Getting to Chipping Campden was a simple train ride from Paddington to Moreston in Marsh, then a bus ride of about 20 minutes right to the start of the Cotswold Way. Here is the "Beginning and the end" stone to mark the spot. Chipping Campden is a typical large Cotswold village. There are many 400-500 year old limestone buildings with small lanes or hedgerows between them. I was out of the town limits in about 15 minutes.
Walking was fairly easy. The trail was smooth dirt. You need not look out for rocks and roots. The trail was about the only place you did not see rocks. The limestone was everywhere, walls, plowed fields, homes and barns of rock etc. One of the first things I noticed was the quantity of flowing plants, bushes and trees. It seemed as if everything was in bloom, including this rapeseed below. The EU pays UK farmers to plant it but not harvest it. The purpose is to replenish the soil and prevent the farmers from planting wheat, thus maintaining a higher wheat price. Sound familiar?
I passed by the tower in the bottom photo. It was actually a folly built in 1795 which later was home to several businesses. Its original purpose was as a signal tower, alerting manor staff that the master and misses were enroute. I think it also had a bathtub on top, so master and his pals could relax in an 18th century hot tub with a view. Carrying the water up must have been a chore.
The weird stone below is a staddle stone made of carved limestone. This particular one is 400 years old. Their purpose was as foundation supports for barns and storage bins. Rats could not climb up into the barns with these stones used as supports below.
As the day wore on, I grew tired and hoped to find a place to stay. The 3 B&B's in Stanton turned out to no longer be in business or maybe no one was home. So it was on the Wood Stanway where I did find a farmhouse B&B with a room. Only problem was, nearest pub was a 1 1/2 miles away and the owner didn't drive, but there was a short cut across a field. I missed the short cut and had to walk along the side of a busy road with fast moving traffic. The pub was nice and I settled for some lamb steak and cider. I found the field path on the return and had a pleasant evening walk along empty country lanes.
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