Lifetime of Walks by Derek Harwood

Parked Sally's Car in Castle Eaton Village by Red Lion Public House and drove to Neigh Bridge Country Park Car Park for start of walk. Short walk along Spine Road to lane leading to Lower Mill Estate. River only a couple of metres wide at this point. Easy walking on good path past Freeth's Wood and fallen tree with exposed roots, to footbridge near Manor House. Over bridge, past river reeds and through vee stile to the lovely village of Ashton Keynes Village. The village setting, with cotswold stone cottages, was so beautiful we decided to have lunch on a bench dedicated to Ray Bennett, 'The World's Best Neighbour'. A car pulled up by bench as I took a photo of Sally. Was it Ray driving, in a bad mood? Continued through Ashton Keynes, past the village cross and the now closed Plough Inn Public House, on Back Street, with 'T E B 1694' proudly displayed in the brickwork. Further down Back Street was an ideal cottage for sale. We wondered what the asking price would be and estimated Ł400K, a little beyond our means. As we left Ashton Keynes behind we crossed the sports ground into a bush area. The gravelly path passed between two new and large picturesque lakes to a car park by Waterhay Bridge. The zig zag path circumnavigated several of the Cleveland Lakes, passing a danger notice to avoid quicksand. Memories of old cowboy films as a child at the pictures on Saturday morning. We stopped at Manorbrook Lake for Sally to feed the swans with the remainder of her lunch. As we moved on a noisy speedboat charged up and down the lake, enjoyed by several youngsters. Eventually arrived at the old railway bed, which served Cricklade, and is now National Cycleway 45. Soon turned off at Thames Bridge to Elmlea Meadow and North Meadow Nature Reserve, separated by the old bed of North Wiltshire Canal. Passed family playing in river, and horse training jumps just before weir. I played the fool and jumped a log fence. Path not defined well along northern edge of Cricklade. We walked along North Meadow Road and spotted Sally's car twin sister. Same model and same distinctive colour. Scaled an awkward fence just before High Street, Sally was too lady like to have photo taken. Short walk along the attractive and mature 'High Street', past War Memorial to 'Abindon Court' and short length of 'Thames Walk'. Promised to return one day to this delightful English Town, to sample a pub lunch, with its mixture of buidling styles and periods, all living harmoniously together. Leaving Cricklade by its sport field and bypass road tunnel to the meandering rural river, with no road access until Castle Eaton Village. Soon passed an unusual concrete arched bridge supporting large pipes, probably water pipes, before first of many footbridges across the narrow river. Crossed to north of river at Eysey Footbridge and returned to south of river at Water Eaton Footbridge. Passed fishermen, swans, damson trees, blackberry bushes, tall nettles, combined harvester etc. to Castle Eaton. Couldn't find exit from fields to village at first, had to pass a huge bonfire to footpath into village. Along the impressive yellow stone cottages of 'The Street' to Red Lion Public House and Sally's car. Sally was so pleased to see her car. What a lovely varied walk with Sally, albeit a little longer than I estimated.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start: from Neigh Bridge Country Park 401813/194725, - Finish: at Castle Eaton Village 414625/195805, - via: Lunch at Ashton Keynes 404447/194200. (Click on location and use Zoom and BACK Buttons).

Hazards:
Take great care while walking close to water. The ice cold water is very different to the warm public baths.

Click Here to Go to 'Thames Path - Section 1'
Click Here to Go to 'Thames Path - Section 3'
Click Here to Return to 'Lifetime of Walks' Homepage

	LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD Derek Harwood's Walking Records If you have any queries about the pictures or descriptions e-mail me at: derek@harwoodonline.com

