Isn't it Swell?

As you probably guessed, this post is about Swell.  Well, to be  more precise, Upper Swell and Lower Swell.  And Stow-on-the-Wold.  Because its a very nice little walk from the centre of Stow through both of these villages, and is beautiful even on a cold, rainy, leaden-sky day....as evidenced below.

The River Dikler is pictured, where I spotted a brook trout (I tried to photograph it, but there was too much glare off the water) just by the old stone bridge.

We (my dog, and my eldest daughter- a 9-year old adventurer who comes on all these walks) also found a geocache on this walk, of which any true geocacher can spot the hiding place amongst these photos.  I won't give any further clues, apart from the fact that it was Swell, and we did Well.  If you can name it in a comment left on this blog, I shall buy you a pint of best bitter the next time you are in The Cotswolds.

The most widely accepted theory behind the name "Swell" is that it relates to a spring that rises in the grounds of the Abbotswood Estate to the north of the village and is an abbreviated version of "Our Lady's Well". The well can still be seen today.  It is pictured below, as a small stone ornamental arch over a natural well.

Sunset Over Cheltenham

If you live in or near Cheltenham, you've doubtless seen this view a hundred times.  And if you haven't, you've really been missing something!  I'm no photographer, but I do try to get some decent photos for those who don't live here but are curious.  I was up on Cleeve a little while ago with my dog, going for a night walk (its so clear up there, and there was a full moon, so its quite spectacular and very easy to walk around), and thought I'd try to capture the view.  Sadly, my little phone/camera can never really take in the scale nor the brilliance of the colours, but here they are anyways.  Hope you like them!

Uley Bury

Our Boxing Day ramble was from the pretty little village of Uley to the top of Uley Bury, an iron age hillfort with incredible panoramic views around Gloucester and the Severn Vale.  The climb from Uley is very steep, but delivers instant gratification.  I highly recommend a trip, as well as a walk around the village itself.  Its worth noting that the village has its very own brewery, Uley Brewery, and you can sample the local ale at the Old Crown right in the village centre.   Lovely!

The village of Uley from atop the Bury

A Windy Walk Around Haresfield Beacon

I read an article the other day about Haresfield Beacon and Standish Wood, saying that the walk along the Cotswold Way through here was one of the finest in the country.  So, this Saturday I took my dog there.  I have seen some beautiful countryside, and this was right at the top.  I find its impossible to ever really capture the scale and colours with my phone's camera, but I've tried!  The wind was absolutely howling- at one point it actually blew my phone out of my hand as I took a picture.  I have to say, I might actually prefer these winter walks.... there's not many people about, which means less or no dogs, and the livestock aren't in most fields, so its off-leash for my dog the whole time.  And its easy to be in spots were one can see for miles and miles, yet not see a single other person nor hear anything but the wind.  Complete relaxation!

Guiting Power to Naunton

I've been wanting to do this walk for a while, and kept having to cancel it last minute.  It was a beautiful, crisp sunny day today in The Cotswolds, with just a tiny bit of snow here and there.  So, we set off in the morning and did a loop from Guiting Power's village green over to Naunton, along the Rive Windrush, and then back to Guiting.  There are two excellent pubs on this walk- The Black Horse in Naunton and The Hollow Bottom in Guiting Power.  Sadly, my dog is one of those dogs that can't stand other dogs... and animal, in fact.  So, I don't get to stop in for a pint whilst she rests by the log fire.... Luckily, I can have a log fire when I get home, and the pints are much cheaper when they come from my fridge.