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Cotswold musings: the team goes rambling

After a busy summer working on multiple projects and launching purposeful experiences, it was time to get the team together to enjoy the last of the September sun outdoors.

At Pixel Fridge, we enjoy spending time together away from our screens. The bi-annual rambles come with much anticipation from the whole team.

Our last outing took us to the sweeping grassland of the Coombe Bissett Down. This time, we relocated northward to the peaceful footpaths of the Cotswold Water Park. Not quite the place for water slides, the area is made up of 180 lakes, mostly formed by gravel extraction. It’s an ideal destination for nature lovers.

On this occasion, Ramble Eve was also cause for celebration: to maximise our time together, Hannah oversaw the logistics involved in getting the team –now split across 3 UK locations– to the hotel the night before the event.

This plan gave us plenty of time to catch up with one another over a few Proseccos and a copious dinner by the roaring fire.

After a sound night’s sleep and a wholesome breakfast at the Pettifers Freehouse Hotel in Crudwell, we headed out to the Neigh Bridge Country Park, the starting point of our 13km expedition.

We set off along the Thames River Path and deep into the maze of lakes of the Cotswold Water Park. We soon crossed the first of three picturesque villages, Ashton Keynes, with its impressive examples of Cotswold stone buildings.

Adequate snacking & bird watching

With a brief break by the water, we boosted our blood sugar with Hannah’s delicious and suitably named Fridge cake. Chocolate goo packed with chewy marshmallow, crunchy biscuit and crystallised ginger was just what everyone needed before embarking on the next leg of the journey.

Around the lake and over to the village of South Cerney, we made it across the playing field and stumbled upon the tranquil Shorncote bird hides.

Shorncote is a 20-hectare reedbed, the perfect shelter for a huge variety of wildlife including Little Grebe and Reed Warbler. Unfortunately, we weren’t lucky enough to spot any, but a brief rest by the water was nevertheless welcome.

Chips all round

Progressing along the quarry workings, we slowly completed our loop near the quiet village of Somerford Keynes. Heading back along the Thames Path and following the river downstream back to where we started, we congratulated one another for our physical prowess.

We shared a well deserved late lunch with more chips than we needed to make up for the impressive step count.

It was soon time to say goodbye and head back our separate ways.

Swimming may not have been permitted at Neigh Bridge Park (much to Nick’s disappointment), but getting the Pixel Fridge team together was just as enjoyable and restorative as a warm bath.