“Wild Flowers and Sunshine!”
Geoff and Pat’s Short Ramble 17 July
The weather was kind to us and was ideal for walking as we arrived from various directions at our starting point at Sevenhampton Church. Our 5-mile walk, around the Cotswold villages of Brockhampton, Syreford and Whittington, took us through pastures, woods, fields of cereal crops and by a water mill, the site of a Roman Villa and a Medieval Village. However, best of all were the rich and colourful flower meadows, with each seeming to have a range of different varieties (species). There were poppies, cornflowers, ladies bedstraw, orchids, scabious, chicory, sainfoin (pink vetch like flower), to name but a few and a multi-headed purple flower which none of us had seen before.
Refreshments were taken afterwards at the Corner Cupboard, Winchcombe and this made a perfect ending to a lovely morning.
(5 miles)
Geoff & Pat
“A Tale of Two Halves!”
Christine and Derek’s Sunday Ramble 28 July
After many reservations about the route to take due to the forecast for inclement weather, the rain did not arrive, and, after all, Christine decided it was “safe” to walk alongside the Avon following the “Avon River Walk” from Welford to Stratford. A pleasant coffee stop was taken at the lock just before Stratford, and some members did the extra few steps to the weir which really is in a beautiful setting.
It was then over the pedestrian bridge and on to the Greenway to begin the walk back. Unfortunately, Frank’s legs couldn’t go any further, so Derek was summoned from Harvington to gather him and Peter (thanks to Peter for staying with Frank) and ferry them back to Welford.
Frank was feeling much better by the time we arrived back at The Bell for lunch, having been reminiscing with Derek about the good old days of motoring, when the roads were empty and you could drive like hell!
We all enjoyed our lunch (including Derek, who decided he would stay). Frank drove himself home afterwards, and the rest of us carried on with the afternoon ramble which took us the opposite way out of Welford, down Boat Lane, and onto the river bank (gaily festooned with Rosebay Willowherb in places). We headed over to Dorsington via the Heart of England Forest trails through Roman Field and Robert’s Woods. The weather was much improved as we set off from Dorsington across the fields back to Welford, via Braggington and Hunt Hall Farm. It had been a long day’s walking, but very flat apart from the few steps near the lock at Stratford.
(am 8.1 miles – pm 5.9 miles)
