LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

We travelled by car to Clifford Chambers village, where I asked the landlord for permission to park in the corner of the New Inn Hotel car park. We boarded bus No. 21 at 9:19am to Chipping Campden, arriving at 9:45am. From the bus stop we walked the few yards (metres) along the High Street, past the Noel Arms Hotel to an Archway next to the Hotel with 'No Through Road for Vehicles' over the Archway. Continuing through the Archway we kept straight on to Noel Court. Turning left, then right along Coldicotts Close and George Lane leading to the main road towards Broad Campden. We continued straight until the road bends right, then round the two trees and walked straight over the field ahead, following the Heart of England signs across the fields to Broad Campden. We joined the northern end of Angel Lane and walked downhill, passing St. Michael and All Angels Church, to the main road. We turned right along the narrow twisty road, with no footpaths, to a gateway on the left, just before the Baker's Arms public house. The 'public footpath' sign on the right was partly hidden in the bushes and the stone wall was in urgent need of repair. We passed through the gate and followed the wall on the left for a few yards (metres). At the end of the wall we turned half left towards the south west and after about three fields followed the hedge on the right and the stream in the valley bottom on the left. At Campden Hill Farm we turned left and navigated through the farm to a footpath south east towards Five Mile Drive which we crossed, then turned half left to a field with the hedge on the right. Walking gradually downhill we reached Blockley Road. Instead of entering the road we turned half right within the field and continued downhill. Crossing the brook at the bottom of the hill and continuing up the slope on the opposite bank, we passed Cricket Clump on the right, at the top of the hill. We walked half downhill towards Blockley village, arrived at Greenway Road which we crossed over to Backends Road, then continued down to Chapel Lane. At the first dwellings we turned left down Bell Bank, which was unsuitable for motor vehicles. Soon after we passed the Little Village Hall on the right there was a steep section of Bell Bank which required a handrail on the right. At the bottom of Bell Bank was the junction of three roads, Bell Lane, High Street and Church Lane, where there was a good view of St Peter & St Paul Church at the end of the lane. We passed the Church and went through the graveyard to a short passage down to Lower Street B4479. We turned right along the main road to the end of the cottages where there was a footpath on the left with a finger post showing the direction of the Heart of England Way and Monarch's Way. We went up the hill passed Fish Pond on the right and Park Farm on the left to a bridleway. Just after the end of the field opposite we turned left, then right, to continue uphill. Looking back we had good views of Blockley. We left the bridleway and followed the hedge on the right south east to a small spinney and a short track to a minor road which we crossed to a gate with a stone wall on the left. We followed the track downhill with Batsford Arboretum on the left and the plantations on the right. We continued along the bendy track to Batsford Arboretum Car Park, turning right into a field which crosses the Arboretum Road, then continues at the bottom of the hill straight across a field with Sally Beds Spinney on the left. At the end of the spinney we turned right and crossed the field diagonally to the Arboretum Road once more. We turned left on the road which leads towards A44 Main Road and the village of Bourton on the Hill. We turned right into the village with Bourton House on the left and walked further up the hill to the Parish Church of St Lawrence. The 'End of the Walk'. We waited at the Bus Stop for the bus to Chipping Campden and the car parked at Clifford Chambers. This was a very adventurous 6.5 mile (10.5Km) walk, most delightful and interesting throughout. As always on this Way, highly recommended.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start: from Chipping Camden