The walk started from Coates village hall where 19 members gathered on a cloudy but dry Wednesday morning. On route we passed the old school house and clock which had been repaired and featured on the television programme 'The Repair Shop' in 2017.
Wandering down a road with no name but known to the locals as 'Dark Lane' we headed towards the Rural skills centre which is used by the Royal Agricultural University students. Following a royal route the 'Monarch's Way' we passed Bledisloe Manor house which was visited by Queen Elizabeth in 1963.
The 4 mile circular route took us across fields, through woodland and along the leafy canal footpath, where the group took a well earned rest break at the Watch tower near the entrance to the old Sapperton Tunnel.
Having successfully navigated the railway crossing and a few curious horses in a field we made it back at a leisurely pace in time for lunch.
