This walk was based on the route of the ‘Cirencester Ramblers, Walks around Cirencester: 5 Cirencester Park - Stratton via Pope’s Seat’   

 On a sunny, dry, cool January day 18 ramblers and 2 visitors set out from the Waterloo car park, going via the Abbey grounds (the site of the 12th century Augustine monastery)  past Barton Mill and into Cirencester Park. 

They power walked up the hill to the end of the tarmac and then slowed the pace and stopped to admire Pope’s Seat - designed by the poet and satirist Alexander Pope in the 18th century. They then followed the woods around to the right and stopped for a breezy coffee break overlooking the Polo ground. After coffee they headed out following field boundaries back towards Stratton. 

 Due to the recent rain, Daglingworth Brook and the valley was flooded and the path on the ‘Walks around Cirencester’ towards Stratton was impassable. So at Barn Way instead of going straight on we took a right turn through mud and up to higher ground. 

 Here they had a short water break, admired the view of Stratton and the intended flooded path below us, before heading back to the car park through the park, along Black Jack Street towards and then past the 12th century Parish Church, back to their cars. 

 Setting out - next to the very full River Churn

Walking across the Abbey grounds 

  Group photo with a full to the brim Barton Mill Pond in front

The return walk along the field boundaries towards Barn Way