Cost of the Cotswolds (and Norwich)

A reader, Jan, asked me a couple of questions the other day - how much approximately did my hiking trip cost and how did I physically prepare ahead of time for the kilometres of daily walking?

1) I am somewhat ashamed to say I have never tallied up the costs but will do so today.  I told a friend yesterday it was somewhere between $3,000 and $5,000!! Great estimate eh?  So...here goes...bear in mind these costs are in Canadian dollars.

• Flight: $760 ( you can't seem to get a flight to the UK from Toronto for under $700 anymore)
• Robert Q: $126.81 (transportation from London to the airport in Toronto and return trip)
• Cotswold Walking Tour (guidebooks, accommodations, breakfast, daily transportation of luggage) $1331.48 (9 days)
• Hotel in London for 1 night - $44.11
• B&B for 3 nights in Norwich - $240
• Oyster Card (for the underground, buses) $46.33 (I still have the card with lots left of on it for my next trip)
• trains: $260 total (Heathrow to Paddington, Paddington to Moreton in Marsh, Bartley to London, London to Norwich, Norwich to Gatwick)

• RBC Travel Insurance - $58.00
• Airport Meals - $80.00 (bloody expensive!!)

• Spending Money: 300L -> $555.00 Canadian.   I came back with maybe 20L - I tried to use it up before I left. I found this amount more than adequate to cover all of my dinners and lunches and cream teas :) plus entrance fees into Sudeley Castle, Broadway Tower and several other places, one taxi,  souvenirs, local beer... 

For other shopping I used my Mastercard - I didn't go too wild as I had to fit everything I purchased into my suitcase. I spent $465 Cdn. using Mastercard and that includes the duty-free and most of that was Christmas gifts for Kazi and other members of my family.

So, for flight, Robert Q, accommodations, trains, Oyster card, Meals, insurance the trip cost was:
$3502 
(+ $465 on Mastercard for Christmas gifts)

Not as bad as I thought!! And well worth the enjoyment I had from the experience.

2) Physical preparation:
Something that would have helped - more hill climbing! It was a lot hillier than I expected but I managed. My strategy was to walk backwards when my muscles started screaming. Walking backwards uses different muscles and was sort of like taking a bit of a break. I would still have to take a breather now and again - even stopping for 2 minutes really helps in the middle of a long climb.

For at least 6 or 7 years I've had a stationary bike in the basement that I use quite faithfully (15km last night) and for the past 2 years I've used my real bike to ride to work and back daily (not in the winter though!!) I also joined two hiking clubs and still try to hike 3 times a week (though I won't hike when it's colder than -10c!!)

The most important bit of preparation was wearing my hiking boots on all of my hikes prior to leaving on my trip - these are the most important things you'll need. My feet are size 7.5 but my boots are size 8 allowing ever so important wiggle room for toes. Expensive hiking socks with liners will prevent blisters and every night I massaged a ton of lotion into my feet. Take  care of your feet and they will take care of you!

I've ordered a guide book for a couple of hikes in the East Anglia area which is where Norwich is. I might try organizing my own hiking trip and use just a larger backpack (no suitcase). I'd like to try that sort of a trip (where I carry everything I need with me) to see if I can do it before I attempt something huge like walking the Camino.

Well Jan I hope that answers your questions adequately. It's certainly an amazing way to see and experience a place and has whet my appetite for further adventures!

Sudeley Castle

Here we go through Sudeley Castle grounds. The first ruins I encounter are those of the Tithe Barn which was built in the 1400's and which was partly destroyed during the Civil War. (The Parliamentarians or Roundheads vs the Royalists or Cavaliers - the Parliamentarians eventually won.) The Tithe Barn was where peasant farmers stored 1/10th of their crop which was given to the Church.

Now this beautiful space is home to many species of roses from around the world. It was such a peaceful space to enter & experience... ironically!

I really loved it here.

 Narrow windows for defense - hopefully your arrows would go out and find their mark but the opposing army's arrows would have difficulty finding their way in.

Now it's a quiet spot for contemplation.

A quiet bench anyone?

Now - off to the castle!

 This is a replica of a mosaic floor copied from a Roman villa.

One very beautiful entrance into the courtyard - sheep off in the distance! The sheep were the main source of wealth in this area and the main reason the neighbouring village of Winchcombe became a wealthy market town.

 The newel staircase was designed for defense as well - we've all seen the movies where one soldier is able to hold back an entire army on a spiral staircase!

Look, there he is now!

 Henry VIII visited Sudeley Castle from time to time - this exhibit shows Henry with his many wives.

Guess who sat in THIS chair!

  I was told I couldn't take any photos inside so I had to sneak this one of the Haunted Staircase! Victorian housemaids became afraid of using this staircase due to the many ghosts! It does look sort of spooky!

Outside to the famous KNOT garden which was based on the pattern of a dress once worn by Queen Elizabeth 1. She was coming for a visit so this maze was created in her honour.

Some of the glorious castle ruins...

 

 Oh look, there's the Queen now!! Oh, no, that's just me :)

  Look at that sky! I swear it clouded up and cleared up about 100 times this day!

This is a "living sculpture" of Queen Elizabeth 1 outside in her Presence Chamber where she would meet with courtiers and local dignitaries. As it develops trailing flowers will be trained to flow down the "skirt" of her dress.

Her Presence Chamber.

 The very beautiful St. Mary's Chapel where Henry VIII's last wife is buried. Catherine Parr was the only wife of Henry VIII's to outlive him. I guess she was very fortunate! As history goes she took very good care of Henry, more like a mother than a wife.

 Of course there's a gargoyle or two!

 And there is Catherine's tomb in a quiet niche.

 Ironically, six months after Henry VIII died she married Thomas Parr, an old flame, and died at age 36 during childbirth while living at Sudeley Castle. It is said that Catherine still haunts the castle hallways and garden.

 But now I must say goodbye to Sudeley Castle and head to my B&B in Winchcombe...but first...

 ...I must say goodbye to the sheep...

 ...and get back on the path...

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!