Through the Needlehole
On a mild but rather misty morning 19 walkers gathered at the Kilkenny viewpoint carpark. Fortunately, by the 10am start the cloud and mist had largely cleared and after an initial climb to the view point the route followed the lane southwestwards on part of the Gloucestershire Way, passing along the edge of Pinchley Wood. A bridleway led off the lane to Needlehole (The name has references to Tolkien if you search the net) and then across towards Upper Coberley and Chatcombe Wood.
Passing the shooting school at that point we crossed the busy A436 and emerged through a woodland edge onto the Cotswold Way with a view overlooking Cheltenham, the Severn Vale and the Malvern Hills in the distance. The walk then followed the Cotswold Way above Lineover Wood towards Upper Dowdeswell and finally a right turn on a footpath to return to the start point.
We were lucky that the weather remained clear so the views of this route could be appreciated.

The joys of winter walking

Across the fields near Upper Coberley

The view over Cheltenham from Wistley Hill

The view over Cheltenham

Looking towards Upper Dowdeswell