Home page > Walks photos < Walks programme Message Board Guest Book About group walks Walks in the region Holidays photos News items How to join Contact us Footpath problems Local links Walking links Favourite Walks Books		southcotswoldramblers.org.uk Wysis Way Circular No 3 - Speculation to Plump Hill Sat 5 July 2008 See our plans for the first three walks
		Deep in the forest something stirred . .
		No, it's the South Cots meeting in (or near - Ed.) the Wilderness to start the third part of the Wysis Way walk . .
		A feature of the walk is the proliferation of foxgloves . .
		Mike explains some temporary changes to the network of paths . .
		Our route takes us down a lane . .
		Then uphill where we pause . .
		To look across the valley . .
		It's not long before we stop again . .
		This time spotting the grey shadow of the Malverns in the distance . .
		Then a less well trodden path . .
		On the walk Heather points out features of the area where she was born . .
		Who needs kissing gates when you've got a sheet of corrugated iron and some baler twine? . .
		Again we pause . .
		This time the view includes May Hill on the horizon. Will we really get that far next time? . .
Somewhere down there is a right of way . .
The beacon on Ruardean Hill, named Pan Tod on the road signs . .
We now look down over Drybrook quarry, parts being returned to nature. We again see the shadowy Malverns in the background . .
Time for coffee stop - Swap? . .
The obligatory Wysis Way mug shot. This time we pose around a brand new memorial to miners in the Forest of Dean. . .
What's Richard spotted? . .
Note the detail . .
And above a figure of a miner with his lamp . .
	From The Forester. "A topograph sitting on top of the crouched figure of a miner was unveiled at Pan Tod beacon on Saturday (end of May 2008?) . It is the joint creation of artist Bernard Kear and sculptress Christine Baxter. The project, which began in the millennium, has taken eight years for the Ruardean Hill Residents' Association to complete. Wrapped in the flag of St George it was unveiled by Forest MP Mark Harper who paid tribute to the association's efforts. "Before a gathering of civic dignatories including district council chairman Marrilyn Smart and Mayor Max Coborn, association chairman Maurice Bent explained how the project had come to fruition. And he said the topograph was created in memory of five Ruardean Hill miners who lost their lives in the mines: Henry Edwards, James Roberts, George Parsons, John Roberts and Leslie Jones. It was also a tribute to their families. The topograph was then dedicated by the Rev Nick Bromfield and the Forestry Commission's Richard Davis said it was now the Dean's third miners' memorial." .
	Give us a kiss! . .
	Wherever we go there are reminders of the mining industry . .
	We continue along old forest tracks . .
	An outcrop of slightly different rock . .
	We pass under a disused railway track . .
	The rest of us have lunch while Mike studies his map desperately trying to work out where we are . .
	In the afternoon we pass Mirystock Tunnel . .
	And soon have a hard climb where it's heads down and push with the poles for Mike and Heather . .
	Some majestic pines flank our route . .
	As we now near the end of our walk . .
	Mike triumphantly demonstrates that he has found the right path . .
	A dragon? Must be seeing things, or just tired as we return to the cars . .
	See Stage 2 (Highmeadow Woods to Speculation) photos
	.
	We now look forward to Stage 4 in September, when we invite you to join us for another circular walk, quite hilly this time, again from Plump Hill, just outside Mitcheldean and up May Hill for great views we hope.
	.
	.
	.
	Photos and captions mostly thanks to Richard. .
	As you can see, we thoroughly enjoy getting to know the South Cotswolds and beyond. 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.