Home page > Walks photos <		southcotswoldramblers.org.uk Stow-on-the-Wold area 26 May 2007 Mike & Heather's North Cotswold summer stroll from Stow-on-the-Wold, visiting Icomb, Bledington and Lower Oddington old church with its 650 year old Doom wall painting. .
		Another walk another car park - Mike addresses his eager group .
		This time it's Tesco's car park (actually the town car park adjacent) .
		We set off into Stow. Do we leave our leader here for the day? Or do we need him? .
		We plod through the town .
		Then on to Maugersbury and past the manor - now holiday flats .
		We stop to examine the manor .
		Then it's over some rolling Cotswold countryside .
		We climb a hill. Stow starting to appear behind us across the valley .
		With other views across to Oxfordshire .
		Stow now completely in sight on the horizon .
		Looks like the ploughman had a bit too much to drink one night. Stuck on top of the wall! .
		A colourful garden with spectacular aliums (onions to you) .
		And we enter Icomb .
		Someone has been winning trophies .
		An interesting church .
		Time for some quiet contempletation .
		And a look at the gargoyles .
		Then we leave the church and make our way .
		Past a pond .
		Heading uphill through a new plantation .
		Looking back at Icomb we get a good view of a brand new manor house .
		We stop at a series of ponds - Mike said something about water features and Charlie Dimmock - can't see her! .
		Before heading across a field of wheat and through this arch in the hedge .
		And across more fields with a fine path left by a thoughtful farmer .
		We reach Bledington with its unusual church - note the upstairs windows .
A long row of cottages .
And a children's swing .
Wish I had had this sign on my driving test . .
Not in use? Haven't got any old pennies anyway .
Presumably the ducks that do the crossing .
Chance for a lie down and lunch on the village green before heading for the piub behind us .
Would someone give me a push .
This is how you do it .
We set off on our last lap .
Pausing for Mike to decide which of three paths to take .
And to draw our attention to a dodgy bridge .
We now walk over an organic farm .
With organic sheep - ready to be eaten by organic people .
Organic plastic covers for young trees .
We reach Lower Oddington church with its famous wall paintings .
Which we study with the help of explanations from Mike .
A last look from the outside .
And we leave to continue on our way .
	Through Upper Oddington .
	Some smart houses ,
	Mike starts to realise that his mileage calculations might not be correct .
	Cow parsley looking good this year .
	Back into Maugersbury with intertwined rose and clematis .
	Another holiday cottage .
	As we walk out of Maugersbury into Stow and the end of our trek .
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	Thanks to Richard for the photos and captions
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	As you can see, we thoroughly enjoy getting to know the South Cotswolds, and occasionally, as here, venture further afield. We try to keep fit and succeed in having a good old chat. If you are interested in coming with us, see our walks programme and ring the leader if you have any questions about a particular walk. After two or three walks we hope you will then want to join the group as part of the national Ramblers' Association.