From Guiting Power to Sudeley Castle

Thank you folks for not complaining about my long streak of photo-heavy posts - you realize I'm creating a record of my trip for myself - something I can look back on over the years and remember. Perhaps what you don't know is that each day I choose from between 100-200 photos selecting what I hope best reflects my journey. Today's bunch of photos was particularly difficult to choose between - they were all so exceedingly beautiful. 

AND there will be a castle and a huge church with the best gargoyles ever as well as all the amazing landscapes and pathway pictures. I've winnowed them down to a somewhat reasonable number (yeah, right) and was just stunned by the gorgeousness! You're not getting it all in one post - just not possible - so today's post just reflects my journey from Guiting Power to Sudeley Castle on the outskirts of lovely, ancient Winchcombe.

The roads were wet as I left Guiting Power around 8:45am. But it wasn't raining thankfully. 

It's as if the little rain in the night made everything that much greener and more lush.

Oh look at that path - have you ever seen anything more inviting?

I had an extraordinary experience shortly into this hike - I saw some tiny birds flitting around in a bush and got in close with my camera disturbing an OWL that I hadn't even noticed!! I stood stunned as its large wings whooshed slowly as it flew away from me. A little later on the path I told a local couple about my experience and the fellow immediately asked me what colour was it? I said "brown" and he said "oh I'm so jealous - that was a tawny owl, they're nocturnal and it's very rare to see one - I've never seen one"! (And he had to be at least 70 years old!!) So that was my little treat in the forest today - too bad I didn't have the wherewithal to snap a picture!!

I'm in heaven!

And looky there - the clouds are dispersing - I think I'm having a magical effect on the weather!

I hope it doesn't look like I have my boots on the wrong feet today lol!

This is what I got to drink in with my eyes today, field after field. Just incredible.

A farm that I passed by - it looks like it's out of the long ago past yet as I walked by someone was zooming around on a four-wheeler. Apparently they have all the mod-cons!

This nice little cottage seems to stand at the crossroads of several paths if you notice the signs in the bottom left hand corner. My path runs along the left side of the house - you can see the continuation of the path in the upper left hand corner.

What a sweet place...

Now that's my kind of path!

The gate looks sort of hidden...but there is a path there.

Wow.

Double wow.

Back into the forest, and what a forest it was!

Quiet and still...

Right around here the clouds had gathered once again and it started to sprinkle. I didn't bother getting out my poncho for a few minutes seeing if it would stop. When it didn't I rummaged through my pack, got out my poncho, just about started to unfold it when...that's right, it stopped raining. So I put the poncho back into my backpack and on I went. That was my one and only experience with rain during the whole 2 weeks!

Can you spot the pheasant? There were hundreds of them in this area!

There he is!

No Public Road here. I wonder how old this stone marker is?

What a cool photo! (if I do say so myself;)  Looks like more rain coming...(but there wasn't!)

A bit more forest path...

And then...spectacular - once again the clouds were blown away...

...just in time! Incredible vista!

And that is Winchcombe...still a ways to go - I zoomed in for this photo!

And off in the distance - the Malvern Hills.

And my first view of Sudeley Castle!!

I just couldn't take enough photos of the magnificent views...I've spared you dozens and dozens!

I'm rather high up!

And now for the downhill part! The wind was so strong on my way down I had to tighten the strings of my hat so it wouldn't go flying off!

Down, down, down!  Postcard shot!

Hello lambies!

Continuing down down down...

I'm on my way to that castle! But first...

I have to make my way through several fields full of sheep!

Lots and lots of sheep!

I don't think this tree protector did its job!

Almost there!! Doesn't it look like the castle is giving the finger?? But first...

You got it...more sheep...( and of course all of those little pellets that come along with the sheep!)

Thank you clouds for clearing away and letting the sun shine through!

Oh for Pete's sake...

Ok, I've entered the castle grounds now. A family still lives here but they've been allowing paying visitors since the l920's so they're well used to us gawkers. And just for the past year they've been allowing visitors to see a few rooms of their home which is of course separate from the ruins of the original castle which claims Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth 1 among its royal visitors. I'm walking in illustrious company!

More to come!

Guiting Power and New Friends

Are you ready to walk some more? After my exceedingly good lunch I continued on my way. I had to walk along this stream for a ways and it was a really lovely place to walk...

...and LIVE! Look at this gorgeous cottage right on the stream...lucky sods...

I had to content myself with the luxury of walking in such beautiful surroundings...it was tough...

...but I survived...

 I was taking a wee detour before leaving Naunton - I wanted to see the church...

 ...and I needed a little visit with the local sheep :) ... doesn't it look like he/she is smiling at me?

...well, chewing his/her cud would be closer to the truth!

 After a little climbing I reached the churchyard...

 Some kinds of cedar trees grow to magnificent proportions...here's an example...

 Isn't it huge?!?

I love the shiny golden rooster that sits on top of most churches...

 ...and of course GARGOYLES...my favourite!   Veddy scary!

 EEEEEEEEEEEK!!

AWWWWWWWWKKK!!!

 The walls are about 2 feet thick!

 And off I go again!

It doesn't take long to leave a village...

 ...and once again be out in the country...

 But of course I have to remember to LOOK BACK!! Goodbye Naunton!!

 What's this?

Ohhh, it's a SIGN :) Good thing I didn't miss it! Can you see in the photo above the very paint line of the path heading towards that clump of trees?  That's where I'm headed!

 And lucky me, this is the view when I get there!

This field path was a bit more visible.

And that must be Guiting Power up ahead!

 Getting closer...

 The perfect Scotch thistle!

 Almost there...

 The owners of the next B&B had asked that we not arrive until 4pm. Not the easiest thing to manage when you're walking from village to village.  So, since I was early, I hung out in the churchyard for a little while...

Doing what I do best - taking photos! Oh, and inside the church there were used books for sale so I bought two) - I'll have fun stuffing them in my suitcase in the morning :[

 I also found a cafe in this tiny village and enjoyed TWO pots of tea and discovered a wonderful treat called Flapjacks which are not pancakes but more like an oat scone and so delicious. And they had wifi!! I was able to have a conversation with my friend Jules, back in London, ON.

 Finally it was time to go to the B&B but I had a short wait while other guests (other walkers!) were shown to their rooms. So I amused myself in the garden...taking photos...

And ta da! My room! It was quite nice - the place was called Guiting Power Guest House and it was right across the street from the pub - YAY!

This was the B&B with the dodgy toilet. After I used it it wouldn't flush! I tried and tried and tried some more - even took the lid off and monkeyed around with the innards to no avail.

Finally, when I was going to go to have supper at the pub I told the owner about the problem...his reply - "are you sure?" Sigh...I only tried about 100 times!! Anyhoo he was able to sort it out while I was gone thankfully.

  The flowers were a nice touch!

 I could not believe the CHOICE at this pub of things to eat - inside there was a whole wall of blackboard covered in offerings - I had a heck of a time making a choice - but settled on...

 ...piri piri chicken - it was a HALF of a chicken!!  I was stuffed! Of course I had a pint of the local, and then another pint! :) The other folks who were staying at the guest house came in for dinner too so we all sat together and got to know each other. They thought I was so brave! Especially one of the older women, probably in her 60's, said she envied me being able to go at my own pace and do my own thing. We were to meet up several more times for meals together over the next few days and had a lot of laughs.

It rained a little during the night and was still sprinkling while we ate breakfast by the fire. We had the most delicious omelettes!

Once outside and on my way it had stopped raining but the path was wet. No matter. With my most excellent hiking boots I had no issues.

Off to Winchcombe!