A happy ramble in with a sting in the tail
Lesley and Trevor’s Midweek Ramble – 10 July
We gathered on an overcast but dry morning in the car park of Lower Brailes Village Hall. Housekeeping completed and a message about cows delivered, we set off southwest on a narrow lane to reach a muddy, uphill track through woods to reach open country, and pass through a newly-modernised farm, where we took a moment to enjoy the views across the valley of the Sutton Brook.
Walking West for about 1200m we reached a kissing gate, a point which intersects with an earlier walk, ‘ Brailes Over the Hills’. From here grassy path, concrete track and fields ran south through an orchard to emerge next to St. Thomas a Beckett. (The church, much changed over time, is described somewhat sniffily, to be of little architectural merit) A coffee break was enjoyed on the village green.
Refreshed, we headed west through a large farmyard, through a coppice and over a field across a stream to Cherington. After a short detour (Trevor, mea culpa), we found our point to join the Shakespeare’s Way, almost due south, uphill and very wet: indeed a stream bed at one point. After 1000m, the path turned right and then turned south again to St Margaret’s Hill, onto a metalled track to reach a road.
Turning west a short distance, we quickly reached the footpath through Whichford Wood, running due east, parallel to the Macmillan Way. After 1500m, we began our descent from the the hills to Whichford, where we enjoyed a sunny lunch break, most of us perched on a low wall. Four individuals sequestrated the bench seat. With the promise of tea and cake, the group mustered and we raced to Whichford Pottery, an interesting place with excellent gardens. NB: Cafe open Wed-Sat. only
Four of our group walked directly to the Village Hall, considerately open for access to toilets. Nine of us walked back via ‘The 99 Steps’ established here certainly since medieval times, to link Upper and Lower Brailes.
On behalf of all, Hazel thanked Lesley and Trevor for a thoroughly enjoyable walk in Warwickshire, including several challenging ascents, which in turn offered wonderful views from the top.
Lesley and Trevor
(*) This path runs through a farmer’s field, who takes no measures to separate walkers from cows and calves. Locals report that this is longstanding issue, evidenced by overgrown kissing gates and bridges. We have reported this to Warwickshire CC.
(**) This path runs 30m from beehives which were full of Very Angry Bees. Maggie, Paul S, and Trevor were stung, but the effects were largely alleviated my Hazel’s ‘Jungle Juice’ and Janet’s Antihistamine pills.
(***) T&L previously objected to a proposal to re-route the footpath, and just learned this has been withdrawn.
12.3 Miles or 17.8 Km
Sated, we took the road north for a short distance to footpath on the right, down and across a stream to a gate into a field and then northwest in woodland, fortunately without the presence of cows and their calves (hence reference in first para). The gentle uphill path followed the stream for 900m and dropped back to stream level in a small field. A climb to a gate revealed an enormous expanse of wheat and two paths, one (*) of which led back over the stream. Taking the other grass path (**), we headed north to farm buildings named North Leasow, to join the farm track heading north to Whichford Mill (***) where there are sauna and river immersion facilities for hire.
From here, continuing north, a long steep ascent faced us, the farm track to a road and then across the road up a ploughed field. Through a kissing gate diagonally down over a large field to a very overgrown and difficult bridge, and then up again on the edge of a wheat field sprinkled with red poppies to reclaimed farm buildings in a copse, Rectory Farm. From here the path levelled then fell gradually through three fields and two stiles, one dangerous, one difficult and a bridge to lead to the side of The George Inn, Brailes. (The nearby St. George, the ‘Cathedral of the Feldons’, land cleared of trees, is worthy of a visit).
Wood Carving Walk
Michael’s Evening Ramble – 12 July
Travelling to Winchcombe, the evening was not looking promising with an overcast sky and rain in the air but at the car park the gloom was lifting and a summer evening was beginning to appear.
Gathering in the car park and having made ourselves comfortable the leader and co-leaders Diane Harrison and Carl Hedderick welcomed the assembled and told of the leisurely stroll ahead.
Making our way to the beginning of Langley Hill we began our ascent, stopping to admire the view of Winchcombe laid out before us, continuing to the top we had a chance to take in the views of the Vale of Evesham stretched out into the distance.
