Belas Knap Long Barrow (View Walk)

Today in a long time we went somewhere new what a relief I needed something different. I went with the parents and a friend of mine and of course the dogs. There's a fair bit of history to this long barrow which you can read on the English Heritage Site. 

I wasn't sure what to expect I didn't do any prior research just went for it. It looked interesting from the photos on the site. When we got there we parked on the side of the road got ourselves ready and crossed to go up a muddy track it was raining at the time but lucky the track want to bad we headed up hill and reached a wide open field of grass

we followed the footpath sign leading to the left got to the edge of the field and turned right at this point we realised we could have gone straight up oh well the long route it is heading uphill the rain got worse and the wind got stronger but I turned around and saw the view over Winchcombe it was beautiful the rolling Cotswold holds the villages nestled in them worth the rain and wind. Carrying on up we reached the top walked along another grass field still starring at the view heading towards a wooded area the footpath stayed next to a steep hill through the forest. While walking through the forest my dad slipped on a branch he's okay no injuries. We reached the long barrow walked round it had a look inside one of the little rooms mainly just to get of the weather. We carried on round and decided to go look for a geocache nearby. A good hunt around later me and my friend found it. The walk back wasn't very eventful enjoyed the views. Driving back home we looked for another geocache (premium only). I'm going to load some experimental photos so please bear with me.

Google Maps: 51.927633, -1.970978

GPS: N 51 55.658 W 1 58.259

OS Grid Reference: SP 020 262

Track: http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=zgxdxnkytxhgbrlv

Geocaches: Belas Knap

Cotswold Photo Shoot 2

Andoversford (View & Geocache)

We drove from the Kilkenny Viewpoint and parked outside a shooting school we got ourselves ready and crossed the very busy road. Went through a field and then into a small forest with very tall trees ahead of us we saw a brilliant view through a gap. We went through a gate at the end and found the first geocache (CCCC 44: Dave Bird). We then walked on in the wrong direction so had to turn back and take the correct route down a small path we found the next geocache (CCCC 45: Julian Alsop) after finding that one we carried on walking and got to the next gate and decided to go round the field instead of through it a bit drier as it was raining we saw something funny on a tree and took a closer look and saw someone painted an eye on. We got to another gate and decided to go back and up because we don’t like walking through fields with cows in. We got back up the hill and sat on a bench as it stopped raining and enjoyed the growing view as the sun started to shine. We then walked back to the car. It’s a walk to experience.

Google Maps: 51.861424,-2.030825

GPS: N 51 51.685 W 002 01.850

OS Grid Reference: SO 979 180

Trimble: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1833550

Geocaches: CCCC 44: Dave Bird (GC3NQDM)

CCCC 45: Julian Alsop (GC3NQEA)

Kilkenny Viewpoint

This is a short post just to say about Kilkenny Viewpoint. It’s a short easy walk with easy parking and a brilliant view of Cheltenham great place to let the dogs off when it’s empty there’s a few picnic benches around so take a packet of crisps and a drink to enjoy the view. The pictures do no justice for the live view.

Google Maps: 51.865833, -1.995883

GPS: N 51 51.950 W 001 59.753

OS Grid Reference: SP 003 185

Banbury Road (Geocache Walk)

Today I, mum and Jennifer (My sister) parked up on the grass just at the beginning of a bridleway. After we got ready we went towards the bridleway we saw a very long grass track with trees and bushes at the side with the sun pelting down it looked very enjoyable. As we walked along the grass track I saw through the trees a sea of yellow rape seed. We came to a gate and went through into a wide open field with rape seed on both sides and a wide grass track with telephone poles running down on the left. When we got to the end of the track we went through a 2nd gate on to a footpath crossroads we carried on in to a wide grass field and kept going towards a farm house. When we got to it we went across the drive and crossed the road into another field with a slight hill and at the top we saw a gate with a grass 
field behind we went through and then through another gate on to a tarmac drive and passed some garages and walked next to a pond and then went over a wooden foot bridge and through the first gate but not through the second instead we walked along river Dorn and we got to a very big foot bridge but went through the gate leading into the field and then in to a nature reserve (Keep dogs on leads) as we went through the gate and got past the massive hedge row and came to a brilliant view of hills of green and the village of Wootton nestled between the hills to the far left and seeing a small river through the middle of the reserve. When walking along the nature reserve stick to the top path but if you take the bottom path there are stairs through the gate further on. After we got out of the nature reserve we went in search of a geocache. Found the cache after quite a search
 and walked along the wide grass track, Jennifer couldn’t handle Lucy (Little dog) she accidently let go of the lead. We then came to another gate that went down some stairs into Wootton, on to Horseshoe Lane. We headed over to a very nice bridge took some photos and went over along the road until we saw a footpath sign hidden behind a bush that pointed along a drive way we went along and came to another gate (Quite a few so far. More to come)that lead into a wide open field and we could see where we were in the nature reserve so we got a view from both sides still very nice we went round a slight bend and searched for another geocache after finding it we carried on to another gate on to a road and turned right following the

