9 of us gathered at the Cleeve Hill Hotel on Saturday evening with the promise of great weather for our walks in the Cotswolds.

A welcoming fire was burning in the sitting room where we chatted and got to know each other before walking down the road for supper.

Sunday morning was fine, cold and frosty and after breakfast we headed off to Winchcombe to start our walk.

Our path took us out of the village and along the Cotswold Way.

The morning sparkled with frosty ground and bright sunshine streaming through the trees - perfect walking weather!

The Cotswold Way led us to Hailes Abbey.

This area is the site of a Cistercian Abbey founded in 1246 and dissolved in 1539 by Henry V111. It is a beautiful place (sadly closed for the winter, so we peered at it over the hedge!

We then headed up the road towards Hailes Wood where we stopped for a coffee break before heading on up the Cotswold Way alongside the wood into Farmcote.

The snowdrops were in abundance along the path.

We had another break at St Faith's church, a tiny restored Norman church opposite an old pump.

Continuing along the road we finally stopped for lunch overlooking the valley and ate our sandwiches bathed in bright sunshine.

Our path then took us across the fields with marvellous views of Guiting Wood and the surrounding areas, and we passed lambs frolicking on the still frozen ground.

Crossing the Salt Way we walked on towards Winchcombe and finally dropped down into the grounds of Sudelely Castle.

The lake was still frozen so we watched the ducks for a while.

We arrived back in Winchcombe for a very welcome cup of tea and lovely cakes.

After meeting up with Linda, the final member of our group, we enjoyed dinner prepared by Manfred and Jackie at the Hotel and a fairly early night.

After breakfast on Monday we drove to Beckford at the foot of Bredon Hill and started our walk, again in fantastic sunshine.

After a visit to the Church we set off up the hill and were thrilled to see 6 hares playing in a field (too far away to photograph sadly).

At the top of the hill we stopped for a coffee break before heading round the top towards an Iron Age earthworks and Parsons Folly.

The Tower was built in the 18th century and marks the summit of Bredon Hill. The views are wonderful over Evesham Vale and beyond.

We stopped in the sunshine and ate lunch before heading on round the hill and back to Beckford.

We were delighted to see a herd of about 20 deer, more lambs and plenty of birds on our walk.

We finally walked back to the church and headed for the local hotel for tea and biscuits.

The sunset on Monday was magical.

We walked down the road again for a jolly supper before another early night. I think the frosty air and sunshine made everyone look forward to their beds and good books!

Jennifer and Joyce decided not to walk with us on Tuesday as they had long journeys home so 8 of us set off across Cleeve Common, again on the Cotswold Way.

Leaving the hotel we had a short climb onto the top to follow the path.

The breeze blew harder today and we watched the kites and boards whiz along.

Another glorious day with frost in the shadows and after a quick coffee stop we headed off the Common along the lanes to Belas Knap, a Neolithic long barrow, a huge burial chamber, where we spent some time.

We then walked down to Corndean Hall and Postlip Mill with lovely views of Winchcombe and Sudeley Castle in the distance. A

fter a quick lunch stop we reclimbed Cleeve Hill onto the Common for our final walk along the Way back to the hotel for tea and our farewells.

A very happy weekend made special by the superb walking conditions!