southcotswoldramblers.org.uk Bisley, Battlescombe and beyond Saturday 19 September 2009

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		Numbers being too great to gather safely at Windy Ridge, Mike gets us together in the first available field to introduce our final walk for the 2009 Stroud Walking Festival .
		And we march off taking careful notice of this roadside sign .
		Following a narrow lane out of Bisley .
		Mike points down the valley where our route will follow Holy Brook .
		And we are briefly joined by two horse riders .
		Now that would look nice in our garden .
		We continue down the valley .
		Now somewhere there should be 39 other ramblers following me .
		Ah yes, they are behind me - Mike leads us along the Holy Brook valley .
		Then a steep climb .
		Up through Fox Wood .
		Followed by a walk along the top of the hill .
		Before coffee is taken near Sudgrove .
		Our youngest member tucks in to an apple .
		Others enjoy the morning sun .
		While Mke takes time to tell us about Sudgrove House, where Pat Smythe, the Olympic Gold Medallist Show Jumper used to live. If you lost track (hardly surprising) and are interested, you could read more Link 1 Link 2 .
		Mike offeres some of our walks books .
		We continue through Sudgrove .
		And a field of horses .
		Conversations not stopping for stiles .
		Time for a recount to make sure nobody is missing .
		Our path takes us down into the valley towards Througham .
		And steeply up the other side .
		The climb being temporarily too much for some .
		Houses in Througham attract some attention .
		Then we follow a track out of the village .
		Looking back at Sudgrove across the valley .
		Nearing Bisley Mike gives everyone a breather, and takes time to recount the curious legend of the Bisley Boy Read it here .
		Suffering from information overload .
		And full of blackberries .
We continue past Calfway Farm back to the village .
Photos and captions, including the cheeky ones, 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.