	THAMES PATH COTSWOLD WATER PARK
	Neigh Bridge Country Park to Castle Eaton Village Gloucestershire Friday 14th August 2009 .................................Walk No. 767
	THAMES PATH No. 2 Total 17.5 miles Time Taken: 5 hrs Distance: Enjoyment: Weather: No wind 11:44 - 4:40 pm 12 miles 85% Warm, Cloudy Temp: Cloud: Rain: Visibility: Ground Conditions: Wild Life: Ducks 18^oC 98% Slight Threat Good Very Good Dragon Flies & Swans Total AA: Total MH: Total LD: Total AW: Other: Total Distance: 1043.5 mls 931.5 mls 2131.5 mls 162 mls 1243.5 mls 5512 miles Companions: (Derek) Sally Points of Interest and LINKS: Thames Path River Thames Neigh Bridge Country Park Ashton Keynes National Cycle Route No. 45 Cleveland Lakes Waterhay Bridge North Meadow Elmlea Meadow - SSSI Cricklade Town Thames and Severn Canal Description: Parked Sally's Car in Castle Eaton Village by Red Lion Public House and drove to Neigh Bridge Country Park Car Park for start of walk. Short walk along Spine Road to lane leading to Lower Mill Estate. River only a couple of metres wide at this point. Easy walking on good path past Freeth's Wood and fallen tree with exposed roots, to footbridge near Manor House. Over bridge, past river reeds and through vee stile to the lovely village of Ashton Keynes Village. The village setting, with cotswold stone cottages, was so beautiful we decided to have lunch on a bench dedicated to Ray Bennett, 'The World's Best Neighbour'. A car pulled up by bench as I took a photo of Sally. Was it Ray driving, in a bad mood? Continued through Ashton Keynes, past the village cross and the now closed Plough Inn Public House, on Back Street, with 'T E B 1694' proudly displayed in the brickwork. Further down Back Street was an ideal cottage for sale. We wondered what the asking price would be and estimated Ł400K, a little beyond our means. As we left Ashton Keynes behind we crossed the sports ground into a bush area. The gravelly path passed between two new and large picturesque lakes to a car park by Waterhay Bridge. The zig zag path circumnavigated several of the Cleveland Lakes, passing a danger notice to avoid quicksand. Memories of old cowboy films as a child at the pictures on Saturday morning. We stopped at Manorbrook Lake for Sally to feed the swans with the remainder of her lunch. As we moved on a noisy speedboat charged up and down the lake, enjoyed by several youngsters. Eventually arrived at the old railway bed, which served Cricklade, and is now National Cycleway 45. Soon turned off at Thames Bridge to Elmlea Meadow and North Meadow Nature Reserve, separated by the old bed of North Wiltshire Canal. Passed family playing in river, and horse training jumps just before weir. I played the fool and jumped a log fence. Path not defined well along northern edge of Cricklade. We walked along North Meadow Road and spotted Sally's car twin sister. Same model and same distinctive colour. Scaled an awkward fence just before High Street, Sally was too lady like to have photo taken. Short walk along the attractive and mature 'High Street', past War Memorial to 'Abindon Court' and short length of 'Thames Walk'. Promised to return one day to this delightful English Town, to sample a pub lunch, with its mixture of buidling styles and periods, all living harmoniously together. Leaving Cricklade by its sport field and bypass road tunnel to the meandering rural river, with no road access until Castle Eaton Village. Soon passed an unusual concrete arched bridge supporting large pipes, probably water pipes, before first of many footbridges across the narrow river. Crossed to north of river at Eysey Footbridge and returned to south of river at Water Eaton Footbridge. Passed fishermen, swans, damson trees, blackberry bushes, tall nettles, combined harvester etc. to Castle Eaton. Couldn't find exit from fields to village at first, had to pass a huge bonfire to footpath into village. Along the impressive yellow stone cottages of 'The Street' to Red Lion Public House and Sally's car. Sally was so pleased to see her car. What a lovely varied walk with Sally, albeit a little longer than I estimated. Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start: from Neigh Bridge Country Park 401813/194725, - Finish: at Castle Eaton Village 414625/195805, - via: Lunch at Ashton Keynes 404447/194200. (Click on location and use Zoom and BACK Buttons). Hazards: Take great care while walking close to water. The ice cold water is very different to the warm public baths. Click Here to Go to 'Thames Path - Section 1' Click Here to Go to 'Thames Path - Section 3' Click Here to Return to 'Lifetime of Walks' Homepage



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Derek Harwood: Copyright 2009 Devised: September 2009