THE BERKELEY VALE 143 



Woods, which are close to a prominent feature in 

 Gloucestershire scener^'^ known as May Hill. This 

 district has not been hunted by Lord Fitzhardinge for 

 many years, although I am not certain that it is' actually 

 given up ; it now forms a principal portion of the Led- 

 bury Hunt. The Lords Berkeley have a grant to hunt 

 the wild cat, fox, and badger in the Forest of Dean, of 

 which they seem to be hereditary rangers, or nearly so. 



The Berkeley vale is principally grass, and, except 

 in very wet seasons, holds a capital scent. It is not 

 extensive, and is bounded on one side by the River 

 Severn, on the other by the Duke of Beaufort's country. 

 For cub-hunting and entering young hounds it is very 

 superior. The hunting season always commences with 

 these hounds on the 1st of October, when the place of 

 meeting is the kennel. They continue during that month 

 at Berkeley, and on the 1st of November proceed to 

 Cheltenham, where they hunt out that month ; in 

 December they return to Berkeley, remain there till 

 after the festivities of Christmas and his lordship's 

 birthday, which is on the 26th, have been duly honoured, 

 when they again visit Cheltenham to commemorate the 

 first month of the new year ; pass February at Berkeley, 

 which concludes the season in that country, and finally 

 wind up at Cheltenham about the middle of April. 



A great portion of the Cheltenham country is on the 

 Cots wold Hills, commencing about three miles from the 

 town, extending to Naunton Inn on the road to Stow, 

 and bearing off on the right in the direction of North- 

 leach, including Star Wood, Chedworth Wood, and 

 Withington, all of which is a stone- wall country. 

 Dumbleton, on the borders of Worcestershire, and the 

 district eastward of Cheltenham, are vale, and the 

 principal portion of the country hunted from the Broad- 

 way kennel is also vale. By a recent arrangement, 

 Mr. Villebois, the master of the Vale of White Horse, 

 is allowed to draw the Chedworth Woods during the 

 months when Earl Fitzhardinge 's hounds are in the 

 Berkeley country. This is of great advantage to all 



