{"id":2825,"date":"2026-02-03T13:54:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T13:54:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/?p=2825"},"modified":"2026-02-03T13:54:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T13:54:34","slug":"cotswold-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/?p=2825","title":{"rendered":"Cotswold Way"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">21-22\/06\/25<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Many of these photos were taken by Fiona, and the order of presentation and narration is somewhat random.<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p>One of my sisters is receiving treatment for breast cancer in Cheltenham; I went to an appointment with her and spotted this fundraiser. I managed to persuade my brother and other sister to enter. They had better <em>palmar\u00e8s<\/em> than I did; Rory and his friend walked the 70 mile boundary of a parish, and Fiona has run the Oxford half marathon the last few years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were hills and wolds:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben01.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"534\" data-id=\"2886\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben01-1024x534.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2886\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben01-1024x534.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben01-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben01-768x401.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben01-1536x802.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben01-2048x1069.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben01-690x360.jpg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben01-980x511.jpg 980w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben09.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2887\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben09-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2887\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben09-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben09-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben09-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben09-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben09-690x518.jpg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben09-980x735.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben09.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cam Long Down<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi23.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2885\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi23-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2885\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi23-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi23-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi23-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi23-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi23-690x518.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi23-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi23.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the route was on excellent footpaths:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben03.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"511\" data-id=\"2897\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben03-1024x511.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2897\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben03-1024x511.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben03-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben03-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben03-1536x767.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben03-690x345.jpg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben03-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben03.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben06.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2894\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben06-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2894\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben06-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben06-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben06-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben06-690x920.jpg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben06-980x1307.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben06.jpg 1512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi08.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2889\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi08-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2889\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi08-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi08-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi08-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi08-690x920.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi08-980x1307.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi08.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi18.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2893\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi18-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2893\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi18-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi18-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi18-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi18-690x518.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi18-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi18.jpeg 1360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi19.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2896\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi19-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2896\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi19-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi19-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi19-690x920.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi19-980x1307.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi19.jpeg 1020w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi26.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2891\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi26-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2891\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi26-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi26-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi26-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi26-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi26-690x518.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi26-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi26.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi28.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2888\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi28-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2888\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi28-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi28-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi28-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi28-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi28-690x518.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi28-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi28.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi30.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"2895\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi30-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2895\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi30-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi30-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi30-690x920.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi30-980x1307.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi30.jpeg 1020w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We (well, not Rory) were born in Gloucester, but it&#8217;s a long time since we moved away and most of the route was unfamiliar. This turned out to be the first of many heatwaves in the UK this summer, which was a real challenge. I&#8217;m used to Audax-type events so something more supported was a little different, although there was a lot of the same spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben04-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"412\" data-id=\"2900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben04-1024x412.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2900\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben04-1024x412.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben04-300x121.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben04-768x309.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben04-1536x618.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben04-2048x824.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben04-690x278.jpg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ben04-980x394.jpg 980w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi16.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2898\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi16-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2898\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi16-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi16-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi16-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi16-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi16-690x518.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi16-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi16.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi34-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2899\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi34-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2899\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi34-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi34-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi34-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi34-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi34-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi34-690x518.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi34-980x735.jpeg 980w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We got to Painswick, which was the quarter point, pretty well. Naomi and Claire came to meet us there:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi01.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi01-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2901\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi01-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi01-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi01-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi01-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi01-690x518.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi01-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi01.jpeg 1744w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The next leg, to Coaley Peak was ok, but we were slowing. On to Wotton was a real trial, we were struggling with nausea and dizziness. The tip from the organisers was to drink water at every km marker, but given the heat we were most likely still dehydrated. We couldn&#8217;t take on any food at Wotton and after much deliberation we decided that going back out in the cold and dark was not a good idea, and retired. That turned out to be a whole other adventure, with a coach driven by someone who had clearly never seen it before and couldn&#8217;t get above 2nd gear. Finally we got back to the Cirencester start where rescuer Chris had been waiting for quite some time to drive us back to Oxford.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi29.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2883\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi29-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2883\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi29-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi29-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi29-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi29-690x518.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi29-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi29.jpeg 1360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi24.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2882\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi24-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2882\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi24-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi24-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi24-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi24-690x518.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi24-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi24.jpeg 1360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi14.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2880\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi14-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2880\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi14-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi14-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi14-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi14-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi14-690x518.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi14-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi14.jpeg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi07.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2881\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi07-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2881\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi07-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi07-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi07-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi07-690x518.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi07-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi07.jpeg 1360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi06.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"2884\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi06-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2884\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi06-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi06-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi06-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi06-690x518.jpeg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi06-980x735.jpeg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Fi06.jpeg 1360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Properly fucked by this point<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>We managed to raise an amazing \u00a33k, but were disappointed that we didn&#8217;t complete the full 100 km. Next year we will do the second half of the event (which should be easier than the first).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>55 km, 1,616 m climbed<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/route.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/route-1024x624.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2875\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/route-1024x624.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/route-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/route-768x468.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/route-690x421.jpg 690w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/route-980x598.jpg 980w, https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/route.jpg 1130w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/logo2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"280\" height=\"192\" data-id=\"2879\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/logo2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2879\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/hospitallogo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"229\" height=\"78\" data-id=\"2878\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/hospitallogo.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2878\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>21-22\/06\/25 Many of these photos were taken by Fiona, and the order of presentation and narration is somewhat random. One of my sisters is receiving treatment for breast cancer in Cheltenham; I went to an appointment with her and spotted this fundraiser. I managed to persuade my brother and other sister to enter. They had [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sloeadventures","category-walking"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2825"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2825\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3012,"href":"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2825\/revisions\/3012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sloeburn.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}