Welcome to Winchcombe - Walking capital of the Cotswolds
 

Winchcombe Cotswolds Walking Festival

The Winchcombe Walking Festival proved a huge success with glorious sunshine and happy walkers from far and wide.

180 people attended the festival filling 235 places on the 17 walks, ranging from town trails to 12 mile walks. The walk leaders were drawn from The Ramblers, the Cotswolds Voluntary Wardens, Walking for Health and local residents.

On our walks we saw Early Dog violets, Galloway Cattle, Duke of Burgundy butterflies, a Roman villa, found hidden treasure, gained a lost soul on Cleeve Common and met an unexpected ice lolly lady handing out lollies to very warm walkers.

The evenings were spent barn dancing along with eating and drinking local produce or testing one's knowledge after a hearty meal a local pub.

The organisers are delighted by the comments they have received from the questionnaires completed by visitors. For instance, "The walk leaders are great, their enthusiasm catching!" and "Has heightened my pleasure of organised walks"

Winchcombe, the first town in the Cotswolds to gain Walkers are Welcome status, will host a similar event next year and plans are already afoot. We hope you all enjoyed the guided walks and hope to see you again in 2011. Please tell your friends.

Shown below are some photographs taken during the festival. Please click on a thumbnail to view a larger image. (You will then be able to scroll between images in the gallery.)

The Mayor of Tewkesbury, Elaine Hancox talking to Sheila Talbot, Chair of the festival organising committee. The Mayoress and Chair of Winchcome Town Council look on. Two intrepid walkers well prepared with walking poles, sun bloc and airy shorts ready for a hot day. Pheonix bookshop decorated their window with their wide range of maps and guides. Unfortunately the walking boots did not get an airing. BBC Radio Gloucestershire interviewing walkers setting out on Cleeve Hill to see the Galloway cattle, orchids and butterflies. A Cotswold Voluntary Warden discussing how he has lost his party of walkers to Kevin Willett, Chair of Winchcombe Town Council. Ron Allen, County Councillor looks on in amusement. Walkers returning to Winchcombe towards the end of the day passing Sudeley Castle. Walkers admiring the wood carving commemorating the millennium by the old drovers road. Walk backmarker deep in conversation explaining the rules of cricket to a German couple. Walkers trekking out on a ridge on Cleeve Hill. Walkers at Bill Smyllie’s butterfly reserve studying the different butterflies to be found. During a walk, a frog decided to hitch a ride on someone’s boot and listen to the fascinating talk on wildlife. Walkers arriving at the start of the day’s walk, fresh and raring to go.