Day 5 Birdlip to Painswick

Wednesday 15 May

Birdlip to Painswick (6.5 kms)

The day started overcast - and cold, again! But the forecast is for better weather later. A shorter walk today: 6.5 kms.

I started walking about 9.30 a.m.

Trevor and Barbara joined me and we had a really pleasant walk through beech woodland, a golf course (which we had to traverse 4 times whilst a competition was in progress), the ruins of a Roman villa where the views out to the surrounding countryside were very nice, past a big quarry and into Painswick about 2 p.m.

Here we met My Friend who had driven Trevor and Barbara's car from Birdlip and was kindly allowed early access to our nice B&B, Troy House, so he had a very relaxing day after a 15 minute drive (whereas we took 4.5 hours to walk it!).

The sun came out as we arrived and we had tea and cake at a local cafe followed by a walk around this most charming village.

Painswick is an historic wool town and the parish church of St. Mary has 99 shaped yew trees in its churchyard.

There are many lovely buildings of pale grey limestone.

We visited the lovely Rococo Garden in the late afternoon and were lucky enough to have the sun out.

The garden was created in the early 18th century and features follies, a maze, beds of tulips, hyacinths and bluebells, a nature walk and a large kitchen garden along with ponds and pools. It was very pretty.

Dinner was at the Royal Oak pub and was very nice. We then farewelled our friends Barbara and Trevor - such a lovely day with them; but sad as we are unlikely to see each other again. But the 35-year exchange of Xmas cards and letters will continue ...