Ramble Reports September 2024

May Hill Walk

Michael and Lesley’s Midweek Ramble – 11 September

This was not so much an organised ramble but a friendly and social walk among good company.

On the walk we saw many interesting sights including llamas who were as interested in us as we were interested in them, the grandeur of a Redwood plantation in Newent forest, collecting cones as we went. Passing through an orchard recently harvested some fruit still hung from the trees which was sweet and juicy. Coffee was taken in a muralled bus shelter and lunch atop May Hill admiring the vista before us even if it was a bit blustery.

Oooh you should have come.

AND

Did I mention the weather, bright, clear, wonderful clouds and sunny with warmth on your back.

AND

Is this a record only one person interested in the walk to turn up, but more importantly do Lesley and I get a prize.

Michael

10miles 16.2km


Kempsey History Ramble

Mike & Val’s Saturday Short – 11th September

On a gorgeous day for walking, we parked up at The Talbot, Kempsey for a prompt start 10am. Mike welcomed all and thanked all members for making such a good group of walkers. 

Val, our leader,  began with  an explanation of  the fantastic history of Kempsey. Walking down Church Street we see 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 the Bishops of Worcester as it was, together with Worcester Cathedral. only Christian consecrated land in the area, 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. Our attention was raised to look for the 40 metre Bell Tower of Stanbrook Abbey as highlighted on information given at the start of the walk. As we walked the meadows alongside the river, we were reminded of the Pixham Ferry and how in 1265 this is where Simon de Montfort with his prisoner Henry III took the crossing to stay with the Bishop of Worcester before the fateful Battle of Evesham.

 
A kissing gate signed “Severn Way” took us down onto the river bank – we took great care on this path back up the bank to the track at Oak Farm where we took a five-minute break. Then onwards to the A38 passing carefully through the gap in the hedge, along the right side of the field to a country lane and another gap in the hedge to walk single file diagonally across to the footbridge leading into the coppice by The Nash estate where a ten-minute break was taken before returning to Teal Turf fields. The Nash (Circa 1600), was sold in 2021 for £3million. It has 13 bedrooms and is a striking building of brick with stone dressings and tiled roof and chimneys with diagonal shafts.

 
Under foot the turf (Teal Turf) was like walking on carpet and our leader was reminded of the TV Telly Tubbies picture. Our breath was taken with panoramic views of THE Malvern Hills to the left. We were led single file diagonally across to the public footpath onto Bestman’s Lane. On the footpath opposite we gathered for a group photo.

This path led us to a path across a cropped meadow to the right corner with its stile. Walking on a country road, we stepped up the pace to reach a cattle grid/track where we took the side gate leading us down the track to a small footpath on the right. Through this path we reached a wooden ditch bridge to bring us onto another country lane. Bearing left here we continued (on possibly one of three Roman Roads), passing Napleton Farm/Grange where Sir Edward Elgar lived from 1923 – 1927 after the death of his wife. Staying here in Kempsey had given Elgar inspiration for his work and whilst here he became Master of the King’s Music. We continued walking now on more old Roman Roads before taking a left kissing gate into sheep fields and then a modern metal stile into another sheep field – to a kissing gate on the right and a short walk through a coppice crossing again the Hatfield Brook/waterfall. Walking up a “set aside” field we continued on the left to reach the top of Old Post Office Lane with housing and a quick sprint down this to bring us to the main road and The Old Talbot.

A vote of thanks was given by Diane (our vice chair). Some partook of the pub’s refreshments.

Some queried “…where was the windmill. Well a windmill did exist just outside Kempsey off the A38 – some 800 years ago. It was pulled down 126 years ago. Luckily, a superb photograph of the windmill survives in the photography collection of one of the nation’s earliest pioneer photographers, Benjamin Brecknell Turner (1852 era) in the London’s Victoria & Albert Museum..

Val & Mike

5.2 miles 8 km


Tranquil early autumn walk

On a warm, dry but cloudy morning, with early signs of autumn approaching, we commenced our walk at Hampton Lucy.

We headed up the valley, with beautiful views of the river Avon below. The landscape was magnificent, stretching for miles, and whilst crossing harvested fields, we saw St Marys Church, Warwick in the distance. We then dropped down into a small hamlet where we were greeted by fields full of extra tall bamboo like grass (Chinese Silver Grass / Miscanthus Gracillimus), which we think is used for bio-fuel and paper pulp. We then crossed more fields, but this time with distant views of the Welcombe Hills Obelisk.

All in all it was a pleasant walk with sunflowers still abundant and inquisitive young cows.

We headed back via a bridlepath on Mount Pleasant Farm to Hampton Lucy for a well-serviced pre-booked lunch at the Boars Head.

4.5 miles


Starting from the historic Roman town of Alcester, with some expectation that we’d be paddling on the edges of the Rivers Arrow and Great Alne or trudging through muddy fields due to the previous week of rain, we set off along the Arden Way on what was, and continued to be, a beautiful autumn day.

From Alcester we headed towards Oversley Wood where we left the Arden Way to follow good and ‘slightly’ undulating footpaths through the forest. A couple of undulations later, we exited back onto the Arden Way close to Oversley Wood Farm. From here we continued on the Arden Way crossing open farmland with beautiful views until reaching the village of Upton.

After a short stop at the ‘stocks’ in Upton, we headed slightly uphill to Haselor Church, thought to be built on a pagan shrine due to its hilltop position and round-shaped Churchyard. Beautiful panoramic views. After walking downhill, we left the Arden Way and followed footpaths towards Great Alne Mill taking a brief stop at the weir on the Great Alne. The Mill itself was a cornmill and continued as a working mill until the 1960s. It has since been converted into cottages and apartments. Continuing from Great Alne Mills, crossing the Great Alne at Cully’s Crossing, we took a lunch break at the Church at Great Alne, St Mary Magdalene – 13th century origin.

From here we headed towards New End crossing the Monarch’s Way and then turning back onto the Arden Way, on good lanes, towards the ford at Coughton. Leaving the Arden Way at the ford, we followed the River Arrow back into Alcester.

All in all, a lovely walk, no mud, no rain (until after the walk had finished). A very big welcome to new walkers Peter and Emma (hope to see you again in the near future) and to those walkers new to ‘distance’ – you aced it!

Diane

11 miles