Walk 6: Lineover Wood - Barrow Wake
10th May 2013: Teasel and I set off from Lineover Wood at 10:30am. The forecast was for a cool overcast day, but there was the odd patch of sun and we made good progress. The re-routed path sticks to the higher ground through the wood, but that also means it's close to the A436, but they soon diverge and the traffic noise dies away.
The route passes under the crackling power lines that we first met just after Belas Knap and skirts around the top of Wistley Hill with views back to Cleeve Hill and on to Hartley Hill, before heading back towards the main road. Apparently in times past you had to walk along the verge of the A436 to Seven Springs, but now a path has been created along the edge of the field on the other side of the hedge. Still close to the road, but massively better than having to walk along the road.
At Seven Springs you cross the A435 and follow a quiet road and then a track which climbs slowly up Charlton Kings Common to regain the top of the escarpment. I've been here a few times (it's a popular spot), but never seen it so quiet. As we arrived at the summit trig point of Leckhampton Hill (293m) (which has been painted light green for some reason) the sun came out, so we stopped for a spot of lunch.
The path leads down to a car park and then follows the road back uphill to pick up a track that passes Salterley Grange and a golf course to come out at Star College. More road walking takes you past an old army base before heading into Barrow Piece Plantation where the path follows the edge of the escarpment to Crickley Hill - the site of a 6000 year old Stone Age settlement. An excellent viewpoint, but annoying traffic noise from the A417 below. This becomes louder until you are unceremoniously dumped into the traffic by the Air Balloon Roundabout.
We dashed across the road at a suitable gap in the almost continuous traffic, and followed the pavement uphill (with heavy traffic slowly coming down the hill) until we were able to pick up the traffic free remains of the old road to the viewpoint at Barrow Wake. We arrived at 1:20pm.
The route passes under the crackling power lines that we first met just after Belas Knap and skirts around the top of Wistley Hill with views back to Cleeve Hill and on to Hartley Hill, before heading back towards the main road. Apparently in times past you had to walk along the verge of the A436 to Seven Springs, but now a path has been created along the edge of the field on the other side of the hedge. Still close to the road, but massively better than having to walk along the road.
At Seven Springs you cross the A435 and follow a quiet road and then a track which climbs slowly up Charlton Kings Common to regain the top of the escarpment. I've been here a few times (it's a popular spot), but never seen it so quiet. As we arrived at the summit trig point of Leckhampton Hill (293m) (which has been painted light green for some reason) the sun came out, so we stopped for a spot of lunch.
The path leads down to a car park and then follows the road back uphill to pick up a track that passes Salterley Grange and a golf course to come out at Star College. More road walking takes you past an old army base before heading into Barrow Piece Plantation where the path follows the edge of the escarpment to Crickley Hill - the site of a 6000 year old Stone Age settlement. An excellent viewpoint, but annoying traffic noise from the A417 below. This becomes louder until you are unceremoniously dumped into the traffic by the Air Balloon Roundabout.
We dashed across the road at a suitable gap in the almost continuous traffic, and followed the pavement uphill (with heavy traffic slowly coming down the hill) until we were able to pick up the traffic free remains of the old road to the viewpoint at Barrow Wake. We arrived at 1:20pm.
Walk Distance: 8.6 miles (13.8 km), 2h49m.
Cumulative Distance: 41.1 miles (66.2 km), 15h13m.
The next walk, from Barrow Wake to Painswick, should be happening on Sunday 12th May.
The next walk, from Barrow Wake to Painswick, should be happening on Sunday 12th May.
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