I parked my car at Bulls Cross on the B4070, east of Painswick (Kieron's favourite B-road, he says) and took the Wysis Way down and up and down and up again, before heading south toward Slad. But I didn't have time to go all the way to Slad before the sun was setting, so I ended up taking a lane most of the way back.

Looking down the steep slope toward Slad Brook and Bulls Cross on the previous ridge.

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Snow Farm had placed this ancient tractor like an exhibit to be admired, so I took a photo. There was also an ancient white-muzzled black lab there. It was barking and growling at me when it took me a while to find the footpath but I couldn't help feeling that he was mostly just going through the motions.

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Slad looks tantalising through the smoke from a leaf fire. One day I'll make it there. If the name of the village rings a bell, it's probably because of Cider with Rosie.

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Down Farm, on the right, is easily the stateliest farm in the valley.

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Snow Farm is a lot more modest. As I was motoring up the hill here, I was wondering what it would have been like to live in Cheltenham all eight years I've lived in the UK. I think my impression of England would certainly have been more favourable if my commute had gone through such beautiful, tranquil places rather than the aesthetic misery of the London Underground.

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The last photo of the day, as the sun was setting. I was nearly back by the car.

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Tags: cotswolds
Current Location: cheltenham