Hello,
Let me start by saying today's series, goes down as one of the best I've ever done. No huge amount of caches, just a stunning walk - which I do not regret choosing. Save this one for a nice day, bring a picnic, and enjoy. This series is probably the unsung best in The Cotswold's, a hidden gem.
Started a little late, due to unforeseen family issues, but as soon as we arrived in the village, we knew this series was going to be special. As an added bonus, the sun was at it's best, lightening up the pretty area, and the temperature was perfect for walking - warm, but with a little breeze in the air!
Just how I like it - out of the car, and on the trail for the rest of the time. Simples. And, it was like that from the very first step we took along the byway. Some very pretty houses around, trees in blossom now, and daffodils everywhere - wish they looked like that in our garden!
Stunning far reaching views on the way to #1, and we were walking to the song of the birds, managed to pin point out a skylark, and a woodpecker! However, spirits became low at #1 itself, as we spent ages searching for the cache, and didn't have any luck. Reckon it has sadly been muggled, what a shame, as it was a fab spot!
Anyway, we then walked up the first hill of the day! The series was really starting to look good here, such a peaceful, secluded area, the only sign of civilization was the Fosseway in the distance! Thankfully a quick find in the likely spot for #2, really like these large spaces between caches - saves you stopping every 500 meters, and are more of a pleasure to find, being hidden sensibly, and in nice spots at the same time. Good, classic Wrighty walk this is [:D] .
Next, it was along the path offering more fabulous views, before we arrived in the very pretty Cotswold village of Turkdean. Not a person in sight, again, flowers in full bloom, and an amazing tree dominating the village!
Once we left the village, and were back on the bridleway, it was the start to one of my favorite parts of the walk - a stunning valley, well, what else can I say? Just amazing. Found #3 alright just before walking down into the valley, glad that our bad luck is over from #1! Still not a single Cotswold Lion to be seen, but plenty of other wildlife! The birds were still at song here, and as we walked through the valley, we could here the woodpeckers more than ever! Amazing!
By now, the series was turning into something more than special. It had been so long since we'd had a PROPER walk like this! The temperature was rising here, but that lovely, cool breeze was still about, so it was fine! As you may have gathered, spirits were very high now, but things began to get worse at #4, even though we had just finished our 0.6 mile walk through the valley. I searched for ages, and there had been walling work taking place, after it collapsed. However, smiles were put back on our faces when we realised we were on the wrong side - a quick back track, and the cache was in hand! I was glad that I was remembering to check for the values for the bonus FINALE to the tour, what would I have done if I'd forgotten?
Along the route, one of the caches we passed was "Another Bloomin Hill" - a piece of history in CacheWalker jargon! I was glad to finally bag this historic find, and the location was amazing, 360 degree views, and as the name suggests, it is on a hill! Really enjoyed finding this cache, and then it was back on the trail for the last Lion cache! How quickly time went? By now, my dad and I were labeling this series as "one of the best ever". The last Lion cache (#5) was a quick easy find, and the sort of 'different' container I like to find - and so, I was armed with the coordinates for the final cache! It was then a 1.5 mile walk to the bonus, and we really enjoyed it! Just before reaching Notgrove, we walked through a field of Cotswold Lions at last! Took some amazing photos of them, and the views from here were amazing!
It was then into the idyllic village of Notgrove, where we could have done a multi cache, but decided to carry on with what we were here for, the series. Had a nice walk up through a field of mature trees, before the end was insight, unfortunately. Now we realised that this walk had everything terrain -wise - fields, byways, grassland, tarmac roads and now a forest. Not any old forest, but a forest of stunning beech trees! Well, I call it a forest, but it was more like an avenue!
Before too long we were at GZ! And, seconds later the final cache of the superb series was in my hands!
And so was the end of possibly the best series we've done! It had everything, a variation in terrain, easy caches to find (other than #1) and most of all, the location was top notch - just the feeling of being so secluded, and out in the open, enjoying stunning views all the way round. Top class! Highly recommended!
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