The light rain which greeted our arrival at Temple Guiting eased off as our party of thirteen set out on the first walk of the year. We took the improving weather as a sign that the number thirteen is not always unlucky.

 After passing the church we crossed the infant river Windrush and soon turned north to follow the valley towards its source. Alongside the footpath here we noted a commemorative plaque to a long serving Cotswold warden, where a tree has been planted in his memory.

 After a short drinks stop we crossed the boggy ground near Cutsdean from which the Windrush arises. Most of us managed to cross the slippery boardwalk without a dip in the water.

Above the hamlet of Taddington we passed along the edge of Guiting quarry, one of numerous extraction sites in this area. The sun was beginning to show as we headed for a lunch stop on some conveniently placed log piles on Campden lane, a well used bridleway.

Our return route took us past the lost village of Pinnock (only Pinnock Farm exists there now) and in a copse above Temple Guiting we noted the stone carved animals of some one time temporary residents of this secluded spot

We start the walk from Temple Guiting

Group pause for a photo

A striking landscape

Lovely views when the sun came out

Near the lost village of Pinnock

The Hare and the Tortoise