Woolstone

It rained pretty solidly for the whole duration of yesterday morning's walk. Three of us set off to circle anticlockwise Oxenton Hill and Crane Hill. It was far enough in the conditions, but we made it longer by missing the turn to Dixton.

There are splendid views round there, as evidenced by the two large primitive early 18th Century landscapes in the Cheltenham Art Gallery. But it was misty and anyway our eyes were cast downwards, as we picked our way through the mud. When we eventually arrived back at the Woolstone lane, by Grange Farm, we struggled to cross a broken stile and slithery ditch bridge: at the far side was a notice saying "Footpath closed".

My photograph of St Martin's church doesn't do justice to its eccentric tower.