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

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For refreshments at the Mount Inn (food available 12–2pm), turn right when you reach the main street. B&B may be found at The Old Post House, Shenberrow Hill, Stanton Guildhouse and The Vine.

STAGE 2

Stanton to Winchcombe

Start Stanton Finish Winchcombe Distance 8 miles (12.5km) Approximate time 3½–4hr Maps Harvey’s Cotswold Way 1:40,000, OS Landranger 150 Worcester, The Malverns & Surrounding Area 1:50,000, OS Explorer OL45 The Cotswolds 1:25,000. Refreshments Hailes and Winchcombe Accommodation Wood Stanway (2½ miles/4km), North Farmcote nr Hailes (6 miles/9.5km) and Winchcombe

Apart from the steep climb above Wood Stanway, this is an easy, gentle stage. It wanders through peaceful countryside with soft views to enjoy, not only from the scarp edge, but also from the foot of the slope, where you gaze off to isolated hills (outliers) such as Alderton Hill near Toddington, and Oxenton Hill north-west of Winchcombe.

A series of field paths leads the continuing way out of Stanton to Stanway, then along the foot of the slope to reach Wood Stanway from where a steep ascent is made to Stumps Cross. The only real climb on this part of the walk, it’s followed by an easy track (the ancient Campden Lane) to Beckbury Camp and Cromwell’s Clump, from where it is said Thomas Cromwell watched as Hailes Abbey was dismantled. Field paths take you to a narrow lane that leads beside orchards to the remains of Hailes Abbey (worth a visit), then across more fields to Winchcombe.