Daffodil Way
Lindsay’s Midweek Ramble 9 March
The weather didn’t let us down, nor the daffodils, as 16 members gathered in the lay-by at Kempley. Here we were able to clearly see the Ledbury and Malvern Hills in the distance.
It was a little breezy as we headed across the field and onto the road past Lower House Farm to pick up the start of the Daffodil Way.
We ventured through many fields with only the occasional patch of daffodils in the hedgerows until we approached Dymock Woods where there were a few more flowers spread under the trees. The mud from previous walks had thankfully dried up considerably.
On the edge of the wood, we had a short coffee break before, owing to the tunnel being flooded, needing to take a short diversion which ran alongside the M50 motorway.
We headed away from the motorway and walked through fields, following the old canal that originally ran from Gloucester to Hereford and were met with strong aromas from the nearby pig farm.
Continuing along the track towards Boyce Court we headed towards the gateway pillars and over the bridge, passing through several fields to the village of Dymock and the Beauchamp Arms in good time for lunch.
After a sumptuous lunch that had everyone rather over faced, we headed for the 14th Century St. Mary’s Church, and an exhibition on the Dymock Poets. Spending some time here we next wended our way down through the churchyard to the river Leadon passing Allum’s Farm towards an old orchard where the tree tops were covered in mistletoe and the ground a bed of daffodils.
After walking along the road for ¼ mile and the first mud of the day, we encountered Allums Grove where we were rewarded with masses of yellow daffodils everywhere. From here we walked through fields to St. Mary’s Church at Kempley, an early 12th century building with amazing frescoes dating from that period. After more fields we approached the Church of St. Edwards, designed to the Arts and Crafts style and built in 1903. Here some members stopped before we were back to pick up our cars 250 yards up the lane.
Pauline as Chairman thanked the walk leaders.
Lindsay
am 4.3 miles – pm 5.5 miles
It all began with a few drops……
Peter and Val’s Short Ramble 16 March
Assembling on the car park of the Star Inn at Ashton under Hill, Peter introduced new members Mary James and Graham Spry taking part in their first club walk.
Peter gave a short description of the nearby hamlet of Paris, so called after a family of French weavers who settled in Ashton, built a mansion and named it after the French capital. Val Taylor knew the story from her strong family connections with the village.
The weather forecast for the day was not good and a few odd spots were felt as we walked through St Barbara’s churchyard pausing for a minute to admire the huge, hundred and fifty year old copper beech before heading out over open fields to skirt the southern edge of the aforementioned Paris and on to Grafton village.
As we headed out of Grafton on to the lower slopes of Conderton Hill with rain increasing by the minute, there was a halt for Alan to inform us that we were now on Knight’s Field where Edward IV knighted some of his men after their victory at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471.
So, onward and up Conderton Hill to a coffee break by an old field barn where some ramblers tried to shelter under the eaves from the now pouring rain but just got dripped on from water cascading off the roof.
Coffee break over, we continued along a ridge with, unfortunately, no fine distant views because of the weather and then very carefully down a rather slippery track which was criss crossed by huge tree roots. Then a short road walk to join the footpath through a community orchard to Conderton village.
A series of arable fields separated by stiles in various states of disrepair took us to the “yellow brick road,” a track of ochre coloured stone and gravel which we crossed into an unnamed wood, passing a small memorial to a lady who loved to walk the wood at bluebell time.
We were soon back on Knight’s Field in a real deluge but looking forward to lunch at The Star now only a short walk away. Waterproofs off we sat down gratefully to lunch served efficiently by the friendly, smiling girls.
Peter & Val
5.6 miles
With a spring in our steps
Alan & Pauline’s Chairman’s Ramble 20 March
On a lovely spring morning with bright sunshine, we set out from Cleeve Prior Heritage Trust Community Orchard car park towards Bidford-on-Avon. We were soon on the ridge of Cleeve Hill, muddy in places but in much better condition underfoot than during the winter months. A steep descent to the river was carefully negotiated by the group, assisted by the 82 steps that the leader had dug out the day before.
A lovely riverside path took us to Marlcliff Lock where we visited the island between the lock and the river, a good opportunity for a photoshoot. We followed the river to Bidford where we enjoyed a coffee break whilst some members explored the village seeking out the toilets.
Our route then took us over Marriage Hill with good views in all directions, before crossing the old Broom to Stratford-upon-Avon railway line which, Alan explained, is destined to become a cycling and walking path. Having walked through the hamlet of Broom with its picturesque cottages, we soon reached Broom Hall where we enjoyed a leisurely lunch in a large marquee attached to the inn.
We followed the Heart of England Way back to Bidford and then took good field paths to Marlcliff where we stopped to admire a delightful spring garden. We left Marlcliff by way of a steep set of steps that brought us out into open fields with far reaching views to the Cotswolds. We were soon passing through the churchyard in Cleeve Prior and following the homeward route through the Millennium Green. Back at the Heritage Centre we were welcomed with tea and cakes provided by Gina Carr, one of the trustees, and her small group of helpers, before we settled down to the AGM.
Alan
am 6 miles; pm 4 miles
