Canicrossing the Cotswold Way – Day 5

Day 5, the last day, was forecast as another warm one but not quite the temperatures we encountered over the weekend. We were dropped off in the centre of Winchcombe to begin where we left off the day before. It wasn’t long before we were trekking up another of those ‘all too familiar’ Cotswold hills and then at the top of the hill looking down over the spectacular scenery.

The route took us passed Hailes Abbey and the fruit farm, then out onto the hill through fields of sheep, with their lambs bleating away happily until they spotted the dogs. The first section of the final day was estimated at 12 miles, so I had Donnie with me to help me power march up the hills. Unfortunately he also wanted to speed down the hills even faster and this didn’t agree with my knees!

Donnie at the top of the first hill above Hailes Abbey
Donnie at the top of the first hill above Hailes Abbey

We found plenty of water on this section in the form of small streams and water troughs so although humid again, the dogs were well watered and we kept up a good pace. After dropping down into Stanway, where one of my best friends got married nearly 7 years ago now, we then climbed back up through a village called Stanton, which even by Cotswolds standards, is one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever seen.

Donnie by the church my friend got married in, at Stanway
Donnie by the church my friend got married in, at Stanway

Another monster hill up out of the village brought us up to the top of Shenbarrow Hill, where we knew we were getting closer to our dog switching point in Broadway which was now at the bottom of the hill. The only problem with going downhill on the Cotswold Way is that you know, inevitably, you’ve got to climb again somewhere. So after swapping Donnie for Tegan to complete the challenge and the last 6 miles, we had a murderous ascent up to the Broadway Tower.

Broadway Tower felt like the top of the world!
Broadway Tower felt like the top of the world!

It was at this point my left knee really started to complain about the battering it took from Donnie earlier but I knew we were so close, I just popped some pain killers and we rattled on. From Broadway Tower on, it was almost all downhill and nice gentle descent too. We made our way down through some crop fields, then a long grassy trail to the road where we crossed over and found ourselves at the top of Dover’s Hill, just above our final destination in Chipping Camden.

The dogs on Dover's Hill
The dogs on Dover’s Hill

The last downhill section on trails and road, flew by, and within minutes we were in the town and marching through the market place to find the acorn in the floor to mark the end (or beginning) of the Cotswold Way. We took our pictures as proof of the achievement and wandered off with the dogs again to the waiting vans.

Tegan and I were happy to have completed the Cotswold Way
Tegan and I were happy to have completed the Cotswold Way

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this challenge, and at times it seemed like things were stacked against us with the unexpected heatwave over the weekend, but I can honestly say I did love it. I’ve already been asked if I’d do it the other way now, North to South and I think I would. The dogs seemed to enjoy the ever-changing scenery and we have all finished tired but happy, so we can now sit back and relax for a bit – until the next challenge!

If you fancy sponsoring us for our efforts, the team page can be found here:

https://www.justgiving.com/teams/CanicrossingTheCotswoldWay

We have had so much support for this and I’d like to thank our sponsors again, Arctic Wolf, Meatlove, Big Bobble Hats and Pupmalup, plus all the people who have generously donated to the charities we have been supporting, Macmillan Cancer Support and Animal Health Trust. A big thank you also to the support crew Marc and Colin, Colin was also taking pictures for us at changeover points and the end of each day.

The whole team, Karen, myself and from left to right - Misty, Prince and Duke (Karen's beautiful Belgium Shepherds) Judo (sitting) Tegan (lying in front) and Donnie
The whole team, Karen, myself and from left to right – Misty, Prince (lying down) and Duke (sitting), Karen’s beautiful Belgium Shepherds, then Judo (sitting) Tegan (lying in front) and Donnie my three collie crosses and all rescues. Photo courtesy of Colin Roberts Photography.

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