Ashtree Farm Bed and Breakfast

Faringdon Folly.

by highworthlad

A folly, by definition is a useless building built for fun. 
Faringdon folly was built in 1935 to a design by the Duke of Wellington and is 100 feet high.
 There used to be a sign on it warning those who wished to commit suicide that they did so at their own risk.
 From the top you can see parts of 5 counties, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

Although my stair climbing ability is comparable to a block of concrete floating, I was determined to at least try. When I got inside and looked up, I gulped. Towering above me were myriad flights of wooden steps. 

 Well, they say every journey of 1000 miles starts with one step, so I took it. And another, and a third. Until 12 exhausting minutes later I arrived, with the help of David, one of the staff, on the last few balustrade free steps at the final observation platform. 

 After chatting to Lesley and the two guys for 10 minutes I decided to tackle the near vertical ladder for the last 8 feet up to the open top of the tower. But after getting halfway up I decided discretion was the better part of valour and realised I wouldn't be able to descend so I sadly aborted the attempt.