On Sunday 3rd November, 25 Ramblers did a walk in the Tetbury and Shipton Moyne area. After weeks of heavy rain, including the day before the walk, it was necessary for the walk leader to alter the route for the latter part of the walk due to a flooded river crossing. Thankfully, apart from some light rain during the lunch stop at Shipton Moyne church, the weather was fairly kind to us, and during the afternoon, the sun actually shone!
The walk started in the Old Goods Shed car park in Tetbury, and after a stiff climb up to the centre of the town, we past the imposing Market Hall and the parish church of St. Mary with its impressive steeple, visible for miles around. We followed the A433 and crossed Bath Bridge before turning left over a stile and across several fields and tracks, encountering numerous stiles, and crossing the swollen River Avon until we reached the beautiful Estcourt Park.
We crossed the parkland, and walk by some houses and high walls before reaching an extensive area of paddocks for race horses owned by the Saudi Prince who also owns the estate. We then proceeded through a small wood before crossing a field with Shipton Moyne parish church visible in the distance.
After our lunch stop in the churchyard, we headed along the lane towards the A433 past the oddly-named Cat and Custard Pot pub, walking through farmland for about a mile. We then crossed the A433 near Doughton and Highgrove, and joined a footpath across waterlogged fields to the western edge of Tetbury. Finally, we walked through a residential area before reaching the town centre and descending a hill back to our starting point.
Entering Estcourt Park
We reach the driveway to Estcourt Park
At the gateway to Estcourt House
Crossing the fields with horses
Approaching Shipton Moyne and the coffee break
On our way back to Tetbury
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