Plough Inn Walk (2) Saturday 19^th April

North Cotswold Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

The second weekend walk organised by North Cotswold CAMRA Secretary Roger Price took place on Saturday19^thApril. Roger and Wife Carol walk most weekends mainly around Pubs in the Cotswolds area and this is one of their favourite walks from Ford to Temple Guiting along the upper reaches of the River Windrush.

The walk starts from the car park of the famous Plough Inn at Ford owned by Donnington Brewery offering well kept BB and SB under the capable management of Craig Brown. The walk commenced at 1030hrs with a starting line up of eight intrepid walkers not dissuaded by the unseasonably cold but fortunately dry weather.

We headed East along the B4077 towards Stowe turning right, after ¼ mile along a well marked footpath. The path turned South along the next field edge running alongside and high above the deep Windrush valley, heading towards Temple Guiting. Dozens of newly born lambs viewed the walkers with some curiosity providing a great photo opportunity (Photo 1). After a mile we dropped down into Temple Guiting (Photo 2) passing Manor Farm with its picturesque lakes of Windrush water held before cascading on to Kineton and Naunton.

But not for the walkers who headed West across the Kineton Road up the track past New Barn Farm climbing to 240 ft with outstanding views towards Winchcombe (Photo 3). A further mile around the hill to Pinnock Wood Farm, yet hundreds more lambs and back to a road turning right towards Ford. This is part of the Gloucestershire Way (Photo 4) which went off road after Slade Barn Farm with a steady climb and then (Photo 5) a welcome drop down to end up back at Ford.

Lunch was booked for 12-30 (Photo 6) taken in front of the roaring open fire in my favourite room the right hand Bar. Peter White our Chairman had taken a short cut and was already back with a pint of BB. Mission accomplished he had secured the best window seat at opening time.

The walk was judged a great success and we look forward to the next one at the Red Lion on Saturday 8th May at Northleach. It will be a stunning walk and a pub with several real ales not to be missed.

All walks are designed so that anyone wishing to cover a reduced distance can turn back part way round covering a shorter distance. We will shortly publish details of further walks planned for the Bakers Arms at Broad Campden, The Royal Oak at Andoversford and the Plough at Cold Aston.

Pictures taken on the walk: