Downham Hill, Uley

Yesterday Christina and Dawson came by train from London to stay for the weekend. She is the daughter of Helena's sister Tanya, who we love to see at any time. Lots of laughs and banter has been had.

Today at lunchtime we all drove up to a local beauty spot, Coaley Peak, which stands high on the Cotswold escarpment near to Uley, where we took food and a blanket for a quick picnic. It was a glorious sunny day and despite the low lying mists which meant all distant views were hazy, there were a lot of people out enjoying the high spot overlooking the Severn Vale.

We then moved about a mile along the ridge towards Uley to perambulate around the massive banks and ditches of Uley Bury, an Iron Age hill fort, standing high on the promontory above the short valley in which Uley village lies. Half way around the perimeter, we stopped to sit and look out towards Wales. Across from the Bury lies this geological outlier called Downham Hill. Just to its right is another interestingly shaped hill called Cam Long Down but it wouldn't all fit in the frame.

We then went down into the village to visit the local shop, but it was disappointingly closed, so we drove back the five miles to Stroud, where we went to Winstones's ice cream factory which is sited right beside Rodborough Common. They are a very popular local company and as always on such a beautiful day there were crowds of local Stroudies who had come to enjoy sitting on the hillside above the town eating delicious ice cream made from local organic milk.

Tomorrow is another day, but I will be working on the building the raised beds with John. I hope it isn't too hot.