STOP PRESS: Please include your name and address when returning walk completion cards.
Walkers 397 - 399: Elske ter Veld, Inge Ruis & Japke Koositra
Home: Kotenhoef, Amsterdam, Groningen, The Netherlands
Dates: 17th - 24th April 2011
Comments: We started in Chipping Campden, the weather was - and stayed - sunny and dry. After the first "climb" we enjoyed the view - like we did all the other days too - and had a nice walk to Winchcombe and Stanway; Stanton is an even more perfect village.Walking on via Cleeve Hill to Coberley village; overwhelmed by woods - bluebells and wild garlic, our walk continued through near perfect English countryside to Painswick. Halfway to Bath we walked to Middle Yard; the next day in Dursley we stopped in "The Old Stop" (everyone should try an Old Eric). The route was perfectly marked and every evening there was a nice B&B waiting for us. What a lot of different kissing gates! And how nice to see the little dog gates next to the step-overs. The only thing that we missed - because of the warm and hazy weather - were views towards the Welsh Mountains - it was also nearly impossible to see the Severn. At the end of day eight we reached Bath, a beautiful sight and a perfect end of our walk. It had been a lovely walk!
Walker 396: Elaine Murdoch
Dates: 13th - 20th May 2011
Home: Woking, Surrey
Comments: Took a week off work to walk this glorious national trail. Great views, although cloudy some days. Saw many varieties of wild hedgerow flowers and colourful butterflies. Particularly enjoyed hearing the bells from St Peter's Church at Dyrham where a group of campanologists had arrived.
Walkers 394 & 395: John Yarnold and Tom Hayman-Joyce - The Hayman-Joyce Challenge.
Dates: 12th - 15th May 2011
Home: Broadway
Comments: It was a challenge to complete the walk in 4 days. Tom & I were raising money for 2 local charity's and it was head down most of the way. Scenery was fantastic and I would love to take my time next time!
Walkers 392 & 393: Florrie the dog accompanied by Chantelle & Robert Edwards
Dates: 10th October - 16th October 2009
Home: Altrincham, Cheshire
Comments: Chantelle and I walked the Cotswold Way starting on Saturday lunchtime 10th October from Chipping Campden and we completed it on Friday 16th October mid-afternoon, having stayed in B&Bs along the way. We walked with our dog, Florrie and would like a certificate for her in recognition!
Walkers 390 & 391: Crystal Chung & Sanna Yuet
Dates: 26th - 30th April 2011
Home: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Comments: Sanna - Hiking with a 20lb backpack was difficult on the uphill climbs, but once I reached the top the viewpoint was worth it - beautiful landscape, quiet and idyllic country lanes, the friendliness of the locals (especially when we were clearly lost - even with a map in hand) made this a fantastic hiking experience. PS: I was even able to retrieve a lost hat from the 606 bus driver almost an hour after losing the item!!
Crystal: Rolling hills, beautiful scenery, beautiful weather, numerous bank holidays, Royal wedding, full rucksacks/camp gear, entertaining bus drivers, interesting locals, wonderful pubs/inns.
Walkers 380 - 389: The Irregulars L.D.W.A. - Ann Robinson, Frank Jennings, Alan Tinker, Dave Sheldon, Dave Adams, Andy Mohun-Smith, Chris Johnson, Jim Catchpole, Jean Bobker, John Moseley
Home: Stockport
Dates:
Comments: Fabulous walk, great history. Scenery and wildflowers outstandingly beautiful.
Walkers 378 & 379: Peter & Jean Burke
Home:
Dates: February 15th - February 22nd 2009
Comments: The weather was dry, but with deep snow when we started off. Some of the fields in the first two days were incredibly sticky and masses of clay had to be scraped off the boots from time to time. But little by little the snow disappeared and the last few days were delightful walking. The signposting throughout was spot on and we had no "false trails".
Walker 377: James Rhodes
Home: Liversidge, West Yorkshire
Dates: 11th - 16th April 2011
Comments: We left Bath on Monday morning, 11 April and arrived at Chipping Campden on Saturday 16 April. Enjoyed the walk, but would have liked to have gone through more Cotswold villages. Stanton was my favourite, absolutely unspoilt and beautiful. I also found after having completed several long distance walks, that this one was the hardest, but just maybe I'm getting a littler older!
Walkers 375 & 376: Amy & Seb Kosmala
Home: Stroud & London
Dates: 23 - 24 April 2011
Comments: Fantastic weather, company, views - friends that helped us along the way. The wild garlic was wonderful. Completed the trail with my brother.
Walkers 373 & 374: Martin Green & Steve Burrows
Dates: 2007 - 2011
Home: Wigginton, Tring
Comments: My pal, Steve Burrows and I have just completed the "way" after 4 years which has seen him have a hip replacement and my recent diagnosis of Parkinson's so you can tell it has been a journey of many aspects, but fabulous views remain with us - it was a fantastic route. I will present Steve with his badge over a well deserved celebratory pint we have promised ourselves .... and once he has his other hip replaced I will not be able to catch him on our next walk ;-))
Walkers 369 - 372: Rachael & Stuart Johnstone, Ian & Jan Wickham
Home: Derby
Dates: 21st - 28th April 2011
Comments: We started out in Chipping Campden on 21st April and stumbled into Bath a few blisters later on 28th April. We had a wonderful time on the walk, the weather was just amazing, even a little too hot at times, espcially when tackling the hills. There were so many sights along the way, spring lambs, buzzards and wild deer to mention but a few. For me though, the highlight came in the woodland sections of the walk which were carpeted in gorgeous bluebells and wild garlic.
I would definitely recommend the Mount Inn at Stanton, that extra climb is certainly worth it, and also the Dog Inn in Old Sodbury has an excellent menu, not to mention a good selection of ciders to try out (nothing beats a pint of Pheasant Plucker on a hot spring afternoon!). This was our first national trail experience and if the Cotswold Way is anything to go by, it definitely won't be our last.
Walkers 367 & 368: Tony & Diane Duke
Home: Southam, Warwickshire
Dates: June 2010 - April 2011
Comments: Our first National Trail - and we've really enjoyed it. Loved the scenery, wildlife, history, sunshine and exercise - and also the rain, mud and occasional blisters! We did the walk spread over a year, mostly 2010. Thanks to everyone involved in maintaining the paths - you do a great job!
Walker 366: John Bullard
Home: Winterslow, Salisbury, Wiltshire
Dates: 20th - 25th March 2011
Comments: The 6 day hike was glorious, sunny and warm every day and I walked in shorts and T shirt although it was March! The trail was in great condition and really well signed and took in many beautiful villages and views. I loved it.
Walker 365: Mystery walker - no name or address included. 
If this is your story and picture, please let us have some details of where we can send your badge! Thanks.
Dates: 28th March - 2nd April 2011
Comments: The mist obscured the views of the Severn (this time) but I still enjoyed such towns as Winchcombe. But my highlights were springtime with a fox, ditto barking in the night, red flower tree blossoms and birds such as chaffinch, blackbirds, tits and other "small birds". Only one wet day!
Walker 364: Liz Macdonald
Home: Gloucester
Dates: March 31st - 7th April 2011
Comments: This must be the best time to walk the Way; the birds are singing, the lambs abound, the grass is so green and fresh, but the nettles haven't yet taken a hold! Hard work but a challenge worth doing.
Walker 363: Ben Goodger
Home: Upton-upon-Severn
Dates: 21st - 26th March 2011
Comments: I walked south to north and I think my first highlight was reaching Wotton-under-Edge on the evening of the 2nd day and then climbing Wotton Hill for an awesome view of the town, followed by an even better view from the Tyndale monument. The whole of the next day was was a delight, with the Tyndale monument always visible in the distance, acting as a beacon to remind me how far I'd walked.
Walker 362: Peter Asplen
Home: Chippenham, Wilts
Dates: 14th - 18th March 2011
Comments: Day 1 - Chipping Campden to Hayles Fruit Farm about 15 miles; Day 2 - Hayles Fruit Farm to Birdlip about 26 miles; Day 3 - Birdlip to King's Stanley about 16 miles; Day 4 - King's Stanley to Sodbury about 27 miles; Day 5 - Sodbury to Bath about 18 miles.
Highs of the Journey: Broadway Tower, Hailes Abbey, Cleeve Common, Tyndale & Somerset Memorials, the views, dog walkers & Court Farm, King's Stanley
Lows of the journey: Foot pain, those ........ loops, Friday's rain, inconsiderate car drivers!
If I did it again: Stay in B&B and not camp, take 7 days instead of 5, patch my feet early and not when they hurt!
Walkers 360 & 361: Damian & Julie Towler
Dates: March 2011
Home: Queensland, Australia
Comments: We have done this walk as the highlight of a round-the-world trip from Australia to celebrate our Silver (25th) Wedding Anniversary. It was much tougher than we expected. However, we completed it and are very proud to have done so. Thank you to all the good folk who value the wilderness, we are aware of the sacrifice and generosity of so many for so long. Some of the hightlights: the finish in Bath, the lonely and beautiful woods, the Mount Inn at Stanton and the friendly locals.
Walker 359: Christine Carter
Home: Chadlington, Chipping Norton
Dates: September 2009
Comments: Discovering the Cotswolds in which I live are so up & down hills with wonderful views, amazing woods and trees. The history of the landscape is also wonderful to learn about within the monuments along the route.
Walker 336 - 358: Cotswold Voluntary Wardens group
Dates: May 2010 - March 2011
Home: Cheltenham / Gloucester area
Comments: The Cotswold Voluntary Wardens each year organise a led walk of the Cotswold Way. There are eleven monthly stages of some ten miles each, except for the last one which is shorter to allow time for a celebratory lunch. A small coach took our party of 22 from Winchcombe to the start of each walk, met us for coffee at mid morning, took us to the lunch venue which was invariably a lovely Cotswold pub and brough us back to Winchcombe at the end of the day. The walk started from Bath, rather than the traditional start from Chipping Campden so that the longer coach journeys could be made during the summer. We were the eighteenth year walking group and it was pleasing that we did most of the walk in 2010, the 40th anniversary of the Cotswold Way. The whole walk was a great experience, with superb views of the Cotswold escarpment ahead and behind, the Severn Valley below and even as far as the Black Mountains in Wales, seeing lovely villages, interesting historical monuments and sites and ancient woods, fields and meadows worked by man for centuries. It was good to see the Cotswolds over the seasons, luckily it was dry on most days, with the walk up from Bath in May being very hot and in December on Cleeve Hill snowing and cold but most exhilarating.
Finally, many thanks to all the wardens who led the various individual stages and for the efficient way the whole walk was organised.
Paul Kaye
Walkers 334 & 335: Anne & Keith Filbey
Dates: 29 August - 4 September 2010
Comments: Anne and I accompanied by various friends for parts of the walk, had a most successful walk along the Cotswold Way from 29 August to 4 September 2010. More importantly, we raised £25,200 (which rises to £27,700 with Gift Aid) for the Sue Ryder Care Hospice at Leckhampton.
Walkers 332 & 333: Lucy & Kate Cheng
Home: Goring-on-Thames
Dates: 26th September 2009 - 30th October 2010
Comments: The walk took us over a year and Lucy and I walked it all, her brother and father walked most of it with us! The walk from Stanton to Winchcombe was very beautiful - we walked in late summer and really enjoyed it. Lucy's highlight was playing in a spring in Witcombe Wood; for me it was walking it in memory of my dad who died at the end of 2009 and didn't live to see us finished; but he would have been very proud of us both.
Walkers 328 - 331: John & Bea Palmer, Pete & Indira Barnard
Home: Bristol & Broughton Astley, Leics
Dates: 12th June - 18th October
Comments: A 9 day walk spread over 4 "weekends" starting 12th June ending 18th October, during which we were lucky to experience only one hour of rain (conveniently whilst we were in woods). The highlights were the company of our friends, the variety of stop-overs (mainly pubs), both lunchtime and evenings - Nibley House being the most fascinating, the panoramic views of Cheltenham, the Severn, Bristol (from Lansdown) and Bath amongst many, the variety of flora and fauna - a highlight being the flight of the heron (near Dyrham Park). The lows were having to climb the hills from Stanway, Dowdeswell and Dursley, but as they say, "no pain, no gain". A very well marked trail but not foolproof so a good guide book was money well spent.
Walkers 324 - 327: Bill Well, Mary Well, Patricia Howett & Jose Couto
Home: Castro Valley, California
Dates: 6th - 16th September 2008
Comments: We started out from Chipping Campden on 6th September '08 and arrive in Bath on 16th September '08. The hike, in spite of all the mud and rain was outstanding. As you Brits put it, it was absolutely lovely. The trail was very well signed and we stayed on track all the way. By the way, we will be doing the Dales Way come May 2011. We have already done 2 other national trails as well as cycling Hadrian's Wall and have enjoyed them all immensely.
Walkers 322 & 323: Aron Lane & Sarah Evered
Home: Cheltenham & Aylesbury
Dates: 19th March - 29th December 2010
Comments: We left Chipping Campden on 19th March, a beautiful warm day and walked into Bath on 29th December 2010, a very foggy grey day just after the snow had thawed. We split the walk into 14 legs and used the National Trail book as our guide.
We enjoyed every walk, seeing the variety of the seasons, feeling the elements and the beautiful landsape along the way. We had friends join us on a couple of walks. On 11th September between Painswick and King's Stanley we met three men who were walking the whole trail in three days, very impressive! Enjoyed reading the messages left in the message book on our penultimate walk into Bath. Thank you to all the volunteers who have done such a good job keeping the path so well maintained.
Walkers 320 & 321: Ross & Christine Dale
Home: Ewing, New Jersey, USA
Dates: 24th May - 3rd June 2010
Comments: We loved the walk. We live in the United States but have done several walks in England, including the Cleveland Way and a part of the South West Coastal Path. We hope to do more walking in the UK in the future. The Cotswold Way is a lovely mix of countryside and beautiful villages and towns. All of our innkeepers were wonderful and added to the positive experience. We also met many wonderful people along the way, along the trail during the day and in the pubs and restaurants in the evening.
Walkers 316 - 319: Ann Marshall, Clare Wherrett, Hilary Barratt and Jennifer Barratt
Home: Leonard Stanley, Stonehouse
Dates: March 2010 - December 2010
Comments: Four of us started the Cotswold Way with the idea we would walk a section once every month. and we commenced (in rain) in Chipping Campden eventually finishing the trail in Bath on December 11th. The views along the way were spectacular. Out of 9 sections only the first one was wet, but there were lots of places to stop for coffee and cake.
The final leg was exciting and did not disappoint - walking into Bath through the gates into Victoria Park, past Royal Crescent and onto the Abbey. We had done it! We then had a celebratory meal before re-visiting Bath the following day for Christmas shopping and the last day of the Christmas market.
Walkers 314 & 315: Wayne & Ben Francis
Home: Cricklade, Wilts
Dates: 27th July - 1st August 2010
Comments: On our regular day walks we're always talking about doing a whole trail so, when we had a few days spare at the end of July we decided to give the Cotswold Way a go.
We started at Chipping Campden, camping in gardens near Cleeve Hill and Cooper's Hill at the end of days 1 & 2. Carrying full camping kit though was making our 4 day schedule look a bit too tough so, on day 3, once we reached Painswick we called in ground support! With Mum ferrying our heaviest kit we made up a few miles reaching North Nibley where we camped out on a wet and windy night in the beautiful rose garden of Nibley House. At the start of day 4, still determined to stay on schedule, we were making arrangements for a late night finish in Bath; by tea time we'd been talked into an early finish at Tormarton!
Thanks to the landlord of the Major's Retreat we enjoyed an evening drinking beer and eating steak and ale pie and an easy Sunday stroll into Bath with time for brunch at Dyrham Park. We're now planning our next National Trail but will definitely do this beautiful walk again.
Walkers 283 - 313: The RAMs
Dates: April 2009 - October 2010
Home: Cheltenham/Gloucester area
Comments: The RAMs are a group of retired men and women, mostly based in the Cheltenham/Gloucester area, who get together for a wide range of social activities. Half day walks are the most popular but, for fitter members, whole day walks along well known long distance trails are arranged. The Cotswold Way was our latest venture.
We split the walk into 13 legs, all less than 10 miles and each with car parking near the end point of a leg and used a hired coach to take us to the beginning at a cost of about £3 per head. This system works well for a large group like ours. Of the thirty or so starters, twenty seven completed the whole of the Cotswold Way. I think this makes us the largest group on this "Hall of Fame" so far.
The whole walk was a great experience with wonderful scenery, pretty villages, very good and sometimes outstanding food at the pubs and other hostelries where we had lunch. Weather was mixed but then it's the wet, windy, rainy days that we smile about most when looking back at our days on the Cotswold Way!
Walkers 279 - 282: Anne Adams, Janet Bowyer, Susan Campbell & Liz Graham
Home: Hyde, Cheshire
Dates: 3 - 10 August 2010
Comments: A memorable experience, spectacular scenery, fabulous views, picturesque little villages, friendly people, the lions of Bath. A very well sign posted and easy to follow route. An occasion to remember forever.
Walkers 277 & 278: Carol & Bill Tweedie
Home: Plymouth
Dates: 24th - 27th July 2009
Comments: During our walk we experienced all types of weather and enjoyed it all. Surprisingly, we didn't meet that many walkers en-route except for a walking party of about 6 from Stoke on the final day from Tormarton to Bath. The way was well marked and we only took the wrong route whilst I was admiring the view and missed a marker! We found the walk exhilarating and now structure our holidays around trails and seeing the countryside.
Walkers 275 & 276: David & Stephen Heath
Home: Barrowford, Lancs
Dates: 3 - 7 July 2010
Comments: We both enjoyed the walk very much, if anything our only complaint was the amount of the route that took place through woodland where the only view was trees. This is our fourth long distance footpath, having done the West Highland Way and the Ridgeway previously; the hardest of these being the Cotswold Way.
Walkers 273 & 274: Neil Matthews & Michele Broome
Home: Bath
Dates: Weekends during 2010
Comments: We can see the Cotswold Way from our bedroom window and have often walked a short stretch of it as one our favourite evening strolls. We decided to explore it further one Sunday and ended up at Cold Ashton, the walk was so beautiful we wanted to keep going! So we have spend most of our Sundays this year nibbling chunks off the Cotswold Way and two weekends of longer walks later we are happy to say we have completed the trail. The bug has bitten us and for our next challenge it's the South West Coast Path.
Walkers 268 - 272: Tim Whitcher, Tom Oliver, Richard Flaherty, Padraic Dunne and Mark Kilby
Home: Chippenham, Wilts
Dates: 16th - 18th October
Comments: Five of us from Invensys Rail set off to do a challenge in aid of raising money for a new water system for a school in Kenya & overall we have raised over £1000 in sponsorship. We set off from Chipping Campden at about 6am to walk to Upper Coberley, staying at the Needlehole Forge where we were warmly met and reminded about how crazy it was to be doing the walk in 3 days. We set off even earlier the following day after a nice breakfast and made it above Cheltenham just as the sun was starting to show. Then after trying to find the Devil's Chimney in the dark we decided to press forward to cover the 40+ miles that day. Our final destination was Hawkesbury Upton and Coombe Farm, where once again the hospitality we received was amazing. We were fed well and taken care of for the next day was the final straight. Trying to get going again was difficult, moral was a bit lower, but powering through was the aim of the game. We reached Pennsylvania for lunch in the petrol station, making slower but steady pace. Finally at 7.10pm, after having our hopes raised by the sight of Bath, then climbing and descending the countless hills before the finish line, we got there. Welcomed to a lovely drink in the Crystal Palace pub. We are all proud of what we did and the amount we were able to raise for the school; however we still can't feel our feet :).
Walkers 266 & 267: Lisa Hardy and Emma Gardner
Home: Highbridge, Somerset & Spennymoor, Durham
Dates: 14th - 23rd September 2010
Comments: What an enjoyable place to spend our first walking trip! We learnt a lot from this journey; very early on we realised that most other people weren't carrying all of their belongings with them and also that neither of us are too keen on cows! Walking in the unconventional direction of south to north, we found we bumped into a lot of lovely people going in the other direction and at our B&Bs. We had the first day very rainy, followed by nine days of beautiful sunshine. We also ate lots of cheese.
Walkers 263 - 265: Robert Harrison, M Harrison & Hilda Levine
Home: Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Dates: August 2010
Comments: We had a wonderful walk. Staying in Stanton and watching the sun set was just amazing. Views of Cheltenham from top of hills was special. Enjoyed our visit to Painswick with its Old Post Office and lovely church. Staying at Hambutts Mynd and being served by John, at breakfast who is 95! Completed message book in Dyrham Woods.
Walkers 261 - 262: Penny Leptick & Ginette Bernard
Dates: 21st May - 30th May 2009
Home: Ontario, Canada
Comments: Starting in Chipping Campden we spent an extra day enjoying the village and surrounding countryside. What a beautiful place! The wisteria was incredible. On our first day we managed to get lost almost immediately - once we realised that we should follow yellow arrows with Cotswold Way National Trail on them, it helped immensely! Which is not to say we still didn't lose our way, but I do think we managed to find the most beautiful walk in England on our very first try.
We were fortunate that the wild garlic was in bloom during our walk, and what a wonderful aroma. Being from Canada, we were of course enamoured with the thatched roofs of the cottages, old stone buildings and the vast array of stiles - including a couple for dogs!
Bath was a wonderful finish to our journey and we spent an extra day there. I really can't find enough superlavites to describe our Cotswold Way walk and it has provided me and my friends with many wonderful memories.
Walkers 259 - 260: Deborah & Gary Ferguson
Home: Seattle, USA
Dates: 29th August - 6th September 2010
Comments: We had (mostly) beautiful weather to enjoy walking through the lush fields and meadows. The age and history of the towns and even Roman ruins was impressive to us, who live in such a new city (Seattle, USA). All our B&B's were comfortable and accommodating. The variety and number of gates to pass was pretty impressive too!
Walkers 255 - 258: Tara, Nikki & Lauren Pepperell & Claire Birch
Dates: 1st - 7th October 2010
Home: Chalford Hill, Stroud
Comments: We left Chipping Campden on Friday 1st October in torrential rain which didn't ease up until the evening. From then on (with the exception of Sunday morning) we had wonderful weather. It was an amazing experience which we'll never forget and we raised over £1300 for the British Heart Foundation. Highlights were coming into Cheltenham from Cleeve Common and coming into Dursley from Uley. Views were incredible and we loved every bit of it!
Walkers 253 & 254: Peter Fayers and Andrew Cornwell
Home: Geddington, Northants & Sudbury, Suffolk
Dates: 26th September - 2nd October 2010
Comments: Heading north to south we started in Chipping Campden on Sunday morning, hopeful of meeting our other halves in Bath seven days later. Not a bad morning as it turned out, in fact it was proved to be one of the best i.e. not raining. Passed through Broadway, a beautiful village, setting the scene for many of the towns and villages visited throughout the walk. (Still not raining). Day 2, 4 and 5 - raining, day 6 however brought a change in conditions - torrential rain and high winds, a canoe would have been a better choice of transport. However, this simply served to make both of us all the more grateful for the friendly and very welcoming B&B/pub hosts we met along the way. We haven't forgotten day 3, we just didn't see it - thick fog. Day 7 - a truly beautiful beginning to the day, only 18.5 miles remained between us and the conclusion of the walk. We finally arrived in the centre of Bath and seeing my wife's face across the crowded street in front of the Abbey was the best highlight of the walk! We finished up that evening having a wonderful meal and more than a few glasses of wine.
Walkers 249 - 252: The Riverside Ramblers - Sally, Charlotte, Lorraine and Lisa
Home: Bourton-on-the-Water
Dates: September 2010
Comments: Beautiful views, soggy feet, blisters, bee stings, eating lots of sweets. Big hills, lots of laughter, singing, suntan lotion, flower identifying. Spring watch, time team, story telling, cow pats, cows, topographys, posh picnics, tyre swings & welcome hot coffee courtesy of Owen.
Walkers 244 - 248: John Vivian, Tony Rowley, Ian Ramsay, Lawrence Snook & Barrie Timms
Dates: weekends between 1987 - 1991
Home: Bristol
Comments: Seems a long time to do it, but we were all working & so it was a Saturday night B&B and 2 days walking. We are so lucky to live near the Cotswolds. Rather than a continuous walk we seemed to have walked split up sections. The favourite - Wootton under Edge to Tyndale's Monument - Leckhampton Common to Cooper's Hill - Stanton to Stanway - all marvellous and a sad moment when we finished (touching the door of Bath Abbey).
Walkers 242 & 243: Tina & John McDonald
Home: Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland
Dates: 11th - 18th September 2010
Comments: A great walk as our first ever walking holiday. Weather great. Please try the walk - it is worth every minute and blister.
Walkers 236 - 241: Tom Hahn & Cappy Hahn, New Hampshire; Polly Eddy, Rhode Island; Linden & Carl Berry, California; Sue Cleland, London
Dates: September 2010
Comments: Water garden at Stanway House; Cleeve Common golf - wind and sheep - how do they play? Painswick - yew trees, St Mary's and the Post Office! Dursley - North Nibley + Black Horse Pub. Wotton - Indian restaurant. The whole escarpment along the way; Lansdown Hill battlefield.
Walker 235: Stephen Harvey
& Kathy Harvey
Home: Bristol
Dates: September 2010
Comments: Very enjoyable mostly but obviously very hard bearing in mind the weather was changeable. We left Chipping Campden in the rain with a plan to reach Winchcombe around 5.00pm for our first overnight stop. Overnight was hard bearing in mind 18 miles on the first day - second was better we arrived for a very welcome cup of tea at Langett before pushing onto our second nights stay at the Old Post Office, Coberley. Next day was slightly easier and better weather as we finished in Painswick by the church (we did not count the 99 trees). At this stage we got a lift home to Yate where I live. Next day was easier albeit the last bit over Cam Long Down was tough (had a pint at the Old Spot which helped). We finished by the Somerset Monument again in the pouring rain and the following day slightly better weather on and off. Last day 10 miles - lovely day, finished in Bath at around 2.00pm.
Walker 234: Daniel Brown
Home: Bath
Comments: There are so many highlights. The people were as memorable as the gorgeous views. Highly recommended!
Walkers 217 - 233: Dave & June Maloney, Alan & Heather Shepherd, Dave & June Best, Kevin & Amanda 
Bennett, John & Sue Jenkins, Rob & Jane Hulin, Chris Nolan, Pam Battenbury, Eileen Rumble, Laura Brown
Home: Bath
Dates: September 2010
Comments: On Sunday 12th September, 16 of us finished the Cotswold Way and raised £10,000 for the cancer unit at Bath RUH. We were a group of walkers from the Bell Inn at Lacock (National Trust Village in Wiltshire); Alan and Heather have owned the pub for 10 years and we were sponsored by family and friends to walk the Cotswold Way as part of the fundraiser events. Most of us found it a challenge, as only 2 of us are actually hikers, but it was well worth the effort for the views and experience.
Walkers 215 & 216: Muriel &Terry Holland
Dates: 8th - 12th August 2010
Home: March, Cambridge
Comments: My son & I started the Cotswold Way from Chipping Campden on 8th August and finished on Thursday 12th August at Bath Abbey. This was our 10th National Trail and was definitely not found wanting in any area. The signing was excellent and the villages we passed through were really lovely. There were endless points of interest such as the Battlefield at Lansdown, the barrow at Belas Knap and the circle of trees planted to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo near Wotton-under-Edge. The walk provided wonderful panoramic views at the end of each climb and even walking into Bath we were delighted with the views of things we had only heard of but never seen first hand.
Walkers 213 & 214: Wendy & Yael Rimon
Home: Israel
Dates: August 2010
Comments: A few weeks ago, my daughter Yael and I returned home after hiking the Cotswold Way. We want to thank you for maintaining the Way so well. The stiles were in good order and the Way was very well signed. The arrows on the posts and the acorns inset into the wooden posts were always a welcome sign!
First 2 days kept bumping into a young couple who were long distance runners. They did the way in 5 days with heavy packs on their backs. There were deer outside Broadway Tower; we watched as sheep were herded into a narrow canal and swam thru a disinfectant - very interesting to watch!
Walkers 211 & 212: Jon & Thekla Brinsmead
Home: Guiildford, Surrey
Dates: 18th - 24th August 2010
Comments: My husband and I walked the Cotswold Way from 18th - 24th August. This was my first long distance walk and I found the walk very challenging. I was pleased to have managed to walk up all the hills and enjoy all the views. It was good to walk through all types of weather and on different terrain. Walking along ancient paths where so many had done before me. Highlights included sitting outside the Mount Inn at Stanton looking at the sunset and seeing all the limestone buildings glowing in its light. So many unexpected sights; walking along a beautiful field of pink clover near Dyrham, seeing some amusing gargoyles at the church in Winchcombe and finally getting a glimpse of Bath beneath us at Prospect Stile.
Walkers 205 - 210: Simon & Judith Rouch, Sally & Andy Hopkinson and dogs, Fig & Pie
Home: Stratford upon Avon & Snitterfield, Warwickshire
Dates: October 2008 - July 2009
Comments: After a fine meal and possible an extra glass of wine we agreed to attempt to walk the Cotswold Way. We broke it down into 12 legs over 9 months starting from Chipping Campden. The two dogs (Fig & Pie) joined us throughout and probably covered 3 times the distance as 
they went off on their own adventure! We were lucky with the weather as it didn't rain once on our walk although we did have 3ft snowdrifts, ice and sub zero temperatures to contend with as well as fantastic sunshine. Highlights have to include the views over Cheltenham, wonderful woodlands, the flora and fauna and some great hostelries which appeared at the end of each walk. Well done to the National Trail volunteers for maintaining a clear and well signposted walk. We had such a good time we are considering doing it in reverse from Bath to Chipping Campden.
Walker 204: Peter Fox
Home: Bath
Dates: April - August 2010
Comments: I started the walk as part of the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens organised south to north walk in the glorious spring weather of late April 2010 but unfortunately missed out on one day. This missing link was completed on a drizzly summer day in late August 2010. Highlights were the beautiful Hamswell Valley, Hailes Church with its impressive wall paintings, the steep descent and ascent to Dowdeswell Reservoir and the Cotswold Lions near to Broadway. Many thanks to wardens David Whitnell, Judith Slee & Box Cole for organising the walk.
Walker 203: Adheem Malik
Home: Earlsdon, Coventry
Dates: 21st - 26th August 2010
Comments: I set off from Chipping Campden on Saturday 21st August and arrived in Bath on Thursday 26th August, taking 6 days (though in hindsight I should have planned to walk the way in 7 days, judging by how sore I was from all those hills!). Although it rained on here and there, I had an amazing time, walking through both lovely countryside and gorgeous villages and market towns. I camped at Hailes Fruit Farm, B&B'd in Leckhampton, camped again at Croft Farm on the outskirts of Stroud, and then again in the grounds of Nibley House, followed by a bed and a chance to dry my wet clothes at the Major Retreat in Tormarton. It was an active few days, followed by some much needed rest (and a bit of drinking) in Bath - what a destination!
Walkers 201 & 202: Filippo Fossati & Roberta Grosso
Home: Novara, Italy
Dates: 24th July - 1st August 2010
Comments: We did the Cotswold Way (north-south) this year from 24th July to the 1st August. It was wonderful to disappear into the English country. The weather helped us (no rain) but anyway the cool English air allowed us to walk with a sense of well being, kind people and delightful villages and hamlets. My wife has been enthusiastic. We already did Hadrian's Wall and now we can thank God the English National Trail exists.
Walker 200: Annie Parmenter
Home: Snowshill, Worcestershire
Dates: 11th - 26th August 2010
Comments: The views along the way were spectacular, the villages idyllic and the people we met along the way so friendly and interesting to talk to. So wonderful to see countryside I know so well from a different perspective - that of an unhurried walker! I would also like to say how clearly signposted and kept the trail is and how much we enjoyed it.
Walker 199: Eleni Karkasi
Home: Athens, Greece
Dates: July 2010
Comments: Thank you for the excellent marking of the way! Nice pubs, picturesque villages! Stanton was probably my favourite. Arriving in Bath was as if a dream come true!
Walker 198: Vanna Karkasi
Home: Athens, Greece
Dates: July 2010
Comments: The walk was amazing! Excellent bed and breakfasts along the way. We had excellent weather, too hot at times, didn't have a day of rain!
Walkers 196 & 197: Jamie & Wendy Mair
Home: Kings Stanley, Stonehouse
Dates: 8th - 16th August 2010
Comments: Enjoyed walking through Middleyard - our home village - and the surrounding countryside. Beautiful views.
Walkers 194 & 195: Debbie Christmas and Andrew Graham
Home: Leamington Spa
Dates: 17th - 26th August 2010
Comments: We walked north from Bath enjoying some beautiful villages and countryside. We also discovered wonderful village pubs and a taste for real ale! After celebrating the official finish in Chipping Campden with a cream tea, we then continued walking for another 2 days back home to Leamington, via the Monarch's Way!
Walker 193: Tamsin Bramley
Home: Headington, Oxford
Dates: 4th - 26th August 2010
Comments: My friend Annie and I spent 10 enjoyable days walking the trail from north to south. We were joined by different friends and dogs for various sections. We found the ups and downs quite tough and were disappointed to have no visibility on the last descent into Bath! But so proud of our summer holiday achievement.
Walkers 191 & 192: Angela & Brian Campbell
Home: Bathwick, Bath
Dates: 11th - 20th August 2010
Comments: We completed the walk in 5 days - north to south, to raise funds for Julian House, Bath. Highlights? Discovering quiet picturesque Cotswold villages, views from high ridges and beacons over vast tracts of countryside and walking towards Bath Abbey in the late afternoon sunshine. A great walk.
Walkers 189 - 190: Liam Gudgeon and friend (sorry but you didn't include your name or an address to send the badges to!)
Dates: 31st July - 3rd August 2010
Comments: Myself and Liam Gudgeon did the Cotswold Way for the Cobalt Cancer Charity all 102 miles camping out along the way; one of the highlights was crossing paths with a young buck deer in the woods on the way to Coaley Peak & camping at Hodgecoombe Farm with it's great views.
Walker 188: Rob Dickinson
Home: Willersey, Broadway
Dates: 14th February 2010 - 21st August 2010
Comments: It was a pleasure to walk in good company through some beautiful countryside, and to be able to join together places I know well and see again the wide views over the Severn.
Walker 187: Jude Halperin
Home: Willersey, Broadway
Dates: 14th February 2010 - 21st August 2010
Comments: Starting out on February 14 on a bright, sunny day, then staggering uphill through squelching mud in April, wandering spellbound through the bluebells in Standish Wood, until arriving (damply) in Bath to a burst of sunshine.
Walkers 185 - 186: Kay & Chris Jolly
Home: Essex
Dates: 3 - 9 August 2010
Comments: The weather was, on the whole, kind to us which made the experience more enjoyable. Some of the hills were an unexpected challenge and we soon realised that if we went down we would very soon be going up again. The scenery is stunning and the villages welcoming. The Old Spot Inn at Dursley's beer festival was a lovely surprise and several of the beers had to be sampled although it was only lunchtime. The Painswick Craft Festival was also a lovely diversion. The accommodation was varied but always friendly and hospitable, along with the people we met on the way. We have been to Bath many times to visit friends but have never approached it from fields and woodland, just the A46!
Walker 184: F Sabatini
Home: Milan, Italy
Dates: April 2010
Comments: We (myself and my 'significant other') have walked the Northern half of the Way (Chipping Campden to Stroud canal) in three and half days in Oct. 2007. I have also written a short article about the experience which is going to be published on a newsletter of the Italian Alpine Club (Milan branch) later this month. I am enclosing copy of the article, although it is in Italian, as it includes a few pictures taken on the trail.
We returned to the Cotswolds last month (April 2010), and walked the Southern section (from Bath to Stonehouse) in 3 days.
I might add that we absolutely fell in love with area, and will certainly return! Thank you,
F. Sabatini
Walker 183: Kathleen Randall
Home: Sibford Ferris, Banbury
Dates: October 2009 - June 2010
Comments: What a fabulous walk - quaint villages, friendly shop owners, pub landlords, extremely helpful staff at TIC in Chipping Campden and Bath. Roman snails by path at Wistley Hill, nr Seven Springs, excellent tea & warmth at Olivias Delicatessen, Painswick; misty autumn beechwoods at Haresfield Common; Nympsfield Long Barrow & views to the Severn. Clear blue skies, autumn colour, berries. Wonderful names on signs - Nibley Knoll, Uley, Ozleworth. Quaint Wotton-under-Edge - must return and explore. Sodbury Camp, ancient hill fort. Autumn colour on specimen trees in Dodington Park! High stone stiles, the motorway and signs to Bath!! Music in the streets, carnival atmosphere. Fantastic walk!
Walker 182: Mary Jean Link
Home: Princeton, New Jersey, USA
Comments: Walked the Cotswold Way north to south as a solo walker in 10 days plus a rest day. Highlights included: the view from Painswick Beacon in full sun and strong wind after a day and a half of rain showers, being invited to join the regulars at a village pub for a drink and a chat, exploring Hailes Abbey and Dyrham Park, developing expertise at identifying Iron Age forts, the fascinating variety of fields, villages, farms, woods, views and gate latches, soaking tired joints in the Roman hot springs in Bath on completing the trail, and the friendly B&B owners and fellow walkers met along the way.
Walker 181: Janet Young
Home: Yeovil
Dates: 19th - 26th July 2010
Comments: The wonderful views over the Vale of Evesham and the Malvern Hills. Views over Cheltenham, glorious woodland walks; the wildlife - deer, foxes and numerous rabbits. The message box in the woods and the wonderful people I met on the way.
Walker 180: Gary Soden
Home: Wokingham, Berkshire
Dates: 29th May - 5th June 2010
Comments: My son and I walked Hadrian's Wall in 2008 and South Downs Way in 2009. My wife decided to join us this year and the three of us set off on a rainy morning from Chipping Camden on Sat 29 May. We camped for the first three nights and then stayed at B&B's for the next four nights until our arrival in Bath on Sat 05 Jun. Collectively we raised over £1100 for three charities.
Walker 179: Paul Greenwood
Home: Corsham, Wiltshire
Dates: 27th March - 30th May 2010
Comments: The Cotswold Way was a thoroughly enjoyable walk for me. I was able to attend 4 days of an 8 day walk organised by David Whitnell & Judith Slee to whom I am very grateful, they even managed to organise perfect weather ! The rest I organised myself along with the rain ! Special highlights (apart from meeting all the "gang" on the way) were Cooper's Hill and Dover's Hill, as well as the ice cream purchased in Bath at the end !"
Walker 178: Linda Newman
Home: Reno, NV 89519, USA
Dates; 6th - 16th June 2010
Comments: Wow, where to start! We arrived in Chipping Campden in time for the 'Olympiks' - what fun to watch the 'shin-kicking contest' and join the torch light parade back into town. We loved the varied terrain of open fields, often full of sheep, magnificent vistas from along the escarpment, dark forests and quaint villages like Stanton and Cold Ashton. Going into Stanton on Shenberrow Hill we could see a black storm ahead of us with thunder and lightning; we started to run and the driving rain began just as we got to our guesthouse. The hot tea was much appreciated! Going up an over Cleeve Hill with foggy views at the top was neat. Coopers Hill was a challenge - do they really roll cheese down it? The flowers along the way were an exceptional treat - beautiful at every turn.
Just the nature of the Trail is fairly unique to us; while we do have abundant walking paths, the long distance trails here mostly accommodate backpackers in remote areas and not folk who just want to walk from town to town on a path - your National Trails are a priceless experience.
Walkers 176 & 177: Raymon Fauerbach & Marcia Stein
Home: Kirkland, Washington, USA
Dates: 17th June - 26th June 2010
Comments: 1: The weather was fabulous - even hot! The trail was so well marked, we hardly needed a trail guide. A few of our accommodations were truly outstanding. Shenberrow Hill and Skyrack come to mind immediately. Loved Winchcombe, Stanton and Painswick. And of course, Bath....the hot stone massage.... Yes!
2: The trail was very well signed. The guide book was informative but not necessary to follow the trail. The weather was clear and hot every day. Stanton was very nice. Also enjoyed Painswick and Winchcombe. This was a wonderful experience. I look forward to walking other National Trails in England.
Walkers 174 & 175: Dave Fisher & Julie Dalziel
Home: Burridge, Southampton
Dates: 11th - 27th July 2010
Comments: Flora and fauna especially good at Clump Farm among other places. Certain hills were very challenging due to (Julie) my asthma but views from the top outweighed this. We met many lovely and friendly people. It was wonderful and worth getting to Bath.
Walker 173: Richard Pardi
Home: Woodland Hills, CA 91367, U.S.A.
Dates: 20th - 26th June 2010
Comments: From the earliest minutes of my hike I am on Dovers Hill for the first of many stunning views down into the vale, then past picture perfect towns. Up to another wonderful view, the many beautiful woods I walked through, past ancient burial mounds. Also the wonderful fellow hikers I met along the way, then to enter Bath Abbey after 6 days of hiking was an unforgettable experience.
Walkers 171 & 172: James & David Lorimer
Home: Coalville, Leicestershire
Dates: 17th - 24th June 2010
Comments: A lovely varied walk with beautiful scenery - picturesque towns, fields, parkland, beech woods, the escarpment and views of Cheltenham, Gloucester, Bristol & Bath. Perfect weather - it didn't rain once. Lovely B&Bs that left us refreshed and ready for another day of walking. Lots of wildlife including goldfinches, bullfinches, chaffinches, kestrels, buzzards, partridges, pheasants, swallows, huge Roman snails in Dowdeswell wood, deer, a fox, the remains from the spring clean of a badger sett, and a heron that flew out of the huge willow tree by the pond near Dyrham, right next to us, shrieking. Broadway (jazz hands!), a russet coloured tree and lots of ransoms, only having to climb the hill to the Tyndale Monument once because it was already open, never leaving Hawkesbury Upton, a great big oak outside Dyrham Park (thank you for thy shady branches), Bath Abbey tower tour, beating all the charity walkers, winning the race against an American family on the last day and the wise words of Anthony Burton (hooray for Anthony).
Walkers 158 - 170: Ross Aldridge Solicitors Team: Richard Bromwich, Henry Davies, Jason Edgeworth, Simon Hoskins, Louise Lane, Imogen McConnon, Katie Merson, James Pickup, Siri Sirwardene, Peter Trotman, Julian White, Nathan Wright
Home: Cheltenham
Dates: 1 - 4 July 2010
Comments: We gathered early outside Bath Abbey with the aim of walking the length of the Cotswold Way in 4 days and in doing so raise a significant sum of money for Winston's Wish. Once out of Bath and into the open the countryside was stunningly beautiful. We planned to complete the first 30 miles to Wotton-under-Edge that day so we kept rest stops to a minimum. The plan was to arrive at Warren Farm, pitch our tents and then have a BBQ in gentle relaxation. The reality was that at 8.30pm a full twelve and a half hours from the start, we arrived to rain and with several of our team either exhausted or with nasty blisters. The night was extremely wet and as we got ready for day 2 it was clear that 3 of our party weren't in any fit state to continue and one other individual had a very sore knee which eventually put paid to his effort. So the remaining 9 of us worked our way through the day and once again some of the scenery was breathtaking. A further 9 hours of walking through blistering heat another member started to show signs of heatstroke, but with an iron will she and the rest of the team made it to Painswick Rugby Club who had very kindly allowed us to camp. This was a far better evening that the previous one, it was dry, bright and we had the opportunity of a much needed shower. To make things even better, a colleague of ours appeared with a load of goodies to eat! The next morning we set of for Cleeve Hill, but pretty early into the journey our team mate was still showing signs of heatstroke and it was decided that she should step out of the walk and rest. This left 8 of us to continue and it was a disappointment that the challenge of the significant distances and the heat had reduced our number by a third. Our arrival at Postlip Farm was one of relief and exhaustion - but this was our last night and there was only one single day to go. We managed a decent meal and looked forward to completing the challenge. The plan was to reach Dover's Hill and meet up with friends and family before walking the last mile into Chipping Campden. This is how it worked and the general euphoria followed by a refreshing drink at the Noel Arms was just great. This challenge was a real one that took us all by surprise. There were highs and lows and in the end a real sense of achievement in both completing the journey but also that we had raised about £6,000 for Winston's Wish.
Walker 157: Richard Barr
Home: Warwick
Dates: 6th - 11th July 2010
Comments: The highlights of the walk were encountering the friendliness of people along the way,especially the warm welcome from people providing accommodation. This was especially the case at The Major's Retreat, Meadowcote and California Farm. I shall always be grateful to Arthur and Andrena in Painswick for helping me out when I left my mobile phone behind. When at Coopers Hill I met a man re-visiting the area with his wife who won the Cheese Rolling Competition in the 1940s for 4 years consecutively before starting his National Service. Whilst on the subject of hills, I'm prompted to say that I hadn't realised the Cotswolds were so hilly. With the weather being so hot and dry I sweated buckets going up them. It was worth it on each occasion of course for the views to be enjoyed at the top. All in all, I really enjoyed my walk - it was the perfect way to commemorate my 50th. The countryside everywhere was beautiful. Let's hope it stays like that for future generations to enjoy.
Walker 156: Alan Warrington
Home: Bracknell, Berks
Dates: 25th May - 17th June 2010
Comments: Stunning views across the Severn and into Wales. Cool ancient woodlands carpeted with strong smelling garlic. Thought provoking site of civil war battle at Lansdowne.
Walker 155: Gary Foxley
Home: Stroud, Glos
Dates: 22nd - 28th June 2010
Comments: I started walking bright and early on 22nd June on my 5 days of walking and 2 days for sightseeing. I was unprepared for the first days of weather and became very dehydrated and sunburnt and had a break at Stanway house with the 60ft gravity propelled fountain. After a good rest and a day to see Sudeley Castle and the railway museum, I was back on track with a days rations and my canvas house on my back. I made my way round over the beautiful hills and valleys of the Cotswolds soaking in historical events and mingling down the local pub each night, but trying to avoid the football. I ploughed through the next 4 days starting at around 5am each morning and sometimes walking for 12 hours. Once I finished at Bath, I took a well deserved visit to see the hot springs.
Walkers 153 & 154: Paul & Brad Shearer
Home: Concord MA, USA
Dates: 11th - 20th June 2010
Comments: We walked the 102 miles south from Chipping Campden to Bath staying at B&Bs daily. The weather was excellent with no rain while we were actually walking. Brad is handicapped. He has autism and does not speak but has no physical limitations, so it was a particularly noteworthy accomplishment for him. He enjoyed every minute of it. We both enjoyed the good food and hospitality of the people on and around the trail. The Cotswold Way is a well-maintained resource that provides access to English culture, history, people and geography. The hills were sometimes a bit more than we expected, and the trail markings were occasionally ambiguous, but overall it was a wonderful experiencel. We may try another National Trail next year.
Walker 152: Colin Southall
Home: Kirkland, Cumbria
Dates: 5th - 13th May 2010
Comments: Delightful buildings in Chipping Campden. Coming across tea shop at Stanway. Stunning blue carpet of bluebells. Descent into Bath with its classical architecture. Panoramic views from Tyndale Monument.
Walker 151: Margaret Angus
Home: Kirkland, Cumbria
Dates: 5th - 13th May 2010
Comments: Beech woods carpeted with bluebells, meadows full of cowslips. Listening to nightingales at Bridge Farm, Lower Kilcott - truly magical and a rare experience. Finishing in the beautiful city of Bath. Clear crisp days and wonderful views.
Walkers 149 & 150: Tony & George Dale
Home: Northleach
Dates: 25th June - 4th July
Comments: Views above Bath, North Nibley Monument, 121 Steps to Heaven, Cam Long Down - amazing views. Edgemoor Inn at Edge looking across to Painswick Beacon with a pint of Old Spot and setting sun.
A beautiful evening strolling around Painswick - Tibbeswell Lodge was an excellent B&B.
Walkers 147 & 148: Allan & Christine Harrison
Dates: 19th - 27th June 2010
Home: Aberdare
Comments: Along with my wife and 2 friends we began planning the walk in November 2009, booking our overnight stops courtesy of the information provided via your excellent website. Whilst on the trail we met with other walkers and made instant friendships with a number of them (we seemed to meet the same people in each pub we stopped at!!).
Simply stunning scenery, charming villages and towns, brilliant country pubs, superb hospitality en route with valley views in Kings Stanley the pick of a place to stop overnight. Excellent!
Walkers 143, 144, 145 & 146: John Holmes, Mary Graham, George Dunstall and Trevor McCormick
Home: Bangor, Portadown & Belfast, N Ireland
Comments: We walked the Cotswold Way in seven days of sunshine and enjoyed the scenery all the way but particularly the villages and houses in the northern section. We met some friendly people, both fellow walkers and our evening hosts. We walked the equivalent of 4 marathons yet some of us gained weight - the good food maybe?!
Walkers 141 & 142: John & Pam Beales
Home: St Andrews, Bristol
Dates: Spring 1983 to final completion 29th June 2010
Comments: This entry to the Hall of Fame is intended to be a small tribute to my late wife, Pam, who died suddenly and very unexpectedly in February 2008. It is also possibly a claim to one of the longest times to complete this walk, which we started in the Spring of 1983.
Setting out from the West door of Bath Abbey, we planned and walked each section as a circular back to where we had left the car, re-starting each time at the point where we departed from the Way; by 1988 we had reached Stanton and the top of Shenberrow Hill. Unfortunately, the last 10 miles were unfinished due to a series of accidents, career changes etc and I finally completed the walk on Tuesday 29th June in Pam's memory and I feel quite strongly that she was with me every step of the last part of the Way.
We both loved the walk with all its variations in place and season, walking in all weathers and revelled in so many sights and experiences, with the privilege of observing wildlife in action; we had several close encounters with foraging foxes, but perhaps the most memorable was observing a whole family of Tawny owls at dusk indulging in a communal bath time in a Cotswold stream appropriately near Owlpen!
Walkers 137 - 140: "Miggsys Mincers" - Richard Scagell, Steve Beane, Ian Stevens, Andrew Dudley
Home: Newton Abbott Police Station, Newton Abbott, Devon
Dates: 7th June - 12th June 2010
Comments: Our walking team comprised 3 police officers and Steve the Mechanic. We complete a different National Trail every year. We found the Cotswold Way route well sign posted and many places of interest on route. Thank you.
Walker 136: Dominic Gardiner
Home: Utrecht, the Netherlands
Dates: 10th June - 17th June 2010
Comments: Having hiked in many countries, I decided to attempt the Cotswold Way this summer, as I have always been nostalgic of this region I was brought up in, and I'm happy to say this hike exceeded my expectations: breath taking scenery, friendly people, glorious weather and some great local beverages. Even if camping is no easy feat, it was made possible thanks to the rare campsites and the generosity of the locals (Alvis & David). The last 2 days of my 7 day trip were made more enjoyable still, thanks to the company of a fellow hiker/camper "Tim" who could relate to my sufferings around our evening pint.
Walker 135: Chris Dickson
Home: Chessington, Surrey
Dates: 22nd - 29th May 2010
Comments: I completed the walk in 7.5 consecutive days, finishing in Bath on Saturday 29th May after several excellent evenings staying at B&B's, inns & hotels en route in Broadway, Winchcombe and Charlton Kings, Painswick, Uley, Wotton-under-Edge and Hinton. My walking partner brother Nick had unfortunately slipped a disc just a couple of weeks before our scheduled start date and was consequently unable to do any walking, however my family rallied around, and my wife Christine and sister Deb managed to accompany me on various stages totalling over 30 miles, whilst my brother-in-law Steve walked with me on the final 15 mile stage into Bath - which unfortunately for him was the only day it rained! For the rest of the week the weather had been splendid, as was the countryside, the pretty villages, the many hill top vistas and occasional folly towers thrown into the mix at Broadway, North Nibley and Hawkesbury. On top of all that, everyone we met throughout the week was extremely friendly - even the golfers! The most difficult part, once again, proved to be the return to work and daily commute into London the following week!
Walkers 133 & 134: Jonathan and Caroline Maxwell
Home: Greensboro, North Carolina
Dates: May 2010
Comments: In recent years the North Carolina Bar and BarCARES program have addressed the need for lawyers to take annual vacations away from the office. What better way to heed this advice than the walking vacation my wife Caroline and I recently took in England along the Cotswold Way from Chipping Campden to Bath. We decided it would be an intriguing ramble and our goal was to walk about fifteen miles a day. Our seven day walk ranged between 13.5 and 17 miles and each day offered new challenges, scenery, surprises and rewards. We saw and experienced elegant gardens, bucolic bed and breakfasts, trailside tea shops, monuments, idyllic hamlets, lunchtime pubs, encounters with stinging nettles, ubiquitous sheep and cows, para-gliders, an unexpected hillside community picnic and without exception - friendly hosts and fellow travellers.
Getting temporarily lost, which happened with some frequency, became humorous (eventually) At trail's end, for our hard work, Bath offered some rewarding historical, recreational, cultural, shopping and dining opportunites. Our vacation left us with a sense of wellbeing and accomplishment, and we appreciated the benefit, not only of walking, but of walking.... the Cotswold Way.
Walker 132: C A Pither
Home: Corsham, Wilts
Dates: 18th - 24th April 2010
Comments: We were so lucky with the weather. Sunny every day and not a drop of rain. Wonderful time to see wild flowers; wood anenomes, primroses and cowslips & bluebells. Gorgeous lambs! Walking into Winchcombe and seeing Stanton water fountain.
A lovely walk - thank you so much!
Walker 131: Judith Slee (Avon Valley Wardens Party)
Home: Melksham, Wilts
Dates: 17th - 24th April 2010
Comments: My third 8 day Cotswold Way walk. This time, as a Cotswold AONB Voluntary Warden and Walks Leader escorting members of the public with the aim of introducing them to the spectacular scenery, history and magic of the National Trail. Eight days of glorious weather. My firsts for 2010 - cuckoo at Ravensgate Hill, early purple orchids at Stinchcombe Hill and Lily of the Valley and Solomon's Seal at Lineover Woods.
Walker 130: A Chegwyn
Home: Bath
Dates: 21st - 25th April 2010
Comments: The scenery was outstanding, the route was well signed and in good order. The people we met en route were very friendly especially at the accommodation stops. A most enjoyable walk that I can highly recommend.
Walker 129: Rosie Jones
Home:
Dates: 18th - 24 April 2010
Comments: The scenery, the weather, the challenge, the company and the wildlife. We heard the first cuckoo of the year, hares playing, skylarks, buzzards and red kites, belted galloways (I'd never seen them before), red deer and last but not least a Cotswold Lion.
Walker 128: Pat Chater
Dates: 17th - 24th April 2010
Home: Corsham, Wilts
Comments: Eight days of glorious weather, lovely company and great scenery. Thanks to Cotswold Wardens, David Whitnell, Judith Slee & Bob Cole for a fantastic walk.
Walker 127: Anne Pritchard
Dates: 21st - 25th April 2010
Home: Cardiff
Comments: Fantastic weather so no muddy bits! Superb views, what wonderful scenery throughout. It was good to find that many of the stiles have been replaced by gates.
Walkers 125 & 126: Julie and Peter Gardner
Home: Chipping Norton, Oxon
Dates: 27th September 2009 - 31st January 2010
Comments: Julie and I started the Cotswold Way in September 2009 in a different way. We started walking from Barrow Wake in 10 mile walks to Bath and then started again in Barrow Wake to Chipping Campden finishing the walk on 31st Jaunary 2010. A truly beautiful walk with plenty to see. The highlights were definitely the walks through the wooded areas which then burst into a vista of stunning views across the hills. Highly recommended to all and thank you for the welcome benches and seats along the way.
Walker 124: Lesley Miles
Home: Witney, Oxon
Comments: The walk into Painswick was delightful. The views of the Severn Valley from the escarpment were impressive. Seeing the fountain at Stanway House was stunning. A great 8 days walking!
Dates: 18th - 24th April 2010
Walker 123: John Abell
Home: Barnwood, Gloucester
Dates: 18th - 24th April 2010
Comments: Seeing the views and landscape change from the many vantage points. The history and archaeology from the various long barrows and hill forts. The delightful villages, pubs and historic churches and abbeys. The enchanting woodlands and wildflowers.
Walker 122: Robert (Bob) Cole
Home: Bathampton, Bath
Dates: 17th - 24th April 2010
Comments: The walk was completed in 8 days of glorious sunshine. After some difficulty for 2 days, use of 2 walking poles found to be of benefit.
Walker 121: Ian Dettmer
Home: Gloucester
Dates: 17th - 24th April 2010
Comments: Wonderful weather for all 8 days walking. Views were outstanding. Excellent walk leader David Whitnell from the Avon area. The villages and many points of interest make it very worthwhile walking. Thank you for the clear way marking.
Walkers 119 & 120: Huw & Belinda Thomas
Home: Charlcombe, Bath
Dates: 21st - 25th April 2010
Comments: Broadway Tower, Stanton village. Views over Cheltenham especially all the beech woods with wood anenomes.
Walker 118: Martin Bridle
Home: Warminster, Wiltshire
Dates: 21 - 25 April 2010
Comments: This was the first walk of any significant distance I had attempted and it provided me with a wonderful experience. Some of the sights and views were incredible and the walk provided a great 5 day challenge. The village of Broadway and it's tower were highlights for me. I will certainly recommend the walk to others.
Walkers 116 & 117: Pat & Peter Gough
Home: Minster Lovell, Oxon
Dates: 17 - 24 April 2010
Comments: The walk was very enjoyable with great scenic views and picturesque Cotswold villages. Thank you to all the wardens for their work in making this walk so enjoyable. (Peter)
This walk was lone long highlight with views all the way coupled with the sight of spring flowers in the beechwoods. (Pat)
Walkers 114 & 115: John Pinnington and Neil Medland
Home: Horsley, Stroud
Dates: 19th August 2009 - 26th February 2010
Comments: John and Neil walked the Cotswold Way in sections. A truly memorable walk with the most stunning views in mostly good weather. The trail is well way marked and plenty of evidence of hard work by the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens. Enjoyed it so much we may do it the other way (from Bath to Chipping Campden).
Walker 113: Debra Stein
Home: Admington, Warwickshire
Dates: 21st April - 25th April 2010
Comments/Highlights: Woodlands; coo coo bird, bluebells, wild garlic; arriving in Bath!
Walker 112: Aaron Powis
Home: Trowbridge, Wilts
Dates: 21st April - 25th April 2010
Comments: I have recently completed the Cotswold Way in aid of Julian House. Walking the Cotswold Way over five days was incredibly challenging, it is an experience I certainly shall not forget. Every day was different and offered some beautiful scenery; I feel that Broadway Tower and the village of Broadway was certainly a personal highlight. At times the steep uphill sections were hard going however the panoramic views at the top were certainly worth it. I shall certainly walk sections of the Way again, albeit hopefully not quite at the same pace!
Walkers 88 - 111: Congratulations to the 23 walkers who completed the 17th Cotswold Way Serial Walk led by Cotswold Voluntary Wardens!
Dates: May 2009 - 7th April 2010
Comments: The weather was kind despite the vagaries of the British Summer and we hardly saw a raindrop. January saw extremes of weather and a walk postponed but we did it in the end finishing in the lovely village of Chipping Campden in April. The route took us through some of the finest Cotswold scenery, visiting local hostelries along the Way.
Walkers 85, 86 & 87: Katy Smith, J Holmes & Gillian Binding
Home: Taunton, Somerset
Dates: March 2010
Comments: J Holmes - The trail was lovely. I walked with my two sisters which was a special time for me. The views were fantastic, people we met were friendly and well done to everyone who helps and keeps the trail in good condition. The Cotswolds are a lovely place to visit. I will be back!!
Kathy Smith - The beautiful views were inspirational after what seemed some very steep climbs!! So many beautiful things to see and quietness with which to think and contemplate. A really lovely week spent walking through and along the way. Thank you so much for the experience and lovely trail. Walk undertaken with my two sisters and friend so was a very special time and enjoyed by all.
Gillian Binding - from beginning to end the views were out of this world, the B&Bs were all welcoming and for me the end of the walk was a big challenge.
Walkers 83 & 84: Roger Underhill and Roger Wilkes (no photo)
Home: Keynsham, Bristol
Dates: 28th April 2009 - 1st March 2010
Comments: We both enjoyed the experience and on the whole we had reasonable weather! Our only mistake was to forget the loss of an hours daylight on the Painswick to Dursley leg where we ran out of daylight during which we both lost our way for a couple of hours!
Diary extract: 1st March 2010 - A glorious spring day. Gill took Roger & I up to Cold Ashton at 9am so we could finish our Cotswold Way adventure. Wonderful views down over Keynsham, Weston and Bath. Bath Abbey at 1.30pm. Lunch in the Green Tree - home on the X39.
Walkers 81 & 82: Diana Walker & Bridget Leverton
Home: Hook Norton & Witney
Dates: August 2009 - March 2010
Comments: We have walked through most of the seasons starting in hot sun in August 2009, to the beautiful colours of the leaves in the woods, then snow in February and finally rain in March. Highlights would include the incredible Autumn colours in the woods near Painswick; the delight in any pub turning up at coffee time; the amazing far reaching views over the Severn Vale; Dodington and Dyrham Parks, both beautiful and finally the view of Bath all the way down at the end of the walk - despite the gas works!
Walkers 79 & 80: Charles Reed and Carole Andrews
Home: Bristol
Dates: August 2006 - January 2007
Comments: Highlights of the way included a tornado and flash flooding as we circumnavigated Cheltenham in the October, beautiful clear, crisp weather on leaving Dursley and a long stretch where we discovered on reaching our car at journey's end in Birdlip that we had left the keys in the other car parked at the start - 15 miles behind us...
On getting lost close to Snowshill we were directed to a ridge where we were told to look out for a view spread below like a map of Africa - it didn't disappoint!
A great walk and we have even discussed re-doing it - backwards - from Bath.
Walkers 67 - 78: Steve & Julie Collins, Paul & Penny Kelly, David & Sharon Townend, Alan & Sue 
Shrimpton, Roger & Heather Batty, Chris Marlow & Julia Wright
Home: North Nibley & Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire
Dates: February 2009 - January 2010
Comments: Complete the walk with friends at your leisure over 12 months in bite sized chunks? They always say that if you live near something that is a National Treasure you tend to be complacent about it and never visit because it is on your doorstep! Having lived close to the Cotswold Way for the last 20 years or so, this is how we have treated one of the best National Trails in the UK - until very recently that is. Early in January 2009, 6 couples living in North Nibley and Stinchcombe found that with most of their children away they had time on their hands and decided to walk the Cotswold Way in bite sized chunks. Each month starting in February 2009 we walked a section of the Way. It is amazing also that if you walk the Way in sections you can always end up at a pub for a drink or a meal which made the walk so much more sociable. We all completed the final short stage from Lansdown to Bath Abbey in January 2010 - what a fabulous city to end up in. It is good to see the trail over 4 seasons and you are never short of an excellent view. During our walk we met some of the many Cotswold Voluntary Wardens who do a tremendous job in keeping the Trail in tip top condition. So the Cotswold Way must be in the Top 10 things in the UK that you have to do in your lifetime!
Walkers 64, 65 & 66: Sandra & Chris Summers and Jim McLean (The Birdlip 3)
Homes: Worcester
Dates: 15th February 2009 - 31st December 2009
Comments: Our walking group - Perry Wood Strollers - decided, instead of doing 'local' monthly Sunday walks during 2009, to walk The Cotswold Way. Most Sundays we managed to have between 7 and 12 walkers but due to other commitments only the three named above completed the whole walk. There were many highlights throughout the walk, like getting the name 'The Birdlip 3', followed later by another that said 'Birdlip 3'. As we were the only 3 that had completed every stage of the walk so far, the name stuck. Walking through the snow at Bath Racecourse on the first day and again on the last day close to the Broadway Tower seemed quite fitting. The views all along the escarpment were worth the early starts on a Sunday morning and we were luck with more dry days than wet ones! The low parts of the walk, which thankfully there were few, like having a long steep climb at the end of a 10 or 12 mile walk. Geting lost, especially on the day when we were finishing at Great Witcombe Roman Villa. Five minutes from the car park and it took us over two hours in the rain!
Walkers 62 & 63: Nicholas Pope and Charlotte Rogers
Homes: Upavon, Wiltshire & Hornchurch, Essex
Dates: 5th December 2009 - 13th December 2009
Comments: We walked the Cotswold Way as part of our charity hike from John O'Groats to Lands End raising awareness of slavery and helping two charities by fundraising. We had already experienced the brutality of other trails, notably the Pennine Way where we had been battered by the November storms that had decimated parts of the Lake District before hitting us. This meant that we were prepared for some of the heavier downpours and colder weather that we experienced. It was nice at this late stage of the walk to be joined by various friends - Claudia, Martin, Richard, Tim & Sarah - who helped lift our spirits. The Cotswolds are lovely and around Christmas the villages look beautiful; the crisp air and views from the top of Broadway Tower are a reminder of the wonders of the outdoors. We'll be back!
