Stop, Look and Listen
Rachel and Geoff’s Short Ramble 18 May
Nineteen club members and one visitor, gathered together outside The Shutters Inn at Gotherington. Gotherington is a village in Gloucestershire, believed to have been founded about 780 A.D. and mentioned in the Doomsday book as Godrinton.
Despite roadworks and road closures, all ramblers arrived before the start time and we set off promptly, hoping to catch a good view of the 10.27 steam train on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire line.
Before long, we heard the whistle of a steam engine and the tell-tale puffs of white smoke, but, like National Rail, the timings weren’t quite as scheduled, but we managed to see it in the distance.
After crossing a very smart bridge and thrashing our way through long wet grass, nettles and thistles, we arrived at the railway line and crossed it to reach a lane, which led to Woodmancote.
Here we began our climb of Nottingham Hill, which is a spur off the main Cotswold ridge and was once an Iron Age Hill Fort.
As we climbed, the views across the Severn Vale to the Malverns and Wales became impressive and several stops were made to appreciate it.
After walking through Bushcomb Wood the views included the Vale of Evesham before we reached Gotherington Wood.
Emerging from Gotherington Wood, we began to walk downhill, noticing a steam train waiting to leave Gotherington Halt. We followed a track down into Gotherington and back to our starting point, where 18 ramblers enjoyed a well earned lunch.
Rachel
5 Miles
A Mooving Experience near Malvern
Paul’s Evening Ramble 27 May
On a beautiful sunny evening, Club members set off from the car park at Kempsey Common.
Having moved past the Common on to farm land, members were treated to an excellent show of cowmanship by Rachel and Geoff as the rather frisky and inquisitive beasts were held at bay whilst members escaped from the field via a kissing gate.
Members were also challenged by the fast growing crops which on occasion had been planted right up the field boundary. It was a good job the weather was kind and the crops dry.
As we started back towards the Common, a short cut to save time was identified on the map and after rejecting one of the path options as being too overgrown we finally emerged onto the Common. This gave spectacular views of the Malvern Hills and the setting sun.
We finished walking at 20:30 but most members finished the evening at The Huntsman Inn for drinks and food according to preference. A special treat was the Bathams Bitter from the Black Country.
Paul
5 miles 8 km
Rolling with the Stones
Carl’s Sunday Ramble 29 May
A small select band of walkers met near The Greedy Goose on the western edge of Oxfordshire on a cool dry morning.
Heading north along the Shakespeare Way we were treated to some stunning views across Warwickshire to the west and Oxfordshire to the east.
Arriving at the Rollright Stones we visited The King Stone first’ moving on to the Kings Men stone circle then the Whispering Knights Burial chamber. These ancient Neolithic stones date back some 5000 years and mark meeting places and burial chambers. However, stories of witches turning Kings and Knights into stone are far more interesting.
The D’Arcy Dalton Way took us past Little Rollright, Salford and into Cornwell. Wytton Perowne D’Arcy Dalton (1893-1981) was a champion and protector of public rights of way without whom we would have a much reduced network of paths to enjoy.
The Parish Church of St Peter in Cornwell provided an ideal stop for a picnic lunch in peaceful and tranquil surroundings.
From Cornwell we passed through Daylesford and admired the horse head sculptures of artist Nic Fiddian Green. Thanks to Pauline for pointing out that they were horse heads as I had completely missed the point of them.
Adelstrop brought another stop at the post office which was serving tea and cakes. No list of questions about Latte this or Americano that – just a good old cup of coffee.
From Adlestrop we picked up the Macmillan Way/Diamond Way towards Chastleton House, passing by Chastleton Barrow on the way back to our cars.
Despite showers being forecast, the weather stayed fine all day allowing for some fantastic views along the way.
Carl
12.25 miles 19.7 km
