Cirencester Ramblers - Sunday December 4th Elkstone walk

Sunday December 4th Elkstone walk

On a cool and cloudy Sunday morning 17 members and visitors set off from Gloucester Beeches for a 8.5 mile circular walk. Crossing the A417 using the underpass the group followed an old tarmac road to the village of Elkstone where after passing the Manor house they visited the 12C church of St John.
After passing through the village a track was followed over high ground passing Sparrowthorn Farm and after crossing a road they began a scenic descent, with wide ranging views over the Churn valley, before arriving at Cockleford Mill. After passing the former 17C mill house a long steady ascent of 310 feet from the River Churn took the group to Upper Coberley.

From here a downhill path was followed passing the site of the former medieval village of Upper Coberley to arrive in Coberley village where a visit was made to the Church of St Giles. In a side chapel is the tomb of the mother of Richard Whittington thrice Lord Mayor of London and the chancel contains the 1295 heart burial monument of Sir Giles Berkeley whose horse Lombard , somewhat unusually, is buried in the churchyard.
From the village the route took them past Coberley Mill before crossing the infant River Churn and passing several paddocks to arrive in Cowley. A lunch break was taken here in the churchyard of St Mary's church which is in the grounds of the lovely Cowley Manor Hotel.
After lunch another steady climb took the group up to the highest point of the walk at 920 feet before finally crossing fields to return to the start point.