Leg 3: Chipping (Campden) to Chips (at the Baker's Arms)

 

Hidcote to Broad Campden 4.5 miles

The weather was in our favour as the heat of the last couple of days had dissipated leaving sunny but fresh conditions for our walk from Hidcote to Broad Campden. We had decided to make an earlier start and not take picnic lunches - we found our backpacks to be much lighter - as we could then lunch at leisure at the Baker’s Arms in Broad Campden. This turned out to be an excellent idea.

There were seven of us today: Rod, Di, Alison, Deborah, Melanie, Stephen, and Gill with Lily and Maisie representing the canine contingent.

We set off from the NT free car park walking past Hidcote Manor itself and then into the tiny hamlet of Hidcote Bartrim. We crossed through a beautiful orchard with sheep and lambs and then through a field crossing ancient ridge and furrow to reach a quiet country road.  After a short distance we left the road to follow a track leading to Harvest Piece farm eventually reaching a sign and driveway to Mickleton Hills Farm with an avenue of magnificent horse-chestnuts. The countryside was stunning: green and lush Cotswold rolling hills and valleys. Many, many sheep and lambs.


Having passed by the front of the impressive farm house, we walked above and across the Campden Railway Tunnel, where in July 1851 the Battle of Mickleton Tunnel was fought between opposing parties of railway workers.  Isambard Kingdom Brunel had hired a contractor to build the tunnel but there was slow progress and Brunel and the contractor eventually fell out resulting in around 3000 men getting involved in a pitched battle. It was difficult to associate that image with the peaceful place we saw on our walk.  


Having crested a gentle hill, we saw the town of Chipping Campden (ABCV*) in the near distance and walked through the busy high street (dating from the 14th century) and past the famous Market Hall, where there is a plaque marking one end of the Cotswold Way. The town was a wool trading centre in the Middle Ages and enjoyed the patronage of many wealthy wool merchants.



Having walked through the town and out again the other side we took a gentle path up towards the village of Broad Campden (ABCV), stopping to admire the Quaker Meeting house, and impressive topiary in the village itself.


We retired to the garden of the Baker’s Arms for a delicious and well-earned lunch.

Our next walk will be Broad Campden to Moreton-in-the Marsh.

*ABCV = Another beautiful Cotswold Village. This is a term used by Trevor Antill in his book ‘The Cotswolds. On the Monarch’s Way’. We’ve appropriated his term to save repetition as there are so many ABCVs.

Blog written by Ali. 

We are walking in aid of Grassroots Suicide Prevention 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/28-30MonarchsWaywalk2022

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