Having reached our goal of the carving of the Millennium Man, a drover and his dog, we assembled for a group photograph and refreshment break. Resuming our walk we headed back to Winchcombe with more scenic views of the surrounding countryside. Having returned to the car park a role of thanks was given and those who wanted to were invited to The White Hart Inn for a drink.
Michael
7.2km/4.5ml
Pirates, potatoes and privileged people
Geoff & Pat’s Short Ramble – 17 July
Leaving Kemerton on this lovely, bright day we ascended gradually to Bell’s Castle. The Gothic castle built by the pirate Captain Bell 200 years ago.
It is said, he took his loot up the Bristol Channel and stashed it in the castle cellars. The fortress was taken on by the Holland-Martin family in the 19th century after Captain Bell was hanged for his crimes in 1841. Grade II-listed Bell’s Castle has seven bedrooms, four bathrooms with a swimming pool and tennis court and was recently put up for sale for £2.5MILLION. That’s a lot of doubloons!
We continued up the hill then turned west, passing fields edged with poppies, before reaching Sun Dial Farm. Walking on we saw scabious and a few purple orchids. Then upwards to the site of the King and Queen Stones, more visible in Spring when the trees are bare.
Soon after we began the descent to Bredon’s Norton stopping to see Norton Park which was built in 1830 by Misses Penelope and Ann Martin. Constructed of oolitic stone in the Elizabethan style; it sits on the western slope of Bredon Hill above the village of Bredon’s Norton. These two ladies were members of the Martins banking family – a somewhat exclusive private London bank eventually absorbed into Barclays.
The nearby Bredon’s Norton Manor House is located in a commanding position at the south east corner of the village with wonderful views over the River Avon and The Malverns. Records indicate that there was a house on this site as early as the eleventh century. According to some sources, the manor was built in the late 1500s by a Sir Thomas Copley (1534–1584) who, according to Wikipedia, was a prominent English Roman Catholic politician and exile of the reign of Elizabeth I. In earlier versions of this website, it was inferred that Sir Thomas Copley travelled with Sir Walter Raleigh and introduced the potato to Evesham Vale farmers and also introduced tobacco to the local area. However, no corroboration of this can now be found.
We then walked through Westmancote and on to Kemerton where many of the group enjoyed a refreshing drink at the Crown Inn.
Geoff & Pat
6.1 miles
A stroll around Dumbleton and Wormington
Clive’s Friday Evening Ramble – 26 July
We congregated at Dumbleton Village club car park for an evening ramble through to Wormington and round the fields past Wormington Mill and back to the car park.
The weather was perfect, although clouding over after a while. There was a short introduction to Dumbleton and a welcome to new (to the group) walkers Mark and Sophie. I was searching for some new information about Dumbleton and found that there is a steam locomotive named Dumbleton which after some steaming around the country has ended up on loan as a static exhibit to the Harry Potter exhibition at Warner Bros in Tokyo.
The start of the walk was in Main Street Dumbleton. Going down a long straight flat footpath towards Wormington, we took in views of the surrounding countryside including Broadway Tower. From Wormington we cut through a farm eventually crossing the Isborne and pausing at Wormington Mill, where the river had been diverted to power the previously derelict mill. However the mill is now being restored. The mill wheel is now back in place and the building is scaffolded. We then went back through to the original path out to Wormington and followed it back to Dumbleton and the Village club where we had a well earned drink.
Clive
5.1 miles
Winding along the Windrush
Geoff and Carl’s Sunday Ramble – 28 July
It was a bright, sunny day as we started our walk from Great Rissington. Heading South, then turning West we crossed the Windrush for the first time. Continuing to Sherborne we stopped at the Village Shop and enjoyed a coffee break. Suitably refreshed, we continued in the direction of Sherborne Brook passing Sherborne Park now in the hands of the National Trust. Crossing the brook we then headed North-East through woodlands to rejoin the Windrush at New Bridge. Here we headed to Clapton-on the-Hill for our lunch break in a quiet walled enclosure next to the church, with a stone carved with the words “Peace be with you”.
Setting off on the Diamond Way we saw fields of blue flax in the distance, before re-crossing the Windrush on the way to Little Rissington. From here we followed tracks back to our starting point remarking how few people we had seen all day and the thirsty walkers adjourned to the Lamb Inn for a well earned drink.
Geoff
11.9 miles