Six walkers set out from Fairford on a grey but dry day. They started north following the River Coln but soon crossed the river and set out across the flat and wide open fields of the south east of the County.

Apart from dog walkers and a travellers encampment the arable fields were quiet. Where they could see Stanford Hall in the distance they joined the path that has been obstructed since Margaret Thatcher was PM.

It was shortly after this that the rain started, we choose to stop in a small wood hoping it would provide some protection whist we ate lunch. It did not and my scotch egg was very soggy.

Needless to say it was a very brief lunch break and then a short walk to Thornhill Farm - this is where a new path has been created and two bridges constructed which opened up the path. A broken tree provided an opportunity for the Path Maintenance Volunteers to demonstrate their path clearing skills.

After this plans to cut the walk short were dropped and with that the weather improved as they passed the Bowmoor Sailing Lake. We walked onto the Lakes by Yoo site where new £1m plus 'lodges' are under construction, there were no takers!

Back through Welford Ponds Nature Reserve, a short and carefully managed walk along a busy road and then past more lakes to end up following the Coln back to Fairford

Ramblers on the walk

Group photo by the sailing lake

Mission accomplished