retiring.
Monday 9th October.
We woke up to a very grey morning, during breakfast the cloud came down and it started to rain. As we did not want to be wet in the car on the way home we left straight after breakfast having an uneventful journey. All in all it had been another very good walking weekend.
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