Canals & Cotswolds July 2014 - Devizes to Bradford-On-Avon

On Wednesday morning it was time to pack up again and leave the beautiful Cotswolds and head south to Wiltshire, where we had booked to stay on the Devizes C&CC site that is situated right alongside the Kennet & Avon Canal. 

After arriving at lunchtime we pitched up, had lunch, set the bikes up and spent the rest of the day out on the bikes.  We biked along the towpath for 9 miles to Bradford-on -Avon, a small but pretty little town.

Later that evening, once we had biked back, we had a lovely meal in the pub next to the campsite......well earned too after 18 miles on the bikes!

Canals & Cotswolds July 2014 - Broadway

Our next stop was the beautiful village of Broadway in the heart of the Cotswolds.  We'd stayed here before in the past a few times so knew the area. 

On arrival we pitched up, had some lunch and had a wander around the village.  It was really busy, being a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon.  Later that evening we met up with some friends in the village for a meal and a few drinks.  A great evening, thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Monday morning we got up to blue skies so decided to walk up to Broadway Tower, something we'd not attempted on previous visits.  It was pretty hard going on the way up but you were rewarded with the most stunning views at the top.  On a clear day you are supposed to be able to see parts of 16 counties in all.   The black clouds were looming once we'd reached the top so we walked back down into the village, collected some supplies and spent the rest of the afternoon on site watching the rain.  It only lasted for 2 hours and it was the only proper rain we saw all trip!!!  After two lovely nights in Broadway we headed to Moreton-in-Marsh for one night.  We got there at lunchtime, pitched up quickly and walked into town to meet up with some more friends for lunch.  Other than a wander around the weekly market we didn't do much else there and I didn't take any photos apart from a couple on my phone!

Canals & Cotswolds July 2014 - Slimbridge

Early July was, once again, time for another 'big trip' away.  This time we'd booked what we called Canal & Cotswolds campsites.

We left home early Friday morning to head north on the dreaded M5 again (I'm really not a fan of that road!) and arrived in Slimbridge at lunchtime.  We had booked a canal side site that has an adults only area, pure heaven! 

We didn't do much that first afternoon, just a short walk along the canal and had the evening in the excellent pub next door to the site.

On Saturday morning it was a bit drizzly so we shelved our plans to bike to Gloucester Docks (we'll do that next time!) and instead decided to walk to Purton (about 4 miles from the site) to see the Ships Graveyard (where ships were beached on purpose and allowed to rot to protect the canal from the tidal estuary).  About a mile into our walk the grizzle stopped and the sun came out and very warm it was too, especially in our waterproofs!  Anyway, it was a lovely flat walk and we enjoyed all the wildlife and talking to people living and holidaying on the many barges along the canal.

We spent the evening on site that night and after packing to leave for our next destination on Sunday we walked along the canal to the Cambridge Arms swing bridge and back in the lovely warm sunshine.