On Sunday 11th April 2021, a party of 30 Ramblers took part in a 6½ mile walk starting in Quenington, north of Fairford. The weather was chilly but mostly dry and bright, apart from a light hail shower during the lunch stop, with good visibility.

After observing a minute’s silence in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh, the group left the village of Quenington and followed the course of the River Coln for about a mile before a short stretch of road walking, then following farm tracks across open farmland with wide views towards the Marlborough Downs.

After a coffee stop, we headed to Donkeywell Farm, and crossed another lane, continuing along a farm track through Conygar Wood to the Roman Road of Akeman Street, which we crossed. We continued to another area of woodland, after which we stopped for a lunch break.

We then descended to another stretch of the River Coln, which we followed to the pretty village of Coln St. Aldwyns. On leaving Coln St. Aldwyns, the group continued along a lane to the edge of Hatherop, where we turned off to cross meadows to back to Quenington, with the final stretch being a gentle climb along a green lane back to the starting point.

Setting off along the River Coln

Lots of calves keeping close to Mum!

A brief pause before we enter Coneygar Wood

We reach the River Coln again

Historic buildings in Coln St Aldwyns

Making our way back to Quenington