October 11th Avening

On Sunday 11th October 21 members and visitors started the 5 mile walk from the village of Avening.

On a lovely sunny morning, passing the school, they turned left up the no through road and continued up hill onto a track which at the top gave fine views of Gatcombe Park (home of Princess Royal) and Gatcombe Woods.

They walked straight ahead through a field and past a farm where the view then looks over Minchinhampton with its fine Spired Church on the horizon. They entered Hazel Wood keeping on the path turning right and left until they came to a 4 way junction where they turned left up the field edge to come out on Shipton Green Lane which was a bit muddy with puddles.

Continuing along the lane they came to another 4 way junction and took a sharp left which took them along open fields with good views and past a Long Barrow. Dropping down into a valley a coffee stop was taken. They continued out of the valley coming round into fields and lovely hillside views.

Once through the fields they came out onto a lane. The lane took them to edge of Avening where they climbed over a wall type stone stile and down though 3 small fields, very overgrown, to the river at the bottom.

The path took us to the church and back to the cars. Everyone thanked the leader and said it was a very nice walk.