Читать книгу The Cotswold Way. NATIONAL TRAIL Two-way trail guide - Chipping Campden to Bath онлайн

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To all intents and purposes, this is the landscape explored by walkers of the Cotswold Way in the early years of the 21st century.

SOUTHBOUND

Chipping Campden to Bath

Stanton Reservoir (Stage 1)

INTRODUCTION

The official start or finish of the Cotswold Way on Chipping Campden High Street (photo: Lesley Williams)

To walk south along the Cotswold Way is to make a pilgrimage with Bath, its Regency splendour and the glory of its abbey, beckoning from afar. Although you may well have the prevailing wind in your face, this should be adequately compensated for by long views and sunshine on your brow. The southbound route is a little less strenuous than walking northward, where there’s rather more up than down, and – this is important – when you begin in Chipping Campden the essential harmony of the Cotswolds is with you from the very start.

Before setting out, time should be allowed to explore the town. There’s much to see and admire, to absorb and file away in memory and recall in other towns and villages along the way. Almost as soon as Campden is left behind there are long views to soak in, and the first of many walks along the escarpment, this time to Broadway Tower, then down to Broadway and up again before you reach Stanton and Stanway.