Five days on England’s Cotswold Way and the trail has taken us to every hilltop in sight and some we didn’t see until we emerged from dark forests. Planners largely kept the path above the quaint villages we had expected would be daily features.

The tradeoff? Fantastic views, crowds of day hikers, fierce winds, very little road walking, and steep climbs as we walk through hilly parks and golf courses. Loose, well-behaved dogs everywhere. Sheep, cattle, and horses. And surprisingly few people thru-hiking the Cotswold Way.

Look closely and you’ll see a golf course below us in the top photo. One day we sat on a cement block next to a curious building (an emergency shelter for sheep?) for a picnic.

The weather has turned cool and blustery. A couple of showers brought out the rain gear today and Tuesday looks quite wet; four days to the finish line in Bath!