Longbrook Barn Farm CL, Cold Aston, Cotswolds.
Friday
It was a little way on a single track road to get to the farm. The entrance to the site is from the north due to the turn into the driveway. Money is in an envelope, put into post box at entrance and then through an electric gate to get onto field past working stables.
Darren, the horse, bites
apparently. The field is relatively
flat. Just as well as we'd forgotten the spirit level. There are walks over the fields just outside
the entrance.
 |
| Barn owl hunting |
Back at the caravan, whilst having another cuppa along came the Barn Owl. Gorgeous.
Dinner was at the Plough Inn in the village. It was a lovely olde
world pub. Mike had steak which he thought was good but chips weren't completely cooked. I had the vegetarian option which was quite tasty.
We went to Stow on the Wold. The lady who runs the farm said there is free parking in the town square and places are vacated regularly but you need to hold your nerve whilst waiting for one. We decided not to chance it and made our way to the car park. Walking from the carpark we came across the Porch House.
Stow also has a 'Tolkein' door at the church
but we didn't get to see that. We were lucky enough to go to the first craft
fayre of the year which is held monthly. Free entry and lovely coffee and
cakes.
Drive around and saw Wick Rissington which is quite quaint with a very wide street.
Lower and Upper
Slaughter are also very pretty villages. We tried to park in Bourton on the
Water but couldn't so didn't see much of that.
In the afternoon, I did some needle felting that
Mike calls 'chuffing - steam engine' as that's what it sounds like apparently. I created a
Barn Owl picture as a reminder of our stay here.
The electric is quite expensive now and metered Mike made sure to get some more gas. There's Autogas point at Cirencester Service Station.
Sunday
Cooked breakfast! Can't beat it but it does
leave you full all day which is good unless you want to stay out for a cuppa.
Went to Fairford as we saw a walk in a book
left at the site. Fairford is lovely. Old 15th century church with funeral head
stone dedicated to the church cat who died aged 17 in 1980.
Followed a walk along the river Coln. Quite
fast flowing and saw posters about water voles they are trying to keep from
harms way. Met Tom who was very knowledgeable about the river and the water
voles. Followed the directions in the book for the rest of the walk but a
housing estate had been out up since it was printed so we had to find our own
way. Also saw a statue of a rabbit which on reflection seemed to be like the
barons that were set up in Salisbury about 4 years ago.
Found a farm shop on the way back but it was
very lardi-daa. Did get some sausages for dinner though.
Returned to Stow (pic at end of Fairford
section) to see if I could get a Prinknash tea set I'd seen yesterday but the
shop was closed.
Returned to van for a cuppa then I went for a
walk around the village. Found a public footpath that went through a field of
sheep. It wasn't clear where the path went to and as I thought the sheep maybe
pregnant I didn't want to disturb them so wandered back.
Lovely sunset and captured the van with it.
Monday
Going home day so usual cleaning (it's so much
easier than doing it in the driveway). The lady came to talk with us, and to
get the extra electric money now they have meters. She said we could stay as
long as we liked.
Would like to return.
