“Hard Graft around Ardens Grafton!”
Marian’s Midweek Ramble & Annual Lunch 8th January
Twenty ramblers set off from the Golden Cross pub in Ardens Grafton walking through the village and then off road to negotiate our first muddy footpath of the day. Using a permissive path, we walked through the fenced off (to encourage wildlife and wild flowers) limestone escarpment of Grove Hill Warwickshire Wild Life Nature Reserve. Some road walking brought us to the edge of Oversley Wood, a lovely bluebell wood in the spring, and then time for a coffee stop.
Walking past Oversley Castle, part of Thomas Cromwell’s estate in the 1530s, with the Tudor barn now developed into a luxury home, we carried on down the tarmac drive then across a field to the Wixford / Exhall road. From Exhall we walked across several fields and climbed over stiles to Ardens Grafton, in one field stopping to admire the llamas and miniature pony. Gathering at the top of the hill there was just one more field and a short section of road walking before we were back at the pub. Thankfully it did not rain, we had good views and the muddy sections were passable.
Frank, Geoff and Heidrun join us at the Golden Cross pub where we enjoyed a delicious lunch.
Marian
“Wythall the best view Available!”
Paul & Hazel’s Short Ramble 15 January
We set off from the car park at The Peacock Inn, Forhill, to follow the North Worcestershire path. We first passed the British Motor Museum where the world’s largest collection of historic British cars is housed.
We then walked around the edges of Wythall Golf Club giving views of the once used St. Mary’s Church with distinctive tower. This building sadly closed for worship in 1986, and the building is now owned by a firm of electrical contractors. However, we soon found a coffee spot nearby. We then continued on the route to arrive at the M42 for a few yards!!
We quickly turned our backs to return to the pub via Icknield Street. This is a famous Roman road, sometimes called Ryknild Street, with a route roughly south-west to north-east. It runs from the Fosse Way at Bourton on the Water to Templeborough in South Yorkshire. We didn’t walk the whole length today, however!!
Walkers are to be congratulated on keeping upright in the extremely muddy conditions which felt more like skating at times.
Distance walked: 5 miles
Paul & Hazel
“The Worcester Round!”
Paul & Hazel’s Sunday Ramble 26 January
After some minor communication hiccups, 24 members set off at 9.30am from Diglis Basin Buildbase. On reaching the River Severn and walking south for a few yards, we crossed to the other side via the new cycle and pedestrian bridge. We then turned northwards passing the New Road County Cricket Ground, walking by the old City bridge to the pedestrian Sabrina footbridge, crossing the river for the last time.
A coffee stop was made at the Pump House Environment Centre which is in the refurbished waterworks in Gheluvelt Park. This park commemorates the Battle of Gheluvelt, a World War 1 battle in Belgium.
A light drizzle then began, which was to become worse in the afternoon. We walked along the river to Bevere, then up through the fields and minor roads to the New Inn where Frank joined us for lunch.
In the afternoon, we made our way across the Perdiswell fields down to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, which we followed back into its junction with the river, passing the Commandery en route.
Distance walked: Morning 6.5 miles – Afternoon 5 miles.
Paul & Hazel
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