‘Ramblers from Italy – and a leaning tower’
Alan & Pauline’s Midweek Ramble – 13 August
After two days of extreme heat, it was a slightly cooler morning as we gathered in the car park next to the river in Shipston-on-Stour. We were joined for the day by Stefano, Angela and Enrico Baroni from Ravenna in northern Italy, who were on a touring holiday and had seen the walk on the ERC website. We also welcomed new member Derek Miles on his first club ramble.
We started off by following the river across pleasant fields, many occupied by sheep and horses, to reach our first village, Barcheston. We stopped by the church with its leaning tower, likened by Alan to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, to which Enrico obviously thought the analogy was way out! Hard to imagine now in this small village, but the first English tapestry factory was established here in the 16th century, with famous hangings now in museums all over the world.
Several of the fields that took us through the villages of Willington, Burmington and Tidmington were ridge and furrow, a landscape feature that we tend to take for granted, but became a topic of great interest for our Italian guests, as did the explanation for the name ‘kissing gate’. The ERC ‘footpath maintenance team’ sprang into action when we came upon a fallen tree barring our way as we were leaving Burmington – no specialist tools, just brute force.
After a mile of quiet lane walking and a brief coffee break, we climbed steadily to reach Todenham with its extensive views of the surrounding countryside. Making our way down, we crossed Knee Brook near the deserted village of Ditchford, before arriving for our lunch break in a shady spot on the edge of Stretton-on-Fosse.
The afternoon temperature started to soar and as we followed a good track leading to Hanson Hill, thoughts turned to refreshing drinks at the end of the walk. Several of the group retired to The White Bear where Stefano and Angela satisfied their thirst with a pint of real ale which they had read about and were yet to sample.
Thank you to everyone who joined us on the day.
Alan & Pauline
10 miles.
Barmy Friday evening ramble
Lindsay & George’s Evening Ramble – 15 August
Owing to the large, anticipated turnout on Friday evening, parking was changed to the Eckington Recreation Centre, which proved to be more than adequate. To begin the walk, with Paul Sharpe as back marker, 24 members safely crossed Eckington Bridge, a Grade 2 listed narrow structure, assisted by Carl and Paul Jennings.
We took the path alongside the River Avon, part of the Shakespeare Avon Way, to lower Birmingham where after a couple of miles we stopped for a very quick water break.
Although not as hot as had been forecast, thank goodness, it was still very warm even with a refreshing slight breeze. As we followed the road which led us to Nafford Weir, we had a lovely clear view of Brecon Hill. Stopping for a photo shoot, taken by Carl, on the bridge of the weir, we watched the dramatic force of the water as it tumbled down stream. Crossing the weir we continued along a path to Nafford Lock where we enjoyed a longer break.
Leaving the lock behind and after a short ascent, we turned left onto Nafford Road and followed the route turning due south at the junction. The road then led us to a gate which was hidden in the hedgerow. Heading through a recently roughly ploughed field, we eventually crossed a little bridge and through two further fields with the most enormous ruts in the ground owing to the very dry weather and this made walking more than difficult.
We ended the walk entering the village of Eckington where we passed lovely cottages and gardens, past the school to reach to grounds of the Holy Trinity Church. Here we stopped and Carl proposed a vote of thanks to the leader and where the decision was made to either return to the park cars or to continue to The Bell Inn for refreshments.
George & Lindsay
4.5 miles
Ginea fowl, pheasants and red kites
Dennis & Wendy’s Short Ramble – 20 August
The turnout was very good, meeting old friends and new so 30 ramblers started (and finished!) the walk. With the kind permission of St. George’s Hall we met in their car park. The weather duller than of late but in many ways, ideal walking conditions.
After a brief history of Blockley, we proceeded up Park Road turning left over open fields with fine views down to Norcombe Wood where we were greeted by young pheasants and guinea fowl.
An undulating track took us to the top of the wood, where we stopped for a group photo taken by our resident photographer Rachel. Left up the hill led to open ground with fine views. At the half way refreshment break we were served with birthday cake by Fran & Paul which was much appreciated.
With all the uphill climbing behind us, we proceeded to the noisy section of our walk, a footpath running parallel and within a few feet of the A44. Turning left again we entered fields with panoramic views across the north Cotswolds.
We descended through fields and a farmyard with red kites above our heads before reaching Dovedale Wood and the Blockley brook which we followed back to the village.
A splendid lunch was enjoyed at the Crown Hotel, who normally do not do lunch time meals but made the exception for the club.
After leaving the hotel we proceeded along Blockley High Street to the church and vicarage made famous by the TV series Father Brown, before returning up the hill to our cars.
We have received lovely feedback and thank you all for joining our ramble.
Dennis & Wendy
5 miles
Putting the ‘scramble’ in ‘ramble’.
Andy and Emily’s Friday Evening Ramble – 29 August
This was our third time puffing up and slipping down the steep slopes of the Abberley valley, and we had the most perfect evening for it in the late summer sun.
The walk is short but feels longer: the area is crossed by a few small brooks that cut into the landscape, making the descents and ascents something between entertaining and alarming. But the rewards were huge: shaded lush woods with hidden streams, amazing views across the undulating hills as the sun slowly sank, a 17th-century farmhouse, a hidden retreat in a damson orchard, a profound silence so far from traffic, and even two giant pigs, Wilbur and Willow, to pet.
And that’s before we reached our thirst-quenching final destination: the craft beer brewery in barn, Nothing Bound, where we enjoyed yet another convivial evening grateful – yet again – that all of us had arrived safe and happy.
Andy & Emily
3.7 miles
Warm Welsh Welcome to the Wye.
Alan & Pauline’s Sunday Ramble – 31 August
We were warmly welcomed by Alan Bolton, our guest leader from Chepstow Welcomes Walkers, before setting out from Tintern Old Station along the route of the old Chepstow to Monmouth Railway.
Having crossed the River Wye at Brockweir on the border between Wales and England, Alan filled us in on the history of the area. Brockweir had been a busy little port, the highest navigable point on the river with a thriving ship building industry. People who worked on the river included Moravians from Slovakia who founded a chapel in the village.
We followed the Offa’s Dyke Path upstream to the next crossing point at Bigsweir. Now back in Wales, we felt the first spots of rain as we arrived in Llandogo for our lunchtime stop at the delightful village church. Alan’s wife, Judith, joined us here and took over as leader for the afternoon which started with a steep climb of 700 feet, the upper part of the path zig-zagging up the escarpment through trees which thankfully sheltered us from the more persistent rain that was now falling.
At the top we were hoping for a spectacular view of the Cleddon Falls. Sadly, there was not a drop of water in sight, although some of the party were witnessed taking ‘Instagram worthy’ photographs of the thundering falls from an information board. We picked up the Wye Valley Walk along the top of the ridge, through woods which continued to shelter us from the rain. Stopping briefly for a photocall at a gap in the trees with far-reaching views towards the Forest of Dean, we then headed through a magnificent avenue of sequoia trees, some of which were nearly 200 feet tall.
The original plan was to branch off here to visit Tintern Abbey but Judith’s knowledge of the route deemed it unsuitable in the present weather conditions. Instead, we gradually descended to Brockweir Bridge and back to the Old Station Cafe where we rounded off the afternoon with drinks, ice cream and cakes.
After Diane had thanked Alan and Judith we returned to our cars just in time before a storm of biblical proportions hit us. What a relief that we had decided not to extend the walk to Tintern Abbey!
Alan & Pauline
9.0 miles