Train Stops Way
Rosemary’s Midweek Ramble 10 May
Eight members crossed two county borders to arrive early to explore this corner of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. There had been very heavy rain and thunderstorms the previous day, resulting in some stretches of sticky mud, but the weather gods were mostly kind to us and when the sun shone we could believe that Spring had truly sprung.
From the parking place we walked a short way across a field to pick up the Darcy Dalton Way, which skirts a private wood before leading through a broad area between hedges.
At Fifield the route took a circuit of the village, which included a path through the churchyard. Almost back at the end of the same track, we turned to head north between pony paddocks and over streams to village number two, Idbury.
The two village names are Anglo Saxon and they record that Idbury was a fortified settlement of one hide, whereas the larger Fifield was five hides. A hide was the area of land necessary to support one household.
Idbury churchyard has a very impressive and ornate memorial to Sir Benjamin Baker who is famed for his work on the Forth Rail Bridge, London Victoria Station and the first Aswan Dam.
Next visited was Foxholes Nature Reserve, with such mass of bluebells that it seemed as if the sky had fallen down.
Bledington was chosen for quite a civilised lunch stop with picnic tables available for us on the village green. We then continued alongside the tiny River Evenlode before crossing the Paddington to Hereford railway line. A couple more wheat fields brought us in sight of the cars on the other side of a level crossing.
Unbelievably, as we arrived, the crossing gates came down, and we had to wait a very long ten minutes for the GWR train to thunder through. And just then the heavens opened and did we get soaked, a hundred yards from the safety of our cars!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow walkers for joining me and for being so friendly towards a very new member of ERC.
Rosemary
10 miles
Mosaic Walk
Michael and Lesley’s Short Ramble 17 May
Meeting in the Back Lane car park, Winchcombe and after a brief history of the town we set off for Sudeley Castle stopping for a group photograph in front of the gate house and a concise back story of the castle.
Continuing along the Windrush Way footpath we crossed pasture, cultivated and grass fields arriving at the abandoned farm of Waterhatch, the site of a derelict watermill. Here the group were told of the brief but known history of the farm and waterwheel and we spent a short time exploring the site.
Carrying on we entered Spoonley Wood and made our way to the site of the remains of a courtyard Roman villa and victorian reproduction mosaic floor. Retracing our steps we re-joined the original footpath and returned to Sudeley Castle and from there to the car park.
For more information on the Roman Villa and waterwheel view the following YouTube videos
Spoonley Wood Roman Villa – The Mystery of the Missing Mosaics
Waterhatch – Secrets of a Sunken Mill
Michael
5.3 miles
Grand Buildings and Lush Lawns
Mike and Val’s Evening Ramble 26 May
On a gorgeous day for walking, we parked up at The Talbot, Kempsey for a prompt start 5.50pm. Mike welcomed Natalie H, guest and local resident, and thanked all members for making such a good group of walkers. Before the ramble started Val explaining the Roman, Saxon and Dane history that Kempsey has.
Walking down Church Street we saw the peaceful Hatfield Brook, a tributary of the river Severn. The Rocky beside the brook is a staple item for Kempsey. Passing St Mary’s church, we heard how important this area was for Bishops of Worcester, as it was the only local Christian consecrated land, together with Worcester Cathedral. The dead were brought from a wide area to Kempsey for burial. Bearing left from the churchyard we took the path near the river edge. We could just see the 40 metre Bell Tower of Stanbrook Hall and heard of its Benedictine history up to 2009. Now a hotel, it now offers tours with afternoon tea. Alan told us that when he worked in local government Stanbrook Hall was used to temporarily rehome sick children from a nearby children’s home which had caught fire. This event ended with some of the children using language that the Benedictine Nuns were not so familiar with.
Further up the river path we arrived at the spot where Pixham Ferry had been from 1600 until 1947. We discussed the ownership by the Lygon family of Madresfield Estate. In 1265 this is where Simon de Montfort, with his prisoner Henry III, took the crossing to stay with the Bishop of Worcester before his fateful Battle of Evesham. Then a kissing gate signed “Severn Way” took us nearer to the river and as one barge motored down the river we took great care on the path to take us up the bank to the track at Oak Farm where we took a ten-minute break.
