Pub Walk (63) Saturday 5^th December 2015, from the Hare & Hounds, Fosse Cross

North Cotswold Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

The 63^rd Pub walk started from the Hare & Hounds an Arkell’s pub on the Fosse Way towards our southern boundary. 10 walkers turned up for this our eighth walk of 2015, and parked in the generous car park behind the pub and waited for stragglers. (Chris phoned from the Fossebridge and was redirected) We set off on this pre planned route by Martin and Roger pausing for the team photo before crossing the busy Fosse Way (Photo 1)

Heading down the road opposite the pub we turned left and NE at the first sign post (Photo 2) towards Coln Rogers along a quiet lane with the strong wind assisting us downhill to the T junction where we turned left. Very soon we crossed over at the next junction towards the church and soon picked up a delightful footpath passing fine properties alongside and over the young River Colne in fine form after heavy rainfall. (Photo 3)

The path between the river and a wood led us N to Calcot and another footpath across a field to Calcot Farm followed by a road section N to Coln St Dennis and another church (Photo 4). Continuing W and straight on at a track ahead uphill we turned right at a poorly marked footpath at the wood (Photo 5) crossed 2 fields to the Fossebridge Inn (Photo 6)

No time to stop this time we crossed over the Fosse Way again and turned left uphill then turning right at the next road and immediately left onto a footpath. We passed a house with Labrador guard dogs (Photo 7) who encouraged us on our way. We then followed the footpath to the south of Hedgley Bottom towards Lower Chedworth. On reaching the road we turned left on a footpath steeply uphill (Photo 8) with great views behind of Lower Chedworth. (Photo 9)

Past the discrete sewage works along a track we emerged at a road where we turned left in a SW direction taking the next footpath on the right after several hundred yards. Now heading S from Fields Farm with the wind against us we soon picked a mowed manicured grass footpath compliments of Longfurlong Estate (Photo 10) where we turned left along the road back to the pub.

A table in the second dining room awaited with an open log fire (Photo 11) and an excellent lunch with a choice of three beers, Sir Noel Ale, 3 B’s and Wiltshire Gold on tap.

This was judged an excellent walk and the Coln valley is worth further visits.

Next walk No 64 will be on Saturday Jan 9^th 2016 at Donnington’s well refurbished Pheasant Inn at Toddington.

Report by Roger Price

Tel 01451 810305

Mob 07850 429630

Pictures taken on the walk:


^ Photo 1 ^	^ Photo 2 ^

^ Photo 3 ^	^ Photo 4 ^

^ Photo 5 ^	^ Photo 6 ^

^ Photo 7 ^	^ Photo 8 ^

^ Photo 9 ^	^ Photo 10 ^

^ Photo 11 ^