To the Cotswolds

Thursday 13th July 2023

My trip around the Cotswolds has taken a bit of a hit due to Sue having a hospital appointment this morning. 

I'd planned a few days having a mooch around some of the pretty Cotswold villages before arriving at Royal International Air Tattoo tomorrow but it can't be helped, I'll save that for another time.

We left late morning with the main ambition to get around Birmingham without getting stuck in traffic, and we achieved it thankfully.

First stop was Hanbury Hall in Worcestershire. It's another National Trust property so I'm definitely getting my money's worth out of my membership card.

We had lunch in the carpark the went for a walk around the house and gardens.

Built in the late 1600's it is a very attractive country house, built by a wealthy London lawyer for his family.

Hanbury Hall and Gardens

Some wall murials on the stairs

 

After our wander, we set off for tonight's destination, The Thames Head Inn near Cirencester. It's a nice country pub with a small campsite attached. 

And very pleasant surroundings they are too.

Nearby is what's listed as the source of the River Thames, so an after tea walk was needed to explore.

The walk was lovely, across rolling Cotswold countryside.

There is a marker stone to mark the source of the river, a sign post pointing to our capital city and the open sea.

There is also a pile of rocks, in fact the only thing missing is some actual water to kick start the flow.

I was hoping for a bubbling spring.

But never mind, Louis had a tinkle nearby and so did I against an old oak tree, so that's our contribution to set things flowing, I'm not sure what it'll do to water quality downstream though.

Better not tell those Londoners.

It was a lovely walk across some beautiful countryside so the lack of any water at the source didn't matter.

This part of the country has a special feel to it, the golden wheat crops in the fields, the honey coloured stone buildings, mature trees, all combine to make a fantastic landscape.

The weather has been sunshine and showers, thankfully the showers were all whilst we were driving.

I'm just hoping the rain tomorrow isn't as bad as forecast

Source of the River Thames

"The Conservators of the River Thames 1857 - 1974 
This stone was placed here to mark the source of the River Thames"

I was expecting a bubbling spring, but no, just a pile of rocks !

                     A deserved pint after my walk