I’m a bit tardy with this report, but as it’s been over a year in the completing, I thought another few days to write the report of my walk would not matter too much. The Cotswold Way is 102 miles long from Chipping Campden to Bath. My walk was spread over 12 sections (some circular and some with extra bits to join and leave the path), walking about 10 miles once a month. Unfortunately, other life commitments ment that there were some months when I was unable to join the group of ladies who had also signed up for this challenge, so catch-ups had to be organised, the section for November being the most challenging as weather and illness seemed determined to scupper all plans.
Sunday (2nd Feb) was thankfully a beautiful day, blue skies and reasonable temperatures for the time of year. Mr Shakes would not let me walk on my own (and he was the driver needed to connect up at both ends of the walk) so I asked his sister and her hubby if they would like to join me. We three were dropped by Mr Shakes at Dyrham, picking up the trail where I had left it back in October, we enjoyed Dyrham Park, Landsdowne Battlefield of 1643, The Grenville Monument, picturesque houses and churches like those in the village of Cold Ashton and long views across to Bristol, The English Channel and eventually views of Bath. We finished on the outskirts of Bath, connecting up with the final section I had walked in December. The ground was not easy as it was soft and quite muddy in places, there were some steep slopes up and down and some parts of the trail were quite rocky. I was glad I had my stick. I was expecting the walk to be about 10 miles, it was in fact 11.6 miles. Not too bad for me, but my legs continued to let me know they had worked hard from about 9 miles. For my relatives it was a tough a walk, they have been doing the coastal path for a few years but they are not use to winter walking and found the ground conditions particularly challenging, consequently we weren’t very speedy and it took us 5.5 hours to complete. We were all glad to meet up with Mr Shakes in the park and ride car park and to enjoy refreshments at Gloucester Services on the way home.
Macbeth’s famous speech (quoted in the title) about the impermanence of life, comes very near the end of the play. He is reflecting on how, despite all his scheming, murder and tyranny, his life is soon to end, meaningless. Hardly appropriate for a Sunday walk in the sunshine you would think! However my Sunday walk was also the end, not of life thankfully, but of the challenge, of the journey and of the companionship of people who I joined for the duration. I reflected how this too had an air of impermanence, a series of moments in time (all wonderful and delightful, but also challenging both physically and mentally) that are now gone (apart from photos). I’m not as melancholic as Macbeth (but I’m not about to meet McDuff and death on a battlefield) but I am sad it is finished.
Google says there are 20 Trig points on the Cotswold Way, but I think some must be off the trail as these (pictured) were all the ones we found. If you fancy a National Trail that is not too long and has amazing views, well marked paths, lots of interesting historic places on route and a good smattering of refreshment stops, the Cotswold Way is worth checking out. It is well used but we never felt it was crowded.
Found some new trails!
Island Relay leg 10 completed! 
Run Rabbit Trail Mix Challenge