The ford at Duntisbourne Leer

Yet again we regretted our later than planned start for our Sunday outing, the delay being caused by my lolling in the bath for too long. Woodpeckers had checked the weather forecast but I hadn't realised that it wasn't just goiung to turn dull by lunchtime, which it did, but rain would be spreading across the whole country in the afternoon.

Our intention was to visit Cerney House which is situated on the hillside above the church of North Cerney, several miles north-east of Cirencester on the road to Cheltenham. We enjoyed our last visit some years ago and having checked their website we thought they might have made the necessary improvements to their offer of a visit to the gardens. The wall gardens originally had a good display of tulips which we hoped to see today, but driving up through the grounds past the large imposing house, gave the impression of a lack of care. As we parked in a field, the car park, the rain started to fall harder and we sat wondering whether it would be worth spending a fiver. We decided it wasn't, but might be another day when the sun was shining and we could bring a picnic to enjoy the scenery and the quiet of a country house.

I suggested a gentle drive across country down roads we didn't know, which Helena approved of. It was worth it, though we still prefer the landscape closer to the part of the Cotswolds where we live, near to the escarpment above the Severn Vale and the deeply incised valleys and coombes formed by the fast flowing streams and rivers.

We eventually reached the valley of the River Dunt, which runs south
and forms a tributary of the River Churn before they reach Cirencester. Along the ridge above the valley's eastern side runs Ermin Street, a major Roman road linking Cirencester (or Corinium) with Gloucester (or Glevum), and small lanes run down into the valley to cross the River Dunt and remains of roman buildings are dotted along this pretty vale.

We joined the valley from the hamlet of Perrott's Brook, taking the road to Bagendon, which was the site of the ancient British tribe of the Dobunni, who ruled this area up to the roman invasion, so there is a lot of history roundabout these parts. From Bagendon we dropped down to Daglingworth where we then drove up the little valley, following the line of the river or bourne, as it is properly called. We have often visited these parts and in particular the four hamlets of Duntisbourne Rouse, Middle Duntisbourne, Duntisbourne Leer and finally Duntisbourne Abbots.

I wanted to drive along the last stretch from Leer to Abbots directly, but the road was marked as unsuitable for cars. I did heed this and took a long route up to the top of the hill, along the ridge and back down to the bourne. But I couldn't resist returning the mile to Duntisbourne Leer, because despite the rain i wanted t try t take a picture of the ford we had crossed right through the middle of the few houses there.

This picture is taken from the middle of the bourne, a couple of yards below the ford and beside the entrance to the old farmyard of Duntisbourne Farm on the left. The bourne flows in a culvert beside the house in the far distance and the only way for pedestrians to cross is by using these stepping stones at the front of this picture. I have checked and in fact the road up the valley is certainly unsuitable to our car as the ford runs for nearly 70 metres along the bed of the stream, with a footpath on the bank beside it. I must go back and explore there one sunny day.

We do find that these hamlets are now part of Poshtershire, as Woodpeckers calls these areas of Gloucestershire. Duntisbourne Leer Farm is a beautiful spot with several old barns, and outhouses, but certainly no farming going on. All the other dwellings seem to be owned by very affluent people, and probably many of them are just weekend cottages for city dwellers. I doubt if any farm workers, if they existed could live in the houses originally built for their like. But it is very pretty.