Home Walks Photos Archive 2005		southcotswoldramblers.org.uk Bisley to Slad - 3 December 2005
		One of those days when Mike and Heather, the leaders, wondered whether anyone would turn up and whether to take the camera as it was hammering down through the night and at the start of the walk.
		However, twelve turned up fully prepared for the conditions so off we went through Bisley Churchyard ...
		... and had a good view over the gardens before ...
		... descending the steps to ...
		... see Bisley Wells. Our three friends had beaten us to it!
		We took a high route out of Bisley to enter Lypiatt Park.
		Good views today and after 30 minutes it has stopped raining!
		A very steep descent to the stream ...
		... through the autumnal woods. Snow had covered them 3 days earlier and yet the leaves were still on the trees!
		As we climbed steeply up the other side to the plateau, many of us stopped to admire the views - several times!
		Is this really December?
		Puff, puff! Some steps were 50 cm high.
		After 350 feet of ascent we headed across the top to enter the Slad Valley through Fennels Farm, where a lovely dog greeted us all.
		A colourful display.
		The views as we emerged onto Swift's Hill were pretty good today.
		Down we went, 525 feet in quite a short distance, and then up the road to lunch at ...
		... The Woolpack Inn in Slad, Laurie Lee's "local".
		I expect he liked a tankard or two of these!
		Here is the former village school, which he described so vividly in "Cider with Rosie".
		And opposite the pub, the church.
		From the churchyard where Laurie is buried, the old pub is in view.
		On the reverse of his headstone is a quote from his writings, but we know not where it originates. Can anyone help, please? The quote reads:
		If ever I saw blessing in the air I see it now in this still early day Where lemon-green the vapourous morning drips Wet sunlight on the powder of my eye
		See Our Guest Book
		A startling shaft of sunlight
		More amazing lighting
		Up we go through Piedmont back to Bisley and ...
		... think ourselves very fortunate for such a lovely day out after such a wet beginning. No rain at all after 10:30 am!
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