A Walk Around Sudeley Castle to St. Kenelm's Well

I'd been meaning to take a hike up to St Kenelm's Well for a while, and finally had the chance the other evening.  There's a great story behind it- read it here - the story goes that after St Kenelm died, the monks of Clent carried him back to Winchcombe to be buried at the abbey.  Wherever they lay his body down along the journey, a spring arose when they picked him up again.  This is one of those springs.  So, you could imagine that it has some healing or spiritual qualities- and perhaps it does!

For a long time, the door was locked.  But when I visited this week, it was open, so went inside and took a few photos.

The countryside around Winchcombe is some of the best in England, and its full of great walks.  This one started off at Sudeley Castle, followed the Gloucestershire Way up to the Salt Way, and then looped past St Kenelm's Well and back through the castle's parks.  Beautiful scenery throughout, especially of Langley Hill opposite and Cleeve Common in the distance.  Highly recommended!

Winchcombe: Warden's Way Loop & Sudeley Castle

I can't say enough nice things about Winchcombe.  Its a lovely Cotswolds town with an ancient and interesting history, its surrounded by stunning walks, and the town has made a huge effort to make itself a ramblers dream.  They have been running a campaign called Winchcombe Welcomes Walkers for years- check out http://www.winchcombewelcomeswalkers.com/ - and its produced some outstanding trails- The Isbourne Way and The Winchcombe Way.  Combined with the Warden's Way and the legendary Cotswold Way, and you are really spoiled for choice.

Anyways, I've decided to do a series around the area.  I've already done a few reconnaissance missions in the area, and started today with a truly idyllic walk up towards the Belas Knap long barrow, but cutting short and heading over to the Warden's Way to descend down into the valley whilst overlooking the lovely Sudeley Castle.  All shot with my rubbish camera phone... but I tell you the light was absolutely golden and the green was....well....as green as the Cotswold Hills.  

Unexpected beauty from Oxenton to Woolstone

There are so many public walkways in the Cotswolds (and, well, the UK in general!), and I have made it my mission to try them all.  I decided to take a look at my Ordnance Survey map of the area last weekend, and picked out a circular route between two villages I knew nothing about and had never heard of:  Oxenton and Woolstone.  They are tucked away to the northwest of Winchcombe, right on the edge of the Cotswolds.  The villages are quite tiny, having only 30-40 houses each, and each having a beautiful church- Oxenton's hails from the 13th century and is in outstanding condition.

The walk was superb- extremely quiet, as I didn't see even one other rambler the entire time.  The views were magnificent as well, and the paths very well marked and managed.  Most of the walk, up to the top of Oxenton Hill and over Crane Hill, followed the Gloucestershire Way, so this could easily be extended as long as you like in either direction!

Stanton & Laverton Circular

I'd been meaning to take this walk for a while, as its only a few minutes from my house and I've never been to either village (apart from passing through on the GWR steam train with the kids).  Such beautiful views, and the villages couldn't have been nicer.  There were more horses on the roads than cars, snowdrops were popping everywhere, and you could smell the sweetness in the air coming off the grass.  I'll be back very soon!