Day 4 arrived with clear blue skies and copious amounts of early autumn golden sunshine. The temperature was cooler than recently, so we wrapped up warmly.
Our walking adventures began with a scenic minibus ride that took us off the typical tourist trail to a stunning small village in the Cotswolds. Here we took time to explore the local church, which had the most incredible medieval wall paintings, still visible today. Known as the Doom wall or last judgement, it was painted in around 1340.
The church sat in a quiet rural setting and we soaked up the atmosphere. The worn stone steps leading into the church showed us that many feet had walked this way over centuries attending services, weddings, baptisms and funerals.
Soon we arrived at a fabulous Grade 2 listed country estate with a connection to author Jane Austen. Trees framed our first view of the distant house and the sound of the wind passed our ears.
Wandering through the ancient parkland we admired the houses on our route. There were connections to poets and David read us some snippets of the poetry as we walked. We also enjoyed some wonderful vistas seeing the distant town of Stow-on-the-Wold on the hill.
Entering a magnificent beech tree lined avenue, we approached a handsome Jacobean house. Here we paused to enjoy a delicious picnic lunch tasting filled rolls, sausage rolls, potato salad and scones with jam and clotted cream! Our lunch spot was the former brewhouse where beer was produced for the estate and its workers. Dried flowers adorned the room and we served part of our lunch on ancient barrels.
We toured the house. The fire was lit in the great hall, giving a smoky smell to the house. The house is managed with the idea of romantic decline, offering a treasure trove of bygone eras.
Late afternoon we hopped back onto the minibuses to return to our country inn, where dinner awaited.
Alison
If you’d like to explore the Cotswolds on foot and off the beaten path in 2027, visit our Cotswolds trip page or drop us a line.
