AIC Cultural Club
The AIC Culture Club recently organised two events that offered the opportunity for members to spend days out of sharing the enjoyment of some of the local areas most interesting hidden gems .
On 23rd March , we took a visit to the charming village of Bourton-onthe-Water , a beautiful English village immersed in charm and atmosphere . Regularly voted one of the prettiest villages in England , Bourton-onthe-Water has a unique appeal to visitors and residents alike .
There is plenty to see and do with a wealth of attractions and shops , restaurants and tea rooms , or simply for you to enjoy some tranquil time by the River Windrush with its beautiful bridges . After a walk and some shopping , we shared a high tea in the oldest tearoom in the village , Smiths of Bourton . This proved to be a delicious , quintessentially British experience that we would highly recommend to anybody .
www . bourtoninfo . com
For our second outing , we organised a walking tour of Gloucester . Our host City is rich in history and packed full of secrets to discover . Thanks to the outstanding support from our guide Mick , our friendly and knowledgeable volunteer from the Gloucester Civic Trust , we had the opportunity to explore and experience many of the hidden secrets that Gloucester has to offer . If you wish to organise your own walking tour , contact the Gloucester Civic Trust and , I promise , you will not be disappointed .
www . gloucestercivictrust . org
Elisabetta Verardi and Jette Berfelo
AIC Walks
The walking group has completed four walks since the last issue .
In March , we were back to Stanton , a small village on the edge of the Cotswold Hills escarpment near the Gloucestershire / Worcestershire border . With a history dating back to the Iron Age , Stanton is a village of unspoilt beauty and charm that is still easy to appreciate today . We started our walk on a wet Tuesday morning , following the Cotswold Way across the muddy fields to Stanway House . At about halfway , we had a steady 1km uphill stretch but the view was worth it when we reached the top . We finished at the Mount Inn ( WR12 7NE ) after a 9km walk ; a place we never get tired of !
www . themountinn . co . uk
On Tuesday 27th March , just before Easter , we met at the Carpenters Arms ( GL6 7JA ) car park , at Miserden . Miserden is a family-run , rural estate overlooking the Golden Valley , an area of outstanding natural beauty in the Cotswolds . The estate encompasses 850 acres of woodland , farmland and gardens providing a sanctuary for wildlife . We walked 8km around the village and discover preserved farms , new-born lambs , and amazingly beautiful lakes . After lunch , we had tea and desert at the Garden Centre café which provided us with a well-deserved delicious treat . www . miserden . org www . thecarps-miserden . co . uk
The first day of May , Labour Day and public holiday in Belgium , France , Germany , Greece and Italy , we opted for a flat walk on a lazy Tuesday . Frampton on Severn is reputed to have the largest village green in England - 22 acres . The village is also famous for its Sheep Racing in September too ( don ’ t miss that !). The 9km circular walk took us past Frampton Pools , a collection of disused gravel pits , now used for fishing and sailing , St Mary ’ s Church ( consecrated 1315 ) and along the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal . At the end , we enjoyed a light lunch in the garden at the Stables Café , ( GL2 7LA ). Thanks to the Italian ladies who took a lot of very nice pictures during this relaxing walk . www . thestablescafe . my-free . website
It was necessary to be courageous to wake-up on the misty Tuesday morning of 5th June ( after a summer weekend ). A little group of eleven enthusiastic ladies , in the company of four adorable dogs , went for a circular walk past Sudeley Castle and St Kenelm ’ s Well , up to the Salt Way before returning via the Gloucesterhire Way with beautiful views . On the way , we saw some incredible animals including enormous brown pigs and llamas . We saw the biggest sign we have ever seen along the Cotswold paths so we knew we were not going to get lost . This 8km walk was a little strenuous , but we did it in less than 2 hours . After the walk we had time to enjoy a light lunch at the White Hart Inn ( GL54 5LJ ) terrace in Winchcombe . www . whitehartwinchcombe . co . uk
Unfortunately , I ’ m moving in a few weeks . I have really enjoyed participating and organising these monthly walks . It is an incredible opportunity to discover the British countryside , to chat with lovely ladies , and to get plenty of fresh air , sometimes sun , and exercise ! If you are interested ( or know someone who would be ) in taking over the organisation of the next walks , please don ’ t hesitate and contact the AIC secretary for more details - theaicsecretary @ gmail . com Please , look out for the posts on the AIC Facebook page which will be updated upon return from the summer holidays with the future dates for your diary .
Delphine Barrau
theIMJIN SUMMER 2018
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