Pub Walk (21) Saturday 13^th November 2010, from the Feathered Nest, Nether Westcote

North Cotswold Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

Eight walkers turned up at the Feathered Nest for the 21st of our Saturday Walks, this time at Nether Westcote a few miles East from Bourton on the water, the tourist centre of North Cotswold. This pub formerly the Wescott Inn closed last year and reopened in May 2010 with new owners. It is positioned overlooking the Eastern escarpment of the Gloucestershire County overlooking a quiet valley which includes one of our GBG pubs, the Kings Head at Bledington. A variation of today’s walk will take you to Bledington so that two pubs can be covered in the one walk. However we will settle for one today.

We set off at 1030hrs heading left from the pub car park then left again on a bridleway heading North downhill avoiding muddy patches in the track left from heavy rain during the week.

The weather was dry and mild but the sun was missing for the first half of the walk. After half a mile following the bridleway we veered right onto a signed footpath leaving the bridleway that carried on straight ahead. The footpath was dry and crossed four fields, a welcome change from the bridleway. We were also treated to the sight of some deer spotted in the distance by Al Graham and they were happy to stay and watch us from a distance. We reached a T junction of paths and turned left. Bledington would be reached to the right. The broad valley bottom here presented excellent walking with views all around to the surrounding hills. A path joined from the left and just after we kept right on the main path, still heading West. Al spotted some more Deer, a Stag and a Hind following which ran off, crossing our path ahead. Two more appeared to the left and this is probably the most I have seen in many years walking.

Continuing ahead at the next crossing of paths we arrived at Gawcombe and took a footpath to the left through several attractive copse areas until emerging at Church Westcote. Along the road and a stop at the trig point and a chance to take in the stunning views across to Oxfordshire. A footpath to the left at the lower corner of the trig point field took us into the lower part of Nether Westcote emerging close to the pub and the finish.

This was a new pub to some of the group offering Hooky Bitter, Marstons Pedigree and Hobgoblin. The latter two are changing guest ales. The beer was good value and in excellent condition, The Pub has been refurbished to a very high standard maintaining a separate bar for locals and the food is good but they do not offer a range of sandwiches for walkers.

Our next walk on the 4^th Dec starts from the Eight Bells at Chipping Campden at 1030hrs. A pub recommended by some of our committee, we look forward to another Saturday walk around one of the most attractive Cotswold villages, possibly in the snow.

Report by Roger Price

Tel 01451 810305

Mob 07850 429630

Pictures taken on the walk: