Huffing and puffing up to Broadway Tower

The Cotswolds are like heaven for walkers...I have done some walking in the Cotswolds in the past but nothing like we did for two of the days we were in the Broadway area. I can't even describe how amazing it was and how much fun we had.

And I must say my family is from the Cotswolds - further south near Stroud - but I do love the fact that both my grandparents were born and raised in the Cotswolds.  I feel such a connection with that area. 

June and I walked to the village of Snowshill and back - stopping at the Broadway Tower enroute.  I will take you along on the walk to Broadway Tower today and my next post will be the rest of the way to Snowshill and back.

We stayed in the lovely town of Broadway which is breathtaking with most of the buildings in the lovely gold Cotswold stone.  Here is the bed and breakfast we stayed at for the three nights - our room was on the main floor on the left.

After our first English (as opposed to Scottish) breakfast of the trip we headed off to find our way up to Broadway Tower.  We went up and up and up....but we knew good things awaited us...

We followed the Cotswold Way to Broadway Tower

I'm following the leader - June was a great map reader.  I can't find my way out of a paper bag!

Stopping to turn around and admire the view is a great idea - especially the stopping part!

Typical Cotswold scene

Here are some of the characters we met along the way...

I think this one is probably the life of the party - looks like it could tell a good joke.

These volunteers were rebuilding stone fences that had crumbled.  Very interesting to see how they did it. Just stacking the stones they said - "Just"!!

Showing the new and the old.  We had noticed the crumbling walls fences earlier on and commented on how bad they were and lo and behold there they were building new ones.

And finally we made it to the top... What a view!!! I remember making it this far in 1992 when I was in the area and then thinking "sod it" (well something a little less lady like actually), collapsing onto the bench for a long while, catching my breath and staggering  back down to Broadway.  That was the year of the famous abscess tooth though so I was pretty drugged up at that point I do believe.  And not in the killer shape (cough) I am now.

What a view!!! You can see Broadway in the distance

Yes I did sit my bum down on here again this time too. Only I didn't stay as long!

And here we are....Broadway tower!

Broadway Tower was built as a folly (a building constructed mainly for decoration) and completed in 1798.  It has had a number of uses including a printing press and as a holiday retreat for the Arts and Crafts movement.  It was used as a look out point for enemy planes during both world wars.  We climbed up to the look out area and here were our views:

Then it was on to the cafe and the BEST ICE CREAM I HAVE EVER TASTED...

 Monty thought it looked good too and I had to arm wrestle him for it.  I won!!!

We had a pleasant conversation with a couple of English walkers while enjoying our ice cream and then it was time to set off again...a bit misplaced at first...but that's another story and another post.