Walker(s) 59, 60 & 61: John Greenwood, Ian Gill & Simon Fisher
Home(s): Chippenham, Wiltshire
Dates: 20th October 2007 - 28th December 2008
Comments: The aim of our journey was to accompany my father-in-law John Greenwood whilst he aimed to complete the walk in his 75th year. Due to his age and ability, we restricted our stages to around 8 miles each time, culminating where possible in a late pub lunch!! Each stage was walked by a minimum of 4, with the final leg being walked by 10 of us on the last Sunday of 2008. Each stage was achieved by the use of at least 2 cars, always leaving one at the end before we started! Pubs were selected using online guides for a) the availability of a late(!) lunch, subject to our progress and b) the availability of real ale! We were often joined for lunch by non walking members of the group. In general, the weather was very good for walking throughout the year, with only a couple of spells necessitating full waterproofs, though gloves and hats were a regular need. Members of the group completing every stage were: John Greenwood (he achieved his ambition), Ian Gill and Simon Fisher (who insisted on having his photo taken on top of EVERY trig point we passed!)
Walkers 57 & 58: Penny Wright & Ivor Francis
Home(s): Moreton-in-Marsh & Cheltenham
Dates: 19th March 2009 - 12th December 2009
Comments: Started from Chipping Campden to Broadway 19th March and onto Stanway; saw deer at Broadway Tower, through parkland to Stanway and the lovely Jacobean Stanway House. Stanway via Wood Stanway to Winchcombe by 30th March; Cromwell's Seat above Hailes Abbey below. Winchcombe to Cleeve Hill - Thursday 2nd April; to Belas Knap past Postlip Hall and onto Cleeve Common & the golf club for lunch (very misty). Cleeve Hill to Reservoir on Thursday 4th June on a beautiful day - the views were breathtaking. Dowdeswell to Leckhampton on 11th June - lovely walks through woodland & up along the hill to the Devil's Chimney. Thursday 9th July - Leckhampton to Barrow Wake at Birdlip - best walk, flowers & views so far! Saturday 25 July - to Painswick; lots of woodland walking on a beautiful day. Painswick to King's Stanley 27th July; great views - got a bit lost but helped back onto the Cotswold Way by another walker. Wednesday 5th August - onto Dursley and Wotton-under-Edge on Sunday 30th August. Saturday 3rd October from WUE to Hawkesbury - lucky with the weather, rained as we got into the car! Friday 23rd October - Hawkesbury to Tormarton; lost my reki pole! Thursday 29th October - Tormarton to Grenville Monument; met some Cotswold Way wardens by the message box clearing a fallen tree from the path. Finally on Saturday 12th December - Grenville Monument to Bath!! The end of the walk through the Christmas celebrations in Bath was lovely - but as 2 pensioners completing the walk, I for one couldn't possibly do it again!
Walkers 55 & 56: Will & Sarah Wright
Home: Cheltenham, Glos
Dates: 26th October - 1st November 2008
Comments: We started the walk from Bath on a cold and rainy day. Each day was enjoyable but probably more so knowing that a pub meal and warm bed would greet us at the end of each day. Most days were cold and we had to make the most of the daylight. Although a dark finish in Kings Stanley was not much fun - nor was Dursley Gold course. Both of us are too stubborn to take short cuts.
The highlight though was walking round our home town Cheltenham at the height of Cleeve Hill and from there Belas Knap was a great surprise. Overall the walk afforded wonderful views and made us appreciate the area we are so blessed to live in.
Walker 54: John Constable
Home: Pershore, Worcestershire
Dates: April - August 1980
Comments: The views from the escarpment of the Cotswold Hills. The owl that flew only a few feet above our heads as we walked down the ride in the woods. The Tyndale Monument recording the English translation of the Bible.
Walker 53: Ben Bennetts
Home: Stubbington, Fareham
Dates: 5th - 9th November 2009
Comments: Spotted pheasants (lots), deer (three), an owl (Piccadilly Farm), a peacock (Ullenwood Manor), Elvis Presley statue (garden in Upper Kilcott), steam locomotive (Stroud), swan's head carving (stile at Wood Stanway). Tasted Butcombe bitter beer. Very hoppy. Very tasty! Spectacular views of the Severn Estuary from the top of Cam Long Down. Heard the evocative whistle of the Gloucester Warwickshire steam railway near Winchcombe. Celebrated 102 miles in 5 days with a terrific local sausage & caramelized onion baguette, washed down by Olde Trip bitter (Red Lion, Chipping Campden).
Walker(s) 51 &52: Cherry & Alan Burnett
Home: Maidstone, Kent
Dates: 5th - 12th December 2006
Comments: We did the walk in December 2006 & it didn’t turn out quite as expected. It was planned in late October when it got dark at about 17.00 and I assumed there wouldn't be much change in December. In reality, it got pretty gloomy by 16.00 and was quite dark by 16.30. The weather also contrived to dampen our spiritis. In the previous week it had been unseasonably mild and there had bee a great deal of rain, which waterlogged the ground and led to a lot of muddy areas. Although we had a couple of days of fine weather, it was predominantly overcast or raining. Winter conditions are bound to limit walking and on balance, I think December is probably best avoided.
Walker 50: Cedric Barre
Home: Begles, France
Dates: Spring 2008
Comments: Who would have thought that a little french from Bordeaux could have reached Chipping Campden from Bath, in only one week, during spring 2008??? Not English people, who were really surprised to welcome this guy with his really bad accent!!!
It was a challenge for myself to plan and walk this beautiful trail. My favourite memories were the spendid woods with blue bell carpets and rolling hills which were really green (because of the showers I think..). I would like to thank all owners of B&B (chiefly Julie at Wotton, Robert Cox and his wife Jennifer at Dowdeswell, Pam White at King's Stanley, Pat Anderson at Winchcombe...) who gave me a warm welcome in cold and wet days and all English people who gave me some help when I was lost. And last, a special thank you to an elderly lady who took time to explain to me the history of Dover's Hill and to take the picture above.
Walker 49: Judith Slee (Avon Valley Wardens party)
Home: Melksham, Wiltshire
Dates: 10th - 17th October 2009
Comments: Golf courses, hill forts atop steep hills and scarps. Beech woods and Cotswold stone quarries. Extensive views and open countryside. Wild flowers, berries and fruits. Farm animals and finally one "lonely" Cotswold Lion.
Walker 48: John Walker (Avon Valley Wardens party)
Home: Winterbourne, Brisol
Dates: 10th October -17th October 2009
Comments: Finding that we were over halfway at Painswick! Wonderful views except on the foggy wet day so will have to go back and do one section again in clear weather.
Walker 47: Sandie Wright
Home: Weston, Bath
Dates: 10th - 17th October 2009
Walker 46: Phil Lawrence
Home: Frampton Cotterell, Bristol
Dates: 11th - 16th October 2009
Comments: Having previously completed the walk North to South over a period of several months with my wife Christine (walker number 36) I had the opportunity of completing the walk South to North over 8 days in company with 8 members of the Avon Valley Cotswold Voluntary Wardens a year later. Great company, ever changing views, with the added attraction of autumn colours. Searching all week we managed to spot a Cotswold Lion sheep in the first field out of Broadway on the last day! One of the highlights for me was the golden stone buildings, emphasised by the early evening sun, at Stanway House.
Walkers 44 & 45: Mr & Mrs A J Crabb
Home: Keynsham, Bristol
Dates: 28th May 2008 - 30th August 2009
Comments: Walked to celebrate the end of treatment for breast cancer. Many highlights but Rose at the Haven Tea Garden amongst the best!
Walkers Number 42 & 43: Mr & Mrs G Simmons
Home: Keynsham, Bristol
Dates: 28th May 2008 - 30th August 2009
Comments: Walked to celebrate the end of treatment for breast cancer. Rose at The Haven Tea Garden was a real treat!
Walker 41: Pauline Vincent - Cotswold Voluntary Warden
Home: Bath
Dates: September - October 2009
Comments: I was taking part in Avon Valley Wardens walk - the camaraderie between the group of us - sharing the highs and lows literally and figuratively! Photos to follow.
Walker 40: John Bartram, Cotswold Voluntary Warden
Home: Doynton, South Glos
Dates: September - October 2009
Comments: I took part in the pre-walk of the Cotswold wardens proposed walk to take place in April 2010. We had an excellent walk with fine weather - it really is a delightful trail!
Walker 39: Robert Pennyfather
Home: Yate, South Gloucestershire
Dates: 18th March - 23rd October 2009
Comments: I did not start off intending to do the Cotswold Way, I just decided to do a walk from Wotton-under-Edge back home. I enjoyed the walk so I started walking with the Wardens and then also Southwold Ramblers who are based in Yate. These walks showed me some parts of the Cotswold Way so I decided I would try to do the whole thing. So some five months after my initial walk, I started working on the logistics of how I could combine car and bus to get me to all the places necessary for the stages of the walk. I have enjoyed each of the nine walks, beautiful and varied countryside, a wide variety of wildlife, historical interest from longbarrows, hill forts, Lansdown Battlefield and architectural interest from the Cotswold villages and things like the Somerset and Tyndale Monuments and Broadway Tower. The walks were never boring and there was always something to see.
Walker 38: Robin Oldland
Home: Bath
Dates: October 2009
Comments: This was a pre-walk by Avon Cotswold Wardens prior to a public one next April. I'm a novice walker as my main interest is repairing stone walls. Highlights were seeing superb new walls under construction and reaching Chipping Campden without blisters!
Walker 37: Wilf Dando - Cotswold Voluntary Warden
Home: Combe Down, Bath
Dates: October 2009
Comments: From start to finish it was all a highlight. I wholeheartedly embraced this wonderful experience and I would recommend it to anyone.
Walkers 35 & 36: Phil & Chris Lawrence
Home: Frampton Cotterell, Bristol
Dates: August 2007 - September 2008
Comments: We walked the trail in stages over 2007/08. The whole walk was a memorable experience and where possible we used public transport. The devastation caused by the 2007 floods was very much in evidence (see pic). There were many highlights including the fountain at Stanway House, the sunset over the Malverns from Cleeve Hill and views all the way. As a result my husband has joined the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens and has just completed a pre-walk over eight days with other wardens.
