southcotswoldramblers.org.uk Sherborne Estate longer walk Saturday 10 April 2010

Home Page Walks Photos Message Board Led Walks Programme About Led Walks How To Join Contact Us .		Sally, one of our regular walking members writes: D'arcy Dalton Way Your message: On Graham's excellent long walk on Saturday with fantastic views and weather, we walked along a very small part of the D'arcy Dalton Way - it's more important than you might imagine - see below: The d’Arcy Dalton Way is 65 miles long and was established in 1986 through the combined efforts of the Oxford Fieldpaths Society and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England. It is named after Colonel d’Arcy to commemorate this passionate defender of rights of way in Oxfordshire. Well there you go!! Cheers Sally
		These two provide entertainment as we wait to start our walk in the National Trust Car Park at Sherborne Estate .
		But eventually Graham calls us to order .
		And our walk commences through a wooded area ..
		Passing an old ice house .
		Before continuing round the estate .
		Past an old tree whose fallen branch has been carved forming part of the sculpture trail .
		With the old manor house on our left .
		We now reach the village of Sherborne .
		Passing rows of neat cottages .
		And learning to cope with a slightly different type of stile .
		Till we stop for coffee having found a suitable barn to lean against .
		With views down to the Windrush Valley .
		We continue down the valley .
		Sun still shining .
		Eventually coming to the village of Windrush .
		Which we soon leave behind .
		Crossing fields .
		To reach Little Barrington and this remnant of times gone by .
		And this chap waiting to take it for a walk .
		We stop on the village green to get a better view .
		Of this picturesque village .
		And its equestrian connections .
		Still following the Windrush .
		Crossing it by a wooden bridge .
		Close to a sluice gate on the site of an old mill .
		We walk into Great Barrington .
Stopping at the church for lunch .
And a snooze .
A quick look inside before we go .
On the way out of Great Barrington we pass some impressive gates leading to the estate .
Behind which is a herd of deer .
We then follow a good track .
Turning back along a field .
And once more into the Sherborne Estate .
To our right are the famous water meadows .
And another of those stiles - Keith looking a bit apprehensive .
And we recross the Windrush looking to right .
And left .
Before reentering the woods .
Another part of the sculpture trail .
Where we pause for a better look .
Before moving on to another one of a shepherd and his dog .
Looking down at the Manor House .
And then making our way round a field and back to the cars .
Photos and captions thanks to 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.