In this weekly blog episode: Going on a historical journey across Cleeve Common thanks to a Heritage Open Day guided history walk.
Ah Autumn. It’s definitely here, isn’t it?! And I don’t know how I feel about that.
Actually, I do know how I feel about that. I don’t like it. I am not ready to say goodbye to summer yet; I mean, I am not done with the long sunny days. And I don’t feel like I made the most of the season. I know lots of people love Autumn, and I do enjoy the colours and the fact I can wear jumpers again (big fan of sweaters!). But if I had a choice, September – and maybe also October – would still be summer.
The worst part, though, is the fact the sun isn’t up before me anymore. The heavy cloud and (often torrential) rain hasn’t helped – the mornings this week have felt decidedly dull. Having to put the big light on to make my morning cuppa, and again when we eat dinner in the evening, is not filling me with energy or motivation. I’m doing my best, but if hibernation was on offer, I might take you up on it. It’s like the passing of the seasons gives me jet lag; I just want to sleep (and eat!).
My Week
Still, even whilst mourning summer’s demise, it’s been a decent week. I’ve kept up with my jogging (just two runs a week, still working on building up after my back issues), had a really fun evening chatting and eating Indian food with friends, and have cooked some decent meals, including returning to a really old carrot soup recipe I’d forgotten about (the food is another good thing about autumn).
I even managed to write an article that’s been in the works for weeks, sharing a selection of hikes to do in a long weekend. While the summer is my favourite season, all the things I get to do on those long days means writing generally takes a back seat in July and August. I’m not back into any kind of writing routine yet, but I can feel it coming… Maybe I’m talking myself into liking autumn?
In terms of getting outside, I paid a quick visit to Dunstall Castle on the way back from getting my car serviced. Part of Croome Court, the castle is a folly designed as an ‘outer eye-catcher’ – that is, built in order that people in the courtyard would be able to tell how large the estate was. Show off! Oh, and I rescued a common frog from my drive (but didn’t kiss it…).
My outdoors highlight since I last wrote a weekly blog episode was the ‘historical journey’ guided walk I joined on Saturday, and that’s what I want to focus on.
Historical Journey Across Cleeve Common
To celebrate Heritage Open Days, Cleeve Common Trust put on a (free – donation based) guided history walk, designed with people who like to go on long journeys in mind. Naturally, given my love of Cleeve Hill and of walking trails, I went along.
Cleeve Common is the largest common in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and is home to the highest point in the Cotswolds at 330m. It is a conservation area and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its geology, habitats and botany, and it contains a wealth of archaeological interest, including three Scheduled Monuments.
This particular event was focused on the hidden histories behind many of the tracks and trails that cross Cleeve Hill. Guided by historian David Aldred, who is the author of Cleeve Hill: the History of the Common and its People, we walked for around three miles over a couple of hours, and I did my best to take in all the information!
I was probably expecting David to talk about the famous Cotswold Way and Winchcombe Way, as these are the two trails that I first think of when heading to walk across Cleeve Hill. But no, right from the start – outside the Golf Club – David talked about tracks and paths which, while I’ve walked along them, I had not appreciated their significance.
Ancient Routes
For example, there is the original turnpike road from Winchcombe to Cheltenham, a toll road used by horses and carts until it became too difficult, and a new road was built a very short distance down the hill (now the B4632). Once that new road was built, a little settlement formed on the strip of land between the two roads (Cleeve Hill), with people sneakily stealing parts of the common to extend their houses and gardens.
David pointed out how the steep lanes that go to the hill from the valley would once have continued up and over the hill, providing access to the Golf Club, a shooting range, the original Cheltenham Racecourse (I visited the archaeological dig earlier this year), and more. One such road was the original route to Coventry, which went right over Cleeve Common in the 1600s (and probably before that). This road featured in the country’s first strip maps, created by John Ogilby in 1675.
It really was an incredibly interesting walk, spoiled only by the very low cloud meaning the view across the valley was non-existent on this occasion. If you are local, I do suggest keeping an eye out for future guided walks, they are worth your time.
And if you are looking to explore Cleeve Common yourself, I can recommend the History and Archaeology Walk, as well as this route which goes down to Breakheart Plantation.
See You Next Time…
Anyway, enough of the random facts I remember from my walk on Saturday (I did my best to take it all in!), I will leave you to get on with your day. If you’ve got time for some more reading, though, weekly blog episode 161 includes my first-impressions review of the BMW CE 02 electric motorbike, and weekly blog episode 157 sees me tackle Vogue’s 73 Questions.
See you next time.
Buy Me a Cuppa?
If you enjoyed this weekly blog episode and fancy supporting me and my mini adventures this year, you can “buy me a coffee” for £3 (well, a cup of tea, if that’s okay?). Head over to Ko-fi to find out more. Thank you.