27/08/16 - Hetty Peglar's Tump & The Old Crown at Uley

Distance - 5.4 Miles
Geocaches - 3
Walk Inspiration - Pub Walks in the Cotswolds
Pub - Uley Bitter at The Old Crown, Uley

At the start of the day, little did I expect to be accused of thieving the roof tiles from a bus shelter.

To be fair, it's no ordinary shelter.  Passengers at Uley get to wait in a lovely Cotswold stone clad building, better than some folk's houses.  They've had vans turn up in the night and strip the tiles away.  So when a man is up on the internal bench, using a torch to look into the nooks and crannies, suspicions are aroused.

How to explain Geocaching to the Neighborhood Watch?  Still, I wasn't going to let it go.  This is a previous DNF for me.

We escape from the village with our dignity intact and Dixon of Uley Green placated enough to not call the rozzers.  Up hill out the village, menaced by grumpy cows.

Its Ok Mrs Mappiman, We've lost the Cows

A small diversion is taken in Nympsfield for two reasons.  First off, I wanted to show Sonia where I stayed when walking the Cotswold Way - 10 years ago next month.  Second reason, a couple more geocaches to grab.

The Rose and Crown is as fine looking as I remember it, although securely locked up at 11am.

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Chez Mappiman - Sept 2006

Cache GZ - Nympsfield Church

I've walked this area frequently over the years but never explored the burial tomb known as Hetty Peglar's Tump.  Its not on a decent path and requires a "there and back" walk along a busy road.  Still, when I found out from another blog on Walk1000 Miles Facebook Group that you could go into the tomb, I had to investigate.

With my torch.

Someone's not interested in exploring

As there are Spiders.  Lots of Spiders.

Having got Neolithic exploration out of my system, we head to Uley Bury Hill fort, via the Cotswold Way.  Shady woodland walking is most welcome.

Cotswold Way

Downham Hill, from Uley Bury

Walk the three sides of the Hill Fort.  Occasional decent views of the Severn Estuary.  All that remains is drop down and complete the investigation of Uley.

Classic Village - 19th Century Church and 17th Century Pub, vying for dominance.

Uley Church

The Old Crown - Doing a roaring trade

Six real ales are on.  That's quite a choice.  Its also one of the few places that sells the beer from the Uley Brewery, 1/2 a mile up the road.  In the interests of science, I decide to try the Uley Bitter - shunning the slightly stronger Uley Old Spot.

A decent enough choice that I enquire to see if I can export it back to Worcestershire.  The barman confirms they don't sell it in bottles.

Uley Bitter - lack of receptacles suitable for export