We continued over the road and through the hedge and diagonally across Teal Turf meadow toward a stile into the grounds of The Nash (Circa 1600). This was sold recently in 2021 for £3million. It has 13 bedrooms and is a striking building of brick with stone dressings, tiled roof and chimneys with diagonal shafts. Walking back across Teal Turf fields, with a panoramic view of Malvern Hills, the history-talk was about more recent times and “Tellytubby” land. Underfoot the turf was like carpet!
A public footpath led us across Bestman’s Lane and a footpath opposite, bearing right, led us to a road. Crossing the road and over a cattle grid, we took a right into the side of a coppice (some mud) and then across a wooden ditch bridge to bear left along a country lane (possibly one of three Roman Roads to be walked on today). We then passed Napleton Farm, where Sir Edward Elgar lived from 1923 – 1927 after the death of his wife. It was here that Worcestershire inspired his work and he became Master of the King’s Music.
We now walked on another roman road before taking a kissing gate left into sheep fields and then a short walk-through a wooded area, crossing again the Hatfield Brook by a waterfall. With housing on our right, we followed a path to bring us to Post Office Lane.
As the Talbot was in short distance – some queried “…where was the windmill…” if it isn’t in Windmill Lane Kempsey. A windmill did exist outside Kempsey off the A38 some 800 years ago but the structure was pulled down 126 years ago. Fortunately, a superb photograph of the Kempsey windmill survives, and this image is in the photography collection of London’s renowned Victoria & Albert Museum. It was taken by one of the nation’s earliest pioneer photographers, Benjamin Brecknell Turner (1852 era).
At 8.30pm we sat down for our Pizza and a cool drink in the Talbot and Carl gave the vote of thanks to the leaders.
Val & Mike
Sunlit Uplands
Lesley and Trevor’s Sunday Ramble 28 May
We met on the very busy High Street in Elmley Castle. Everyone arrived early so set off ahead of time.
The walk started on Hill Lane, passing several of the lovely black and white houses and at a sharp left hand bend we took the footpath out past Manor Farm. We crossed several fields with grazing sheep and their lambs, taking in a view of Bricklehampton Manor. The footpath took us on to Great Comberton where we joined the Wychavon Way taking the path through St Michaels and All Angels Church Yard. The church was built in the 12th century, restored by George Gilbert Scott in the 18th century. As we stood outside we were treated to the lovely sound of hymns being sung by the congregation.
Leaving the churchyard we took the road downhill passing the vineyard of Deer Park Wines to a signpost pointing to a steep climb on the left hand edge of several fields leading to a signpost indicating the Wychavon Way. Here we stopped to admire the view and regain our breath.
The Wychavon Way took us on to Woollas Hall Farm and the 400 year old Woollas Hall, stopping for coffee and enjoying a view of the Malverns, while in the foreground a herd of cows and their calves grazed the lush medows.
Once refreshed we left the Wychavon Way and took the footpath out past St Catherine’s Farm and nature reserve, and from here we dropped down into lovely village of Bredon’s Norton, deriving it’s name North farm or settlement. It was recorded in the Doomsday Book as Nortune in the 11th century and Northton in the 13th century. We stopped on our way past the gatehouse to Bredon’s Norton Manor House, where a number of famous people had lived, including Victoria Woodhall Martin a famous American, who ran for the Presidency of the USA in the late 19th century. A lovely gentleman living in the gatehouse came and spoke to us about this very lady, whom he knew, and since we showed interest he popped indoors to give us a couple of books about the lady in question. Thanking him profusely, we continued our walk along the excellent steep track up through several fields including one containing a rather imposing bull.
Lunch was taken near the summit among a patchwork of spring flowers. Michael used an identification app to pick out Greater Birds Foot Trefoil and Speedwell, while Carl was not to be outdone, used a birdsong app to identify a chiffchaff and whitethroat.
Lunch over we took the path past several now-disused quarries to The Warrens where we rejoined the Wychavon Way out past the Banbury Stone Tower and Fort. At the corner of Doctor’s Wood we continued on the Wychavon Way about 1km along the escarpment skirting Lodge Farm and the Long Plantation.
Here we left the Wychavon Way to descend through the woodland into open meadows passing the long pond with good views of the ruins of an important Norman and Medieval castle, from which Elmley derives its name. The footpath took us back across parkland and along a wooded path passing a very decorative dammed pond to reach the churchyard of St Mary’s the Virgin Church and the The Queen Elizabeth Pub were we enjoyed a pint before going our separate ways.
Lesley
10.75 miles 17.3 km