Sue Gearing, accompanied by the birdlife of the Oxfordshire

Cotswolds, enjoys a gentle walk through stunning valleys, along

a river, through ‘the most beautiful village in England’, and

by a trout farm

BIRDSONG accompanied me on much of this walk in the Cotswolds,

particularly on the open land above the Colne Valley. The

circle follows the river a short way, goes up a quiet, serene

green valley and then on across open land.

We visit Bibury and line of charming old cottages, Arlington

Row, plus a trout farm set in a magnificent garden. There is a

chance of refreshment in Arlington at a hotel, pub or at the

cafe at the trout farm before going through fields above the

river and down back to the pretty village of Ablington. There

are only very gentle hills and walking for the most part is on

good tracks where you can really stride out, with very few

gates and stiles. A good dog day, too.

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START

Continue through the village and fork right on the

no-through road (don't go as far as the river). Go through a

gate and on. Pass boarding kennels and soon the track rises

gently and goes a little further from the river. Go through a

metal gate and straight on. Don't stay on the track which you

can see rising ahead, but instead fork right and go into the

grassy valley.

1. VALLEY

Follow this quiet valley between soft rolling sides with the

Ablington Downs on your left. Go through two gates and then

pass an area with a low barn and walled yards and carry on. Go

through another gate which takes you towards the open access

area of Lamborough Banks, although not marked. The track then

climbs out of the valley. Don't curve right, but bear left over

to a gate and pick up another track, taking you even more into

skylark country and open farmland.

2. LANE

Reach a lane and turn right. At the bend, go ahead on the

restricted byway. As you go along, over on the left is the site

of Bibury's Battle of Britain airfield and you may see signs of

some of the runways and other airfield buildings as you go, but

it has all but disappeared. Pass a wood on the left and

continue on to barns, also on the left.

3. BARNS

Come into a rough area. Stay over to the left near the

barns, and go into a field on the left, and then go right along

the edge on a track. Stay with the hedge on your right and then

pass a wood on your right. Shortly after this, come through an

opening where a track comes in on the left.

4. GATE

At this point we leave the track and turn right through a

gate (no footpath sign). Follow the right hedge and continue on

to a small gate on the far side and come to a magnificent barn

conversion (Hale Barn). It may be that in the months ahead,

when the barn is occup ied, a diversion round here may be in

place so keep an eye open. Go straight through and follow the

track away. Join another drive/track and maintain direction

soon passing a reservoir on the left. The track becomes more

grassy as it enters a field, and continue until you are

alongside cottages and straight on down the concrete drive.

This bends twice and brings you to the main road in Bibury.

5. BIBURY

William Morris called Bibury “the most beautiful village in

England” and it remains most attractive in its setting

alongside the River Coln. Bibury and Arlington, which joins on

to it, form the village.

Go right and straight away turn left on to the drive leading

to the country house hotel of Bibury Court which dates back to

Tudor times. At the start of the drive turn right by a phone

box into a picturesque green with old Cotswold cottages.

Go straight through and on to pass St Mary's church. It is

worth visiting the church, and as you go round the back to the

main church entrance, you get a good view of the side of Bibury

Court.

Continue along the lane until you return to the main road.

Turn left with the Colne now on your left. There is a useful

small shop along here.

Go along to the footbridge over the Colne and cross, and

pass an information board about Rack Isle, an open wetland

meadow between the river and the millstream from Arlington

Mill.

6. ARLINGTON ROW

Walk on through Arlington Row. These cottages provided the

focal point of the village. Originally there was a 14th-century

wool store at this location, and then it was converted into

weavers' cottages.

Turn right on the footpath with the stream on your right.

Then cross a footbridge on the right and continue on in the

same direction as before. Arrive at the road with the old mill

opposite and Arlington Trout Farm which a magnificent garden

and a chance to catch your own trout.

There is also a cafe here. Along the road on the right is

the Swan Hotel which serves snacks and lunches.

But to continue our circle, and for a more traditional

country pub, turn left along the road on the pavement, and

after a couple of minutes reach the 15th-century inn, which is

called the Catherine Wheel.

Go on a little further, ignoring access roads and a green on

the right, and round a slight bend to a phone box.

Opposite this go right up a no-through lane. Then continue

on staying over to the left, following the public footpath

signs to Ablington. Go through a wicket gate ahead and carry

on.

7. FIELD

Cross a stone slab stile into a field and follow the right

edge. The valley of the Colne is on the right. Go through an

area of bushes, brambles and trees and over a stone stile on to

a drive. Go across and straight on through a kissing gate by

double gates into a field. Stay with the right edge and then

gradually bear away from the right and find a kissing gate a

short distance along the far edge from the right corner. There

is a stile to cross here, too. Then go straight on along the

right fence and over another stile. Go through two gates and

continue on along a path which leads past a house and garden on

the left.

8. HOUSE

Immediately reach a lane. Turn right. Follow the lane along

and then drop downhill under trees. Turn right to Ablington.

Cross the Colne and come back to the start.

The Catherine Wheel, Arlington, open daily, Tel. 01285

740250