Today started off bright, clear and more than a little cool. Climbed up the hill with Bella via a slightly different route this morning, to get another view of Little Solsbury in the morning sun
Autumn is definitely with us now
After yesterday's time on the beach, we decided not to motor off to Dorset, and thought that Westonbirt would be heaving on such a lovely day. Instead we steered the van further into Gloucestershire - heading for Woodchester Park, but ending up parking nearby at Nympsfield Long Barrow, after driving through the village of Cockadilly. The colours of the trees were wonderful
The interpretative poster for the barrow.
The entrance to the barrow (now covered in again).
Heading away from the car park (and ice cream van with its diesel engine running continually), we found ourselves on the Cotswold Way
The colours of the leaves on this tree were astonishingly bright
We found ourselves in lovely woodland
Realising that Woodchester Park was now behind us, we backtracked and walked down to it to find more woodland through a steep valley walk. Noting this for a later visit, we circled round and headed back towards the van and a cuppa. We were entranced by the gliders flying around the area (they take off from the edge of the escarpment that the Barrow is on.
Woodchester Park surrounds the unfinished Victorian Woodchester Mansion. They managed to finish the gates
And the gate posts
The Barrow looks out across to another barrow, and then across the Severn flood plain to Wales (on a clear day, the Black Mountains 40 miles away can be seen). It was a little hazy today, but beautiful.
We drove back to Bath through the sunset, bathed in orange light. This should stand us in good stead through the forecast next few days of less clement weather.
Just missed you again! We were at Coaley Peak (ice cream van and all) later in the afternoon.
ReplyDelete