On Sunday 1st November, a group of 21 Members and 3 guests enjoyed a 5½ mile walk in the Northleach and Farmington area. The walk started in Northleach Market Place, and continued uphill through a housing estate though some woods before turning onto a country lane which we followed for over ½ mile before turning right into fields, which at the beginning were very muddy. We descended to a valley bottom and then had a brief but stiff climb before entering a large ploughed field, after which we entered the picturesque village of Farmington.
We had a coffee stop on Farmington village green, which has a time capsule buried in the year 2000, not to be opened until the year 3000! In the middle of the green is an octagonal well shelter with a roof which was donated in 1936 by the people of Farmington, Connecticut.
We then passed some fine buildings, including a dovecote, before leaving Farmington and descending a lane to a footpath across more fields. We then climbed up to the A.40 which we safely crossed before crossing further fields until we reached an attractive pond and the infant River Leach.
Shortly afterwards, we had a lunch break at Upper End before continuing the walk along tracks, muddy in places until we descended along a footpath into Northleach. This final stretch of the walk afforded fine views of the splendid parish church of Northleach and the town itself, before passing playing fields and making our way through some historic streets back to the starting point.
On the Monarch's Way towards Farmington
On the outskirts of Farmington
Coffee break at Farmington
A dovecote in Farmington
Approaching Upper End and another dovecote
A fine view of church in Northleach