31/08/13 - 100% on the Cots Pots Northern Loop

Distance - 6 Miles
Geocaches - 34

Great Cotswold Walk Part 2

As predicted, I am back on the Cotswolds Great Walk at the end of August.  But only just.  As the northern round is only 6 miles, Mrs Mappiman has come with me.  Pots don't excite her but the prospect of a pub lunch does.  The Northern round is short enough that even the dog can come along.

We head down and park up in Coln Rogers.  There's not a lot here but it is off such beauty that you just want to stop and drink it all in.  Chocolate box Cotswolds at its finest.

Its a lovely day

But we really ought to get going

As usual on these monster cache rounds, cache 1 proves the most difficult to us.  It shouldn't have but cacher's eye takes a while to get going.

We head off to Winson.  3rd cache of the day did not look like it was on a public right of way but it would appear that the nouveau rich who have done a lot of work on the impressive mill house have done a Jeremy Clarkson and got the footpath re-routed.  All is revealed on the ground... just turn left up hill and a footpath sigh takes you where you need to be.

We then have a walk through woods where the clue of "small tree" and dense tree cover gives us our only real challenge of the day before emerging through fields and back over the Coln.  Dog gets an early dunk.

Jurassic Doodle 

Molly meets Skittles the puppy in the village.  She behaves herself. 

A lot of field walking but it really is glorious.  The wheat has been harvested, so the short golden fields give way to the blues skies with views all around.  Not much to report but you could not hope for better walking conditions.

Wouldn't want to be anywhere else

Long straight path back into Ablington.  Cross the Coln again, competing with a couple of cyclists for the best photos.

We are now on the way back.  Ablington Downs over more great views and the only hint of a climb on the walk. 

I look at the map and spy the name of our path. Mrs Mappiman is starting to want her lunch, so diversionary tactics are deployed.  "This path is named after someone who is hungry", I quiz.  After trying "Gluttony Alley" she moves on to "Lick you Lips lane".  She is damn close for a 2nd guess but the answer I am after is "Potlicker's Lane".  Its true - you can look it up on the map.  But despite it being wide enough for a Post Office Van, it has no sign - otherwise I would have shared it with you.

My tactics didn't really work.  She is more hungry than ever.  "How many left?" asks she.  "6" I reply.

She counts them all down until we make it back to the car.  Unusually for me - a 100% round.  Must have been the assistance.

We spied the lunchtime pub on the way in.  Good job, as Coln Rogers is a dry village.

Hare and Hounds it is.

Food is on its way.  Glad I bought a brace of twenties.

Another superb cache trail - thanks again  Rooster72 for the setup and maintenance. 

The southern loop will be completed at the end of September.