southcotswoldramblers.org.uk Waterley Bottom to Coombe Hill Wednesday 3 March 2010

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		Another throng find their way into Waterley Bottom, where Janet outlines the walk .
		And we set off up the valley .
		A little quiet road walking first ..
		Passing the odd cottage .
		A wonderful year for snowdrops .
		Jane, our co-leader, checks the progress of the rear .
		Before we ascend .
		Through Laycombe Wood .
		Quite a pull .
		But we are getting there! .
		Is Perdita counting us? .
		We're enjoying it anyway .
		Suitably rested, Janet leads on again .
		All following happily .
		Until we notice a stone cross on the bank in Ridings Wood .
		On one of her recces Jane met a local resident who can tell us more .
		On this spot used to stand a church (seen here in the 1960s?) .
		Very much overgrown in the 1980's .
		Here's the proof. He told us it belonged to The Ridge Estate and was a private church. The House (on the other side of the valley) was demolished in late Victorian times, but the servants' house is still lived in. The Ridge is on OS Maps. However the chuch "disappeared" in the last 30 years .
		Continuing our walk through the woods .
		We tend to spread out .
		As a complete contrast we emerge and walk around Coombe Hill with its wide views .
		Over Wotton-under-Edge - here's the parish church .
		Around we go .
		Some pausing to admire the view .
		Others wondering what we are doing here .
		John efficiently backmarks today .
We make our way back down into Waterley Bottom .
And after a little road walking .
We are back giving the pub our custom.
Photos and captions thanks to Mike

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.