Stanton to Winchcombe

8 miles / 13 km

After a hearty breakfast, we hit the trail by 9:30 AM enjoying gorgeous Spring weather.

Today’s walk was similar to the first as we walked crossed many green pastures & said hello to some sheep & lambs.

Yes, they speak English in England; but, that doesn’t mean I always understand what they mean.

A fairly common sight in England are the ruins from the many abbey’s that were destroyed by Henry VIII.

Just after 1:00 PM we made it to Winchcombe. This town is over 1,000 years old with many old buildings. Our hotel dates from 1554.

This town could easily be used on a historical movie set.

After a quick lunch we visited the nearby Sudeley Castle. British royalty ranging from Richard III, Charles I, Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Lady Jane Grey, & Elizabeth I as well as many other well known names in British history are included in its story. Henry VIII’s last wife Katherine Parr who survived him is interred here making her the only English queen buried in a private castle. Sudeley Castle is also where Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn along with Henry’s Chief Minister Thomas Cromwell decided Britain would break with the Catholic Church so Henry could divorce Catherine of Aragon to marry Anne Boleyn.

Henry VIII’s last wife Katherine Parr is buried in St. Mary’s Chapel on the castle grounds.