Cotswold Way on Countryfile Print
Written by Peter Burgess   
Monday, 26 April 2010

Julia Bradbury talks to Mark Richards
Julia and Mark
Villages of golden stone and the gentle roll of the landscape are what makes the Cotswolds famous.  This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Cotswolds Way.  Mark Richards of the OFC, who wrote the very first guide to the Cotswold Way, speaks to Julia Bradbury in this week's Countryfile (25th April 2010).   They walk together from Broadway Tower to Cleeve Common and discuss a little about AW's influence along the way.

Julia opens the commentary with, "So normally we're talking about Alfred Wainwright and we're in the Lake District, yet here we are in the Cotswold's and can't escape from Mr Wainwright can we?" 

Back in 1970 Mark Richards spent a lot of time corresponding with Alfred Wainwright and spent some time with both AW and Betty at Kendal Green their home.   AW told Mark to have a go at writing a book as he too enjoyed pen and ink drawing.  Mark spent about 3 or 4 months walking the route in between his full-time occupation of farming.

It exudes the sun of a thousand summers and it's absolutely adorable!  Mark Richards describes the village of Stanton.

finger post As a writer Mark explained how you need to think about the user and how they will respond to the landscape encouraging people to look around.  Julia retorted with an amusing notion that you can't have walkers conversing as they go along, but they must just look and be silent!

Julia and Mark walked further together over hill and down dale to the quintessential village of Stanton where Julia continued her walk to Cleeve Common.

I must say it was good to see Mark on TV especially bedecked in his tasty new 'slacks' from M&S!  Well done Mark - great to see you.

 Mark Richards on Countryfile - available on iplayer for a limited time until 7:14pm Sunday 2nd May 2010
If you would like to see the piece of footage showing Julia Bradbudy on the Cotswold Way, it is available on BBC iplayer.  If you don't want to see the whole programme then move the 'slider' forward to the 18.40 minute position.

 Click here to access the footage on the BBC and iplayer

 




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Wainwright Walks - Series One

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"On Saturday we met up with Ann and Roger Hiley, John Paterson and Terry Gargrave for a walk up High Rigg and on Monday we met Paul Harrison on Pike O'Stickle. It was a real pleasure meeting everybody and we enjoyed every minute." Dave Leslie