Summer evening stroll
Hazel and Paul’s Friday Evening Ramble – 3 July
We set off from the Bluebell Pub, at Callow End on a glorious summer evening..
We headed across fields towards the river but never actually saw it. We eventually arrived at Pixham, where there used to be a ferry service. Flowers and butterflies were plentiful, as were views of the Malverns.
The sun continued to shine as we returned along a higher route, nearer the Old Hills and Madresfield Court, and arrived back at the pub to meet George who was ready for his supper!!
Hazel & Paul
5.5 miles.
Troubled Bridge over water
Clive’s Midweek Ramble – 8 July
It was getting hot already as we left from the meeting point at the Fleet Inn at Twyning.
It’s a couple of miles of fairly easy going alongside the Avon until just before Tewkesbury when we turned up the A38 past the big Severn Trent works, through a garden and on to the Severn path. There were good countryside and river views. This path was less well maintained but provided some welcome shade from the sun.
Carrying on through different terrains, in places with water on both sides, through decent paths and not so clear paths, we stopped for lunch under the M50 bridge over the Severn which was relatively cool. The bridge itself was crumbling in places, hence the Ramble headline.
The way back was mainly road walking along country lanes to the Puckrup Hall golf club and hotel. Across the A38, then back along the lanes to Twyning and a welcome, well deserved drink at the Fleet Inn.
Thanks everyone for a good day.
Clive
9.0 miles.
Up and Down Bredon Hill
Geoff & Pat’s Short Ramble – 15 July
After the recent exhausting heat the cooling breeze was very welcome as we climbed steadily up the Wychavon Way from the church at Ashton under Hill. The view was impressive even with the morning misty haze.
The descent was down a bridleway towards Fiddler’s Knap then turning to cross the hill to Kersoe Farm, admiring the display of bright geraniums and lavender. We continued on to circle Ashtonwood House then my favourite part of the walk through Ashton Wood with its tall conifers. We came out at the top of the village with a viewpoint over the pretty thatched cottages and colourful gardens.
The Star Inn served our substantial lunches and refreshing drinks to round off a lovely morning.
Geoff & Pat
5.6 miles
Ploughman’s bunch
Clive’s Friday Evening Ramble – 17 July
Congregating at Dumbleton Village Club on a probably too warm summer’s Friday evening we set off down Main Street and across the fields towards Wormington.
We managed to avoid the combine harvester this year, but instead there was a huge ploughing machine to encounter. Thankfully this was avoided and we proceeded on through the farm and past a pond where a life-size dummy Heron resided.
Passing through the village and down through another farm, there were around 5 horse ambulances parked up with numerous other equestrian vehicles amongst the normal farm machinery. Why?
Down through the fields again, touching the Isbourne Way (and seeing some hares on the way through), we arrived at Dumbleton Mill, which is in the process of being restored. We then walked back through to complete the loop and then back to Dumbleton and a welcome drink and chat at the village club.
Thanks for a great evening, everybody.
Clive
5.0 miles
Where there’s a will there’s a Way.
Pat & Geoff’s Sunday Ramble 26 July
We started at Childswickham with a much more pleasant, cooler temperature after the excessive heat recently and headed south through harvested fields to the picture-book village of Laverton.
Following the contours of the Winchcombe Way to Stanton gave lovely views to the West. Soon after, we turned to make the steady climb up a quiet bridleway to join the Cotswold Way at Shenberrow Hill. “Hydration breaks” gave us opportunities to admire the landscape even though the usually green fields were baked dry from the heatwave.
Back on familiar ground, although looking quite different heading north, we stopped on a grassy bank by a dry stone wall for our picnic. We soon reached Broadway and saw the model village behind the gardens at West End. Our final “Way”, the Wychavon Way, lead us past the Static Homes Park to Childswickham.
We enjoyed leading this very good group of walkers and were pleased that the weather had been kind to us.
Geoff & Pat
10.00 miles
Two villages and a Hamlet – Kemerton, Overbury and Westmancote
Lindsay’s Friday Evening Ramble 31 July
After pointing out the problem of parking in Kemerton village, 15 members had little difficulty in securing a parking place. We then congregated at the War Memorial before heading towards the T junction on Kinsham Lane where we started our ramble.
Another sunny evening led the group down the lane to the first field. As we made our way around the perimeter, we were faced with a herd of cows, calves and a bull all of which thankfully ignored us. Negotiating two difficult stiles we then headed through fields over Kemerton Road and towards Overbury Court which is owned by Penelope Bossom who manages the Overbury Estate and is a descendent of the Martin-Hollands; the Martins being originally a banking family.
Passing St. Faith’s, a medieval church which serves the village of Overbury, we carried on along the Kemerton Road. Here we headed up over a couple of fields, belonging to the estate, towards Baylis Road, a small hamlet, but not before we came across two very huge friendly pigs looking to be fed. This resulted in some photo shots of the pigs, not the group!
Wending our way to Westmancote we stopped for a short water break. Once in Westmancote, a small pretty hamlet, which lies on the lower slopes of Bredon Hill, a slight detour was made owing to path alterations, we carried on down the road passing some lovely houses and emerging again onto Kemerton Road. Crossing over the road and taking a hidden narrow path into a lovely cool wooded area, we turned onto a sandy track with the plantation on our right.
Then turning left along another track we passed Kemerton Nature Reserve. Reaching the road we crossed over into Back Lane passing delightful old cottages, the black and white Old Manor House and Kemerton Court. A footpath then led us by the side of the gardens of Upper Court and a lovely small lake. After the lake, we meandered along the path over a footbridge and back to Kemerton and the starting point.
This was followed by a very pleasant social evening in the very busy Crown Inn where most of the group stopped to enjoy a refreshing drink and some food.
Lindsay
5.0 miles