Day 4 King's Stanley to Dursley

This would be the last of our days walking the actual Cotswold Way and it was the most difficult day but certainly the most varied. It started with a section of canal followed by a steep climb to an escarpment followed by a drop down the valley again and finished with another climb to an escarpent. The canal is the disused Stroudwater Canal, but work has started to bring it back into use and this was one of the locks being opened to enable the canal workers boat to be moved along to the section of the canal they are working on.

The route took us through this open field which had an old stile in the middle. We all walked round it but Tom had to climb over it.

The town of Stroud in the valley

After the canal section we faced a long climb and this is the town of Stroud with in the foreground All Saints Church.

The highest point in the week of walking at only just short of 800ft. The 6 Last of the Summers Wine Walkers have enjoyed a superb week and some great discussions and arguements all in good humour and friendly banter.

This 5000 year old Tomb is called Long Barrow and John is not quite as old.

The last climb and the sting in the tail but the views from the top were superb. Notice that I as the photographer was up at the top first but only to get the benefit of a longer rest. There was still a long way to climb after this photo was taken.

And the stunning view over the Severn from the top.