For a look at all of our photos from our Cotswolds Adventure, click on this link: https://www.facebook.com/natural.trekking.3/media_set?set=a.10154548876146887.1073741940.593681886&type=3&comment_id=10154557882501887¬if_t=photo_album_comment¬if_id=1505935574940324
From Longborough, Donnington, Broadwell, Stow-on-the-Wold, Lower Slaughter & Back to Bourton. 14km
Up for breakfast and ready early for our hike. It looks like it has just rained and the forecast is for more rain. We are optimistic and don our rain gear just in case. I have chosen the medium hike lead by Gillian, and it looks like it will be just three of us with her – half of the Canadian contingent 😀.
The coach drops us off at Longborough and off we walk through one gorgeous little village after another. The trail follows part of The Monarch’s Way which was the escape route taken by King Charles II in 1651 after being defeated in the battle of Worcester. We also saw the monument for the Battle of Stow in 1646. This was during the English Civil War between Royalists and Parliamentarians from 1642 to 1651. The War ended with a Parliamentarian victory.
The weather held up until around 12noon and then it was more of a drizzle, and increased to a heavy drizzle. We stopped at the central square in Stow and plonked ourselves down under the trees to eat our lunch. Not the optimal lunch spot as each time the wind blew, the leaves would release extra rain down on us. It was quite comical.
We carried on and before long the rain had stopped again and we arrived back at Harrington House around 3:30pm. It was a great day and walk.
Tomorrow we leave this lovely place, so the balance of the afternoon was spent organizing our suitcases, checking in to flights and saying our farewells to the staff and friends we have met.
Tonight is HF Holidays infamous boat race, where guests build boats to sail down the River Windrush in town. People who had created a boat, brought them down and we ‘voted’ on them by putting money down on the ones we liked best (all funds go to a fund to benefit those that are unable to afford a holiday). Ellen and Helga are the creative ones from our group and put in two great entries. Helga even won second for design! After dinner, we will go down to the river and everyone will put in their boats and the race will be on.
Dinner is now served and we are treated to five courses tonight, oh dear the food is just so good, I will need to run back to London!
Photos of friends and staff are taken and it is now time for the boat race. It is absolutely hilarious to watch the participants set their boats in the water, as well as cheer them on as they race along the river. A good time was had by all and now it is time to say good night.
A fantastic week!!