Full moon hike on Cleeve Hill

Join us for a great way to start your New Year! An interesting walk by moonlight and headtorch, with many points of interest that include:

o Belas Knap. A neolithic longbarrow (human burial site) thought to be about 5,000 years old

o Breakheart Plantation. A small wood in a steep valley.

o The springs that are the source of the River Isbourne, and a nearby washpool.

o Cleeve Cloud. Usually considered the highest point in the Cotswolds (depending on what you take as its boundary).

o Two improbably located derelict buildings that may interest some.

This walk is free. As a group we usually suggest a donation be made to foodbanks or a similar good cause, but we are offering this first, in what we hope will be a series of moon-lite walks, for free.

If you’ve never tried a hike in darkness before, give this one a try! The moon creates more light than some might expect, even if it’s cloudy, and with hopefully a large group of us with headtorches, its great fun and there is usually ample light.

A headtorch or torch is essential, but two can be loaned to the first people to request – please message Kevin or comment on the event.

We will meet at Plylons carpark in time to start our walk in darkness at 5pm, and the moon will rise about 5:30. Weather permitting, it will be bright and clearly visible from Cleeve Cloud and at other points along the route.

This walk is actually happening the day after the full moon, as the moon will be almost equally bright and a Sunday seems a better day for this.

We will stop for about 20 minutes, if anyone would like to bring a snack.

Those that wish to can stop for a drink after, probably at Dunkertons.
The end time shown can only be an estimate.

If you do not know what is meant locally by "Pylons carpark", please take care and feel free to ask - it has caused some confusion before. The correct carpark is reached from the top of Aggs Hill which, if coming from Cheltenham, can be reached from Greenway Lane, at Sixways. Alternatively, it can be reached from Harp Hill, starting close to the Tesco’s Local at Battledown. Once at the top of Aggs Hill, turn left and the carpark is about a mile down that lane.

If you join the event it is on the understanding that we will be walking together as a group of friends and each one of us is responsible for our own safety.