Broadway-Buckland-Laverton Ramble

Sunday morning, Alison and Kim headed back to Norfolk to prepare for another working week, and we drove to Broadway for one final walk before our flight home the following day. The hills around Broadway. are alive with ramblers. The area is criss-crossed by four “Ways” (long distance cross-country paths) and dozens of local connectors. I first came here on a solo trip many years ago and discovered one of my favorite rambles: a circuit from Broadway to Buckland, Laverton, Stanton, Snowshill and back to Broadway. Today, we made a shorter circuit (~6 miles)  through Buckland and Laverton, then back through the Buckland Wood for the return to Broadway.

This walk began on the Cotswold Way, accessed across the street from St. Michael’s and All Angels Church on the south end of Broadway. After crossing Snowshill Road, the  path heads southwest through meadows filled with munching woolies.

The path climbs gently at first, but steepens as it enters the Burhill woods.

Woolies rule…

…with some competition.

Buckland and Laverton are part of the same civil parish, with a history dating back to Saxon times. “Buckland” derives from the Anglo-Saxon “Boc-land” reflecting its origins in a charter granted to St. Peter’s Abbey, Gloucester, in 709 CE by Coenred, the king of Mercia. (Coenred then relinquished his crown, went on pilgrimage to Rome and lived there as a monk until his death – a popular retirement option at the time.) The abbey owned the village until 1546, when Henry VIII’s dissolution placed the estate in private hands (for a handsome fee, of course). Buckland’s houses, many dating back to the 17th century, were built for workers on the estate. but today the village seems to be the province of the very rich. The manor house, built in 1750, is now a luxury hotel.

From Buckland, the path circles south along the Wynchcombe Way to Laverton. Laverton has a number of 17th century buildings, all listed and very well maintained.

From Laverton, we turned east to follow a steep (and muddy) path up Laverton Hill, with some change in livestock scenery.

After cresting the hill, we had lovely – albeit misty – views of the Broadway vale.

Coming into Broadway from the south, we passed a fox hound kennel with some cuties too young for leads.

Back on Broadway’s  High Street, we enjoyed a late lunch at the Broadway deli.

Sunday night was packing and diner in, with an early drive back to London for the flight home. We made it with time to spare, and I’ll end with some pix of Heathrow’s spiffy Star Alliance Club.