Wednesday 9th March 2011 Naunton, Gloucs

This was a walk of just over a 6 miles which takes you around the village of Naunton in the Cotswolds. I did the walk with Mike - he knows the area really well and loves the whole Naunton, Turkdean, Guiting, Slaughters area.


We drove to Naunton and parked near the famous Dovecote which we passed on the way uphill towards the golf course which we skirted before heading along a track towards Aylworth and beyond, courtesy of the Windrush way which starts in Winchcombe and ends 13 miles later in Bourton on the Water (next week maybe?). From the heights, we could clearly see the Nigel Twiston-Davies horse training facilities on the hill opposite and a string of racehorses were being put through their paces. Along the track, we met walkers doing the Windrush coming from Winchcombe - claiming they were trying to do it there & back in a day but I have my doubts! Mike and I stopped for coffee as they stomped on towards Bourton - fanatics! 

Dovecote

We continued along the track, through woodland and more snowdrops and parted from the WW at the edge of the woods and crossed into a lush paddock where we were a little concerned as to how to reach Naunton without following the main road. After admiring yet more snowdrops and consulting a local lady, we retraced our steps and took a track nearby which she promised would do the trick! We followed the track with thick bushes and a stream on the left and gradually we could see the spire of Guiting Power church. We continued and turned sharp right when we say the signpost for another promising track which lead into a gigantic ploughed field. Some brave soul had crossed the field but we decided to avoid the mud and skirt round, doing exactly the same when we came to the next field, beautifully ploughed but a quagmire for walkers.

Naunton

We joined the road for a short section before dropping on to a track on the left which led back into the beautiful village of Naunton - not a bad gaff in the place! We changed boots at the car and repaired to the Black Horse Inn and enjoyed a chat with the barmaid before heading back to Leckhampton.


The Black Horse Inn, Naunton

More snowdrops...

An OS view of the walk is below, courtesy of QUO digital mapping/OS: