Day 5: Birdlip to Painswick

Today was basically a walk in the woods, not a walk in the park. Our morning began (without Graham and Ammie) with a lovely walk through Witcombe Wood where we occasionally peeped through the thickets to spy more lovely scenes.

Morning tea was at Cooper’s Hill.

This is the hill where a group of crazy people meet at the top and wait for another crazy person to roll a Double Gloucester cheese wheel over the edge of an almost sheer hillface, for no other reason than to win the cheese - and the glory. This is a risky business, the possibility of serious injury is graphically illustrated by a gathering of ambulances and some huge rugby players, all waiting at the bottom to stop the contestants rolling into the neighbouring house wall or to pick up the broken body parts! We were told that one of last years entrants, a lady who broke her collar bone, is returning this year, helping to keep British eccentricity well and truly alive. Allan thought, while the hill wasn't crowded, that he would give it a try. He only managed to get about a third of the way up, which was just as well because coming down was just as challenging as the ascent. The other obvious fact about this craziness was the signs posted around the gates. As I said, it's a risky business. The Cotswold Way passes right in front of Cooper's Hill and then up the side to the top where excellent views can be seen.

We then walked through Brockworth Wood, Upton Wood and then through Buckholt and Rough Park Wood, with the usual climbs and beautiful dappled light.

Our course took us right through the Painswick Golf Club, virtually the full length of it and brought us out at the Rococo Gardens.