In 1986 Richard Dixon led a 25 mile group social walk from Painswick, the
route being the Cotswold Way
to Leckhampton Hill and then via Seven Springs, Coberley, Cowley & Fostons
Ash back toPainswick.
Shirley Hume expressed the view that the route would be suitable for a
Challenge Walk, presumably because it was the right distance and easy to follow.
At the AGM that year the late Mac McArthur suggested that the Group
organise a new Challenge Walk in the Cotswolds.Former
member, John Margetts and Richard took on the role of organising the event.
It was the original intention to base the event in Painswick at Gyde
House, a former National Children’s Home which was taken over by the
Mountbatten Trust.However The Mountbatten Trust went into liquidation and we had to find an
alternative venue.
The inaugural event in 1988 was based at Cowley Manor, a residential
conference house run by Gloucestershire Council.Cowley Manor were able to offer accommodation, and a number of the
participants took advantage of a weekend package, which included a led walk on the Sunday.
Due to the uncertain future of Cowley Manor as a venue we moved our base
to Birdlip Village Hall in 1989 which gave us the oportunity to include Cooper
Hill.With changes in the personal lives of John Margetts who moved to
Cambridge and Richard who had just met his future wife, Pauline, it was decided to put the event on hold in 1990.
Richard Jasper volunteered for the role of Joint Organiser and this
partnership continued from 1991 until 2006.In 1999, the route changed going south via Miserden and Sapperton to The
Thames Severn Canal and then via Bisley and Painswick back to the village hall
via that sting in the tail, Birdlip Hill.
In 2007, Jon Bateman took over from Richard Dixon as Joint Organiser and
the routechanged again, going via
Bisley and Haresfield Beacon.
Since it’s inception in 1988 we have missed just two years, 1990 when
Richard Dixon got married and 2001 due to the Foot & Mouth epidemic
For further details contact the organiser by e-mail
