southcotswoldramblers.org.uk Clearwell and Newland Saturday 6 June 2009

Home Page Walks Photos Message Board Led Walks Programme About Led Walks How To Join Contact Us .		How many times have you woken up in the morning, rain beating against the window, weather forecast dire and forced yourself to get up and go walking? And how many times have you really enjoyed the walk? Either the weather has unexpectedly changed, or there have been other aspects of the walk, which you are glad you did not miss. Saturday 6th June was one of those days. The plan was to do a walk of 7 to 8 miles starting at Clearwell Caves in the Forest of Dean and follow it with a guided tour of the caves. We needed a minimum of 12 people for the guided tour so it was with some relief that I found a total of 16 at the start with two others having said they would come to the caves in the afternoon. Our walk started at 9.30, a bit earlier than usual, and we left the caves in the pouring rain heading across the road to the scowles, old iron workings common to the Forest of Dean. In the near darkness of a wet summer's morning the heavily wooded area with enormous boulders wrapped in tree roots produced a most eerie effect making you glad of the company of your fellow ramblers. Our path then took us over to the village of Whitecliff where we paused for coffee in the shelter of a bridge carrying the now disused rail track from Coleford to Monmouth. Up the hill we picked up the Burial Path used in olden days to carry coffins from Coleford to Newlands and the "Cathedral of the Forest" for burial. All Saints Church in Newland was our next stop where we paused for twenty minutes to explore this impressive building. We continued down a pretty valley until we came to Coxbury and Wyegate Lane, an old Saxon track, which once formed part of the route from Monmouth to St Briavels. As we walked along this track we had spectacular views down to the River Wye. From here we made our way back to Clearwell. Before our guided tour of the Caves we stopped at the café for a welcome cup of tea and home made cake. The tour of the caves was a fitting end to a memorable day as we learned a great deal about the old mining industry in the Forest explained to us succinctly and with a wry humour by Jonathan Wright one of the owners of Clearwell Caves (click for their website). .
		Our first stop on leaving Clearwell are some scowles (SO 578085), eerie natural landscape features almost unique to the Forest of Dean which have traditionally been interpreted as the remains of early opencast iron ore extraction - read more) .
		Made even more spooky by the Stygian gloom caused by the dire weather .
		Not much brighter out in the open .
		We make our way down into Whitecliff passing through the small village .
		And picking up the burial path, the route for coffins to be carried from Coleford to Newlands .
		The rain has eased up a bit .
		As we arrive in Newland to visit "The Cathedral of the Forest" .
		In through the lych gate .
		And into the church .
		With its splendid architecture and windows .
		This one more modern .
		Leaving Newland we walk down a valley .
		Pausing for lunch .
		By a swollen stream .
		We continue up the valley .
		With views down another secluded valley .
		Until we reach the Coxbury and Wyegate Lane where we views down to the Wye .
		We then take to the fields .
		With varying crops .
		Some only just planted .
		Must send this photo to the Berghaus advertising department .
		A short stretch of lane .
		And back into Clearwell where a wedding is taking place .
		We pass a house infested with giant ladybirds .
		Then after a tea break have a tour of the caves, now a museum to mining .
		With many underground caverns .
Article, photos and captions from Richard

As you can see, we thoroughly enjoy getting to know the South Cotswolds. We try to keep fit and succeed in having a good old chat. If you are interested in coming with us, see our Led 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 Ramblers.