 road all the way down and over another small bridge and on the corner of the road there was another footpath sign. We went through the gate and into the woods and let the dogs off so Floyd could play in the river after he finished we went up a dirt track on our left Jennifer went off a bit further to find the geocache at the top and a short time later me and mum heard her shout found it so we signed the log and went on to a small farm track and turned right then a few feet down turned right again into a small wooded area and not long after that turned left in to a field with just blue open sky all around us and a green field in front of us. In the green field there’s a big yellow strip looks as if someone painted on the land scape with a massive brush we followed the yellow grass road for quite a long time until we got to a hedge row and looked for a geocache (List available at the bottom). We found it and then went through the gap in the hedge row and carried on following the yellow grass for a while again and then reached cycle route 5 we followed it until we got to a cross roads in the cycle route and footpath looked for a geocache and followed the off turn into a wooded footpath following it all the way back to the begging of the walk and completing it by buying a drink and some crisps at the sturdy’s castle inn. We took about 3 hours to complete this walk and the weather was great except for the end when it started raining

Post Code: OX5 3EP

Google Maps: 51.869603,-1.328905

GPS: N 51 52.176 W 001 19.734

OS Grid Reference: SP 463 192

Track: http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=jmzktapdlcsktmab

Geocaches:

No. 1 – A Sturdy Walk, No. 2 – A Sturdy Walk

No. 3 – A Sturdy Walk, No. 4 – A Sturdy Walk

No. 5 – A Sturdy Walk, The Gecko’s Perch

No. 6 – A Sturdy Walk, No. 7 – A Sturdy Walk

No. 8 – A Sturdy Walk, No. 9 – A Sturdy Walk

No. 10 – A Sturdy Walk, No. 11 – A Sturdy Walk

Bonus – A Sturdy Walk

East End (Combe) (Roman Villa)

Me and my mum parked up across the road from the drive leading down to the North Leigh Roman villa. The driveway is a bit rocky and could be quite hard going if you don’t have proper shoes on. A short walk down and you will come across horse stables so you will need to keep dogs on leads until you get past them after that it’s okay to let them off. After enjoying a short walk down the drive enjoying the view as we went we found a geocache (Villa View (GCXWEX)) quick sticker in the log and then carried on. We arrived at the ruins and took a few pictures (Which can be seen further down) luckily for is it was a very sunny day. We got a tennis ball out for Floyd and I tried to kick it for him but the kick didn’t go well and I missed my mum’s ear by a hairs width literally she said “I heard it hit my hair it was so close” for a little while we couldn’t stop laughing I wish I recoded it. To the right of the field there’s a small building which inside is a mosaic floor. When we left the field with the roman villa ruins we headed towards a  

forest but on the way to the forest Floyd decided to go in to the river Evenlode for a swim and drop the tennis ball in it. We carried on towards the forest and walked up a slightly muddy hill and saw a fallen tree which I climbed up and sat in. After a quick rest we carried on through the woods and found a tree growing over a wall and mum decided to have a look underneath. Carrying on we found a rope swing and decided to have a go mum went first and then me but Floyd decided he wanted a go with me still on it did not go well I was in a bit of pain having a rope yanked between my legs (For a laugh watch the video further down) I managed to get off and Floyd carried on playing with the rope swing for a little while and Lucy just stood there barking at him. When he finished we carried on back to the car. On the walk back I was having a bit of an explore round and mum lost sight of me she thought she saw a shadow of me a little further on when I got back to her I said “ That wasn’t me that was a horse” she mistook a horse for me. All in all a great walk for family’s and dog walkers with wonderful views and easy parking can get busy on weekends.

Geocache: Villa View (GCXWEX)

Related Sites: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/north-leigh-roman-villa/

Google Maps: 51.832496,-1.427675 

GPS: N 51 49.950 W 001 25.665 

OS Grid Reference: SP 395 150