Walkers 33 & 34: Carl and Debbie Berkowitz
Home: Richland, Washington, USA
Dates: 1st September - 9th September 2009
Comments: Our trip began in Chipping Campden on September 1st and ended 9 days later at Bath Abbey with one rest day in the middle . Our shortest day of walking was 10 miles and the longest (upon our arrival in Bath) was 18 miles. We were pleasantly surprised to have rain for only two afternoons. The trail offered considerable variety, with escarpment walking presenting dramatic views down to surrounding towns, farms and cities; many paths through beech woodland and enjoyable transits through lovely villages. Everywhere along the trail and in the B&Bs, we met delightfully friendly people. During our layover day in Painswick we learned about change-ringing of the bells in St Mary's and later were able to restock our supplies at the centuries old marketplace in Dursley. With both a guide book and a good map, route finding was generally straightforward although the change in trail markers coming into Bath did throw us (the distinctive acorn on the trail post dwindles to a three inch sticker that's easily overlooked on lamp posts and traffice markers in town). It was a marvellous trip and one to be highly recommended to other walkers.
Walkers 31 & 32: Paul & Sue Mobey
Home: Solihull, West Midlands
Dates: Completed September 2009
Comments: We have completed the Cotswold Way throughout the four seasons. This has meant we have been able to enjoy great variation in the flora & fauna along the way. One of the highlights was seeing a deer on the path in front of us. It was fun to come across the memory box, I enjoyed writing in there and reading others comments. Although we had snow in January the rest of the trips were dry.
Walker 25 - 30 + 2 dogs: Miranda Martin & friends (sorry, we don't have your names!)
Home: Diss, Norfolk
Dates: 19th September - 26th September:
Comments: We are a group of ladies that enjoy walking holidays together, we are joined by a sixth lady whose feet 'aren't made for walking' and she kindly transports luggage etc and meets us for lunch which makes our walks very enjoyable indeed!
We very much enjoyed the Cotswold Way, the scenery was magnificent and on the whole the way was very well signed and marked. We come from Norfolk which is of course very flat countryside and for the last few months has badly suffered from no rain, so walking in the lush green hills of the Cotswolds was an added bonus. We so enjoyed ourselves that we will be back soon.
Looking forward to receiving our achievement badges, especially the two dogs who will have them ironed on their winter waterproof coats!
Walkers 23 & 24: Ian Whitesmith & Lucy Marten
Home: Address required to send badges on please! Any chance of a photo?
Dates: 11th - 18th September 2009
Comments: Climbing up hills and escarpments to be rewarded with breathtaking views. A wonderful week in the peace and quiet of the English countryside. Highly recommended!
Walkers 21 & 22: John and Liz Fry
Home: Cwmbran, Torfaen
Dates: 17th - 26th September 2009
Comments: The Cotswold Way was our first long distance walking route. The main highlight for us must be successfully walking on 10 successive days, of between 6 and 14 miles, without hitches, injury or rain! The scenery along the whole walk was magnificent and we especially enjoyed the higher grasslands such as Cleeve Hill, Leckhampton Hill, some of the stretches near Birdlip, Painswick Beacon, Haresfield Beacon and Cam Long Down. We enjoyed the villages along the route and those in which we stayed overnight, and in which everyone was so welcoming and interested in our progress. We were surprised to see such differences in the colours and textures of the building stone, from the golden amber hues in the north to the greyer colours in the south. All in all a brilliantly satisfying experience.
Walkers 17 - 20: John Sparrow, Paula Sparrow, John Simmonds, Andrew Simmonds & Maggie the Dog
Home: Badsey, Worcs
Dates: 29th August - 19th September 2009
Comments: A lady in Painswick library asked us why we were walking the Cotswold Way; we gave the obvious answer 'because it's there'. After walking for 8 days between 29th August and 19th September 2009 we can confidently say we are glad it was there. There seemed to be something for everyone on this walk from flat grassland, to busy streets in towns and rocky outcrops on the tops of hills. We were only planning to walk for one day every weekend but we ended up taking extra days off work to get the job done. Personal highlights include Cleeve Common, Haresfield Beacon and Broadway Tower.
We had decided to walk the 'wrong way' as we live in Worcestershire it mean we would be walking towards home, plus we would have the wind behind us. It was quite a special feeling walking down the familiar Chipping Campden High Street. We are now looking forward to the next National Trail.
Walker Number 16: Patsy Spark
Home: Oxford
Dates: 5th - 12th September 2009
Comments: The walk was MUCH more difficult than I thought it would be. The ups and downs were never-ending, but the views were worth it. The view from Cam Long Down was amazing, clear weather and I could see all the way to Wales. The steps up the the Tyndale Monument were the worst and the 'half-way' milestone was one of the best!
I did this on my own, the longest walk and the most difficult I have done!
Walker Number 15: Nigel Collard
Home: Lewes, East Sussex
Dates: 9th - 16th September 2009
Comments: Day 1 - Fantastic views throughout the walk. Day 2 - A long wooded section on a particularly warm day. Day 3 - The Haven Tea Garden. Rose was a delight to meet and chat to. Day 4 - Getting rescued by a B&B owner when it got too dark on a long stretch. Day 5 - The final section into Bath and Bath itself.
Walker Number 14 : Gordon Friend
Home: Bath
Dates: 9th - 16th September 2009
Comments: Day 1 - The views of the vale of Evesham from Broadway Tower. Day 2 - The NE breeze in our backs and sun all day. The conducted tour of a vintage motor collection, including a 1913 Bugatti at Stanway. Day 3 - the warm and generous reception at 47 Collum End, after a beautiful day's 18 mile hike via Cleeve Hill. The Haven Tea Garden at Coopers Hill run by Rosemary Hellerman - every one should stop here. Rosemary won the cheese rolling in 1942! Day 4 - the Severn Vale at last. Day 5 - very hard work from Kings Stanley but the views and meal at Barn Farm, Kilcott made up for all the pain! Day 6 - the final 20 miles was much easier and I had not realised how fine the views were so near to my home town of Bath. Probably the first of many long distance walks - so tough but so memorable.
Walker Numbers 12 & 13
: John Barnes and Jane Hutton (Walk for Len)
Home: Chalford & Nailsworth, Glos
Dates: 26th - 31st August 2009
Comments: We walked the Cotswold Way in memory of John's great friend and Jane's husband, Graham 'Len' Hutton. Len passed away in December 2008, after suffering from Mesothelioma. The aim of the walk was to increase awareness of Mesothelioma and to raise funds for The June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund. We were joined along the way by Len's friends and family who gave us great support. The walk was enjoyed by all who took part and the trail is a true classic example of the wonderful English countryside. There were too many highlights to mention but we did enjoy the outstanding views from Cleeve Hill and Coaley Peak.
Walker Number 11
: Richard Marshall
Home: Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham
Dates: 12th October - 23rd November 2008
Comments: This was my first experience of walking a long distance path. For some time I had been wondering what it would be like and eventually I had to find out. I picked a glorious and uncharacteristcally warm weekend in October to do the first leg from Chipping Campden to Cleeve Hill. The walking was super, the villages were even more special for being reached by foot rather than by car.
The nights were drawing in for the next leg of the walk towards Cranham, Painswick, Dursley and beyond. I would have liked to explore Wotton-under-Edge and the other villages on the route but I had to content myself with taking lots of photos and that was a good plan as I'm forever looking at them. My arrival in Bath in glorious sunshine was in stark contrast to an earlier overnight sleet storm whilst in my tent! It's a very strange feeling finishing the walk - there is no one to say "well done" but that's not what it's about anyway. For me, it's about the planning, it's the people you meet along the route, it's the wonderful English countryside and it's the sense of achievement you get from such an adventure.
Walker Number 10
: Robert Johnson
Home: West Meon, Hampshire
Dates: 9th - 14th August 2009
Comments: Well! What a challenge the way proved to be during the six days it took my brother and I to complete the 100+ miles. All the ups and downs to be negotiated on a clearly marked way. Butterfly conservation efforts appear to be successful, the numbers and varieties observed each day were wonderful; a day did not pass without numerous sitings of buzzards. From immaculate Chipping Campden to my mother's home town of Bath, I thoroughly enjoyed every step of this walk, immersed in the beautiful landscape far from the maddening crowds!
Walkers number 5 - 9
: Ann Buttler, Marg Clapton, Jackie Mason, Joan Williams, Yvonne Cole
Home: Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham
Comments: We are 5 keen retired walkers from Bishops Cleeve who decided in 2006 to tackle the Cotswold Way as it had just become a National Trail and was on our doorstep. Each of us had a personal agenda for doing this walk and despite reservations from husbands, we set the date for the walk for 18th October 2006.
Twelve walks and one year later we walked triumphantly down into Bath on 4th October 2007. We all thoroughly enjoyed planning and executing this walk in all weathers and seasons. The views were spectacular along the way and we had a great many laughs. As a lasting memory we have all written up detailed diaries with photographs of what was certainly a great personal achievement for us all.
Walker number 4 : Paul Johnson
Home: Farnborough, Hampshire
Dates: 9th to 14th August 2009
Comments: The trail winds through lovely countryside and includes many 'chocolate box' towns and villages which still preserve a flavour of old England. Climbs are rewarded with magnificent views over Gloucester, Cheltenham, the River Severn and to Wales beyond. Taking into account the area and the excellent signposting, this has been one of the best walks my brother and I have undertaken. A joy!
Walker number 3
: Jill Green (on right)
Home: Apse Heath, Isle of Wight
Dates: 28th July to 3rd August 2009 with ann Sayer (above)
Comments: The Tyndale Tower, the Devil's Chimney and Broadway Tower all are memorable landmarks, but the lasting pleasure of this journey was the beautiful views. The AONB is so very important to help protect the landscape.
Walker number 2
Name: Ann Sayer (on left)
Home: Teddington, Middlesex
Dates: 28th July to 3rd August 2009 with Jill Green (below)
Comments: Highlights included the views off and of the escarpment, and the lovely mellow stone villages. Also the excellent signing and the beautifully hung gates and kissing gates. We had two wet days out of the six, and met two zany providers of tea to walkers: Rose’s Tea Haven (below the cheese-rolling slope, Coopers Hill) and Langett (near Dowdeswell reservoir) who gave us the walk completion card. B&Bs ranged from wonderfully welcoming to a bit lacking...
Walker number 1
Name: Conradus Jager
Home: Anchorage, Alaska
Dates: Completed in four sections between 2005 and 2006
Comments: Why did the Alaskan walk the Cotswold Way? It started some 8 years ago when a back injury took some other sports away and walking was recommended as the ultimate way to stay fit and avoid surgery. The April 2005 issue of "Realm" had an article on walking a stretch of the Cotswold Way which really caught me somehow, and I decided to walk the Way in full. I had to split the walk over a few separate periods, which made for seeing the CW in different seasons, during autumn, early spring and winter: as I well know now, walking the CW can be done year-round. Coming from overseas, I had no car or people to drop me off, so I depended on trains, buses and the occasional and sometimes hard to find taxi on Sundays when buses don't run, as I found out the hard way before getting wise and taking along a printed copy of your webguide. I stayed in some wonderful B&Bs and hotels along the Way, making the overnights (and their English breakfasts) a cherished part of the long-distance experience. Inspired by the Cotswold Way I even joined the Ramblers and always look forward to "Walk" magazine, feeding the addiction of yours truly who's likely their only Alaskan member!