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Cotswold Way Challenge.

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Here we are in the woods at the very start not sure which of us looks the more apprehensive.

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We passed various dangers, luckily it was a little early for too many low flying golf balls at Painswick, and the quarry was well fenced as it was quite a drop down. We walked on, pausing briefly in Painswick itself for a comfort stop. Then began the long climb up out of the valley, we passed the old mill, and the Pub on the edge at Edge before crossing the road and reaching the windy summit of Scottsquar hill in amongst the ancient quarries. From here we dropped down into the beech woods and followed the contours until the climb up to the highest point of Haresfield Beacon.

 

This was the windiest place and it was also when it started to rain, Miss Brookes became quite nervous at this point but experienced mountaineer, Ben, was on hand to offer support and encouragement and stand between her and the cliff edge. We arrived at the designated lunch stop, 7.6 miles into the walk and decided that due to the wind and driving rain we would push on and find a more sheltered spot in the woods further on. We stopped for lunch and huddled under the trees in the shelter of a Cotswold stone wall. Packed lunches and hot drinks all round and it was time to push on. Luckily we were more sheltered in Standish wood and so began the long descent into the Stroud valley. Here we encountered the muddiest, slipperiest field in the country and Ben was very glad of his walking sticks to help him keep his feet, Scot was not so lucky and ended up with a good coating of mud.

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Here they are at the edge of the houses in Stroud, nearly there lads.

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At the station waiting for the train.

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Kemble!

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Back at school for a well-deserved fish and chip supper. Well done to all, the lads; Ben, Wesley, Ben and Scott, the staff; Mr Bale, Miss Hollis, Miss Brookes and Mrs Alderman, 10.83 miles and still smiling, just.

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