Day 3 - Three Choirs Way

 Gloucester to Kempley

Gloucester was my starting point for the 3rd day of my Three Cathedrals Walk.

It was a fairly chilly start, there had even been a little frost on the car as we set off from Worcester.

I was glad of the gentle climb away from Gloucester to warm me against the biting wind. Somewhere in the background, if you look very carefully you can see the tower of Gloucester Cathedral.

The sun shone most of the day but the wind cut like a knife!.

I know I've long legs but
that step is ridiculous

Despite my worries that Gloucester County Council in particular don't promote the Three Choirs Way the path wasn't too bad, possibly because in some places it was a dual path, Wysis Way or Daffodil Way among others.

Denise also mentioned what a lot of pathways she noticed crossing roads & lanes as she drove around dropping me off & picking me up.

Signposting was sporadic, some stiles were ridiculously difficult and some path routes needed a certain amount of guesswork (& a Gizmo!!).

For the most part I avoided cattle. The first part was lane's, woodland and lush pasture.

There was one narrow field where there were cattle lying down at the far end.

I ventured across as quickly as I could without breaking into a trot.

As I climbed over the stile I noticed the cattle galloping towards me!!

Picture as evidence!!

I did have another encounter with a herd of cows & their calves. They were too busy feeding to worry much about me but I did give them a very wide berth. So much so that the farmer and his two year old sheepdog, Puppy (!), came to see what I was doing. I explained I was giving them a wide berth and he kindly escorted me around his farm and pointed me in the right direction to continue.

Round about my lunch stop at Clifford's Mesne

(I've no idea how to pronounce it!!)

I noticed some folk working on an electricity  pylon.

Now there's a job I wouldn't fancy!!

I wonder if they could see Gloucester any better than I?

It's somewhere there in the distance!!

I had my lunch contemplating tomorrow's Walk including Much Marcle Ridge - another climb!!

My only other encounter with animals were the llamas at Briery Hill Farm near Kilcot.

I wonder if they do Walking with Llamas?

Something to carry the backpack?

That was the last of the pictures for the day as I knew Denise would be waiting & I'd had to take another mile long detour to avoid another field of cattle. I also looked at the map and saw that the last mile was across fields & right beside a dairy farm!! I chickened out and took a track out of Dymock Wood onto the road leading to Kempley, my finish. 

Another 16.3 miles under my belt. Halfway around (or thereabouts!!)