Cotswolds Walk Day 6 > Broadway to Chipping Camden

May 21st, 2024

This morning was rather brisk at 8C and cloudy, although the weather forecast is positive…so shorts it is. After a quick breakfast, we head out of Broadway along the Cotswolds Way…today will be a shorter day and we feel good even after our exertions yesterday.

Leaving the Inn we take a few pics of the Broadway and the village green before starting up the trailhead, by the way, they take their livestock seriously in these parts:

There is a relentless uphill false top type of ascent (but it does warm you up) and after about 3km we reach the ridge where Broadway Tower is located. The trail folks were kind enough to provide a bench at the overlook but it was a tad chilly so we pressed on…

The Broadway Tower was completed in 1798 rising 312 metres above sea level, and centuries ago was a natural place from which long-distance signals could be sent.  James Wyatt, the architect designed this “Saxon Tower” as an eccentric amalgamation of architectural components ranging from turrets, battlements and gargoyles to balconies. It is a folly tower, constructed as an architectural folly i.e., for ornamental rather than practical reasons. Folly towers are common in Great Britain and Ireland and the setting here is exceptional, no wonder it is a popular site.

A fun distraction was the resident herd of red deer established in the early 1980’s adding to our enjoyment…

…and may I add a cafe where the toilets were spotless and welcome… you may laugh but toilets are a precious commodity when walking/hiking (especially for the fairer sex)!

We marched on looking back on some nice views of the Broadway Tower:

We are only a few kilometres from Chipping Camden, and the weather is threatening > I am starting to regret making a rather arrogant decision of not bringing the rain gear today. Knowing that our Cotswolds walk was winding down we put our heads down and increased the pace as best possible.

By the way, our pictures have shown the trails to be in great condition…below one of the pics shows what certain sections looked like…had it rained for several, there would be a lot more of those.

In any event, Dover Hill is the last hill to climb and affords a final view albeit a rather cloudy version…

Chipping Campden is a market town notable for its terraced High Street, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century, the impressive parish church of St James bears testimony to the riches generated by the local wool trade in the 1600s, and outside the church grounds are a row of almshouses which remain in use after four centuries – everywhere you gaze is a historical and architectural treasure.

Fittingly we ended our walk at the Market Hall, built in 1627 and looking as good today as it was nearly 400 years ago…it also serves as a starting or ending point for walkers on the Cotswolds Way.

We are staying at the Volunteer Inn > a pub, B&B and Indian Restaurant. Interestingly, the front bar of The Volunteer, the oldest part of the premises once served as a room where local men would enlist to serve His and Her Majesty in conflicts abroad….hence the name Volunteer Inn.

After checking in we did a bit of a walkabout this very attractive town just before the rain started, woo hoo we were lucky walkers!!!

We opted for the Maharaja Restaurant since we did not need to face the rain and enjoyed a rather excellent meal washed down with a few local brews…the service was excellent and the place was packed to the rafters with both locals and walkers…no pics of the food as were ravenous!

Now that we have finished our walk we are a bit conflicted, happy that all went well…not even one blister, and the weather was beyond expectations as was the walk, luggage transfer etc…..on the other hand the trip was over….what next??

Today’s effort by the numbers: 22,212 steps including touring the village, 5.8 miles (9.3 km), 814  ft total ascent and 658 ft total descent point to point.