Super walk in a bag!
Pam and Marian’s (plus John) Midweek Ramble 13 October
Ramblers:
Meeting in Church Lench, 19 keen ramblers donned their waterproofs in light rain and with misty views. Val made a great job of fashioning a jacket out of a large poly bag from her car after not bringing her wet weather gear! Unfortunately John Davies ( my co leader) could not attend due to illness. Marian kindly stepped in. After welcoming new walker Alan Williams to the group, we headed off towards the fishing lakes and back up to Atch Lench, before cutting through Atch Lench Wood. Here in true ERC fashion we negotiated mud, although only shallow mud by ERC standards! The path opened up to skirt around arable land, with good views, the rain having stopped, giving way to sunshine in time for a drinks/snacks break. Continuing up towards Abbots Morton, we looped around into Slade Wood (less muddy) where we spotted a live badger set – sadly they were sleeping! Lunch was a picnic in an old barn and members found plenty of logs, etc. to sit on and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Whilst there, a gardener working on the farm for the Vale Landscape Heritage Trust, told us about the barn owls who had nested in 2 boxes there and that he had plans to set up picnic areas for groups to use at the barn. Onward to Rous Lench after lunch, we passed a deer park before stopping to look inside St. Peter’s Church. Here John Davies met up with the group to say hello. The church dates from 12th C and is a mixture of Norman and Victorian architecture with an impressive Norman arch and some stained glass windows by Frederick Preedy. Conveniently, next door to the church, is The Lenches Cider Company, where members were treated to an interesting insight into cider production. Several members of the group purchased some to take home. Ensuring that it stayed in their bags, so that members remained sober and upright, we continued through Yeald Wood, a bit of an incline but very atmospheric. An even steeper grass bank followed (moans and groans could be heard from the group!) and a dodgy gate to take us back up into Church Lench. No bottles of cider were damaged during the walk! My thanks to Marian for stepping in as co-leader and to John for all his help doing the recces with me to make this a varied and interesting walk. Get well soon John. 8.7 miles
Pam
An October delight – Snowshill
Maggie, Hazel and Paul’s Short Ramble 20 October 2021
Ramblers:
This walk was well planned by Maggie Atherton, but unfortunately, she was unable to come on the day, so Paul and Hazel Jennings led the route instead. Although rain looked likely, it stayed sunny all morning. We followed a circular route, passing the Manor and Snowshill Arms (later to have lunch there), and the very pretty village, before we ventured up higher to Laverton Hill. We followed a route incorporating the Winchcombe Way, the Cotswold Way, minor roads, and farm tracks, with lovely views across to Broadway Tower and the Vale of Evesham. 4.2 miles
Hazel & Paul
Proverb proven at Minchinhampton
Tony and Roger’s Sunday Ramble 31 October
Ramblers:
After driving through a horrendous storm and flooded roads, sixteen intrepid ERC walkers arrived at Minchinhampton Common. Miraculously the rain stopped, the wind abated, and the sun came out. Alastair wisely reminded us of the old proverb “rain before seven, fine by eleven” and he was proved right as we started our ramble. Heading across the Common towards the town of Minchinhampton we were given a lovely introduction to the beauty of this area. The walking was easy, albeit wet underfoot from the night’s storms. Arriving in the little thriving hilltop town, we admired the church with its truncated spire, the 17C Market House and the traditional old Cotswold buildings lining its streets. The common is pockmarked with a variety of earthworks: Neolithic barrows, old quarries and a few modern-day golf bunkers! Leaving the town through its backstreets we followed the old paths and tracks down to Longford’s Mill, where we stopped for a short coffee break. After walking on down the valley we then climbed steeply up through Box Wood into Box for a short rest on the little village green before our final walk across the Common to the Black Horse for a welcome midday lunch. The afternoon walk started with a steep footpath descent to St Chloe and then a 30-minute walk through the woods in Nailsworth Valley, before climbing up to the top of Rodborough Common. The walk north across the Common gave us lovely sunny views across the villages and towns of Gloucestershire towards the Severn Estuary (where it appeared to be raining), and we finally arrived at the northern tip of the Common at Rodborough Fort with its ‘Sham Castle’ façade. It has a strange history of ownership, which is worth researching on the “Stroud Local History Society” website. After the Fort we turned back along the east side of Rodborough Common for a gentle stroll back to Amberley, stopping for an ice-cream at “Winstones” on the way (even though the cool wind was turning ever colder). Tony and I would like to thank everyone who turned out for their support and excellent conversation. We certainly enjoyed the day. am 6 miles pm 5 miles
Roger
