A circular around the Lenches
Diane’s Saturday ramble, 7 March
On a chilly but, thankfully, dry morning 16 of us met at the Vale Golf and Country Club barely twelve hours since half our number had left the venue following a very enjoyable club dinner.
Heading through the grounds of the golf club we had a short uphill section before meeting the Queens Jubilee Walk. This section of our ramble took us on a narrow, undulating path through woods as we bypassed Spitten Farm. There were a few obstacles along this stretch – fallen trees, emerging brambles and slippery slopes – which made for a slower, safer pace. I think some were grateful for their yoga practice and others are now contemplating taking it up! Coming out of the woods we crossed over the Ab Lench Road and walked cross country, on slightly higher ground towards Rous Lench with great open views.
Following a short distance of lane walking we headed up towards the entrance to Yeald Wood where we picked up the Wychavon Way. We continued walking uphill through the wood on very muddy sections of path and then a gentle descent with Old Yew Hill Wood to our left. We continued on the Wychavon Way going up a fairly steep muddy path towards Church Lench.
At the top of this incline we had some beautiful open country views. Once in Church Lench, where we left the Wychavon Way, we had a steady descent, across farm land, before rejoining the Queens Jubilee Walk and back to the golf club.
This was a lovely walk with plenty of variety – ups, downs, woods, lanes, mud, obstacles – and great company.
Diane
5.2 miles.
“The Golden Triangle”
Alan & Pauline’s Midweek Ramble – 11 March
After welcoming Prisca, a member for two years but on her first outing with the club, we set out over open grassy fields with splendid views in every direction. The weather was dry and sunny with a cool breeze as we turned onto the Daffodil Way.
The path was clearly signposted and waymarked and it was noticeable how many new kissing gates had been installed since the club last walked the route in 2022. We soon encountered our first field of daffodils as we crossed the road in Kempley Green and entered Dymock Wood. Here the daffodils were in abundance and we had probably timed our visit when they were at their best.
We took a short coffee break at the exit to the wood before making a detour to avoid what we thought would be a flooded underpass beneath the M50, but this proved to be completely dry. We now headed towards Dymock as we followed the route of the old Gloucester to Hereford Canal, passing Boyce Court before arriving at The Beauchamp Arms for lunch.
Suitably refreshed, we visited the church where there is a permanent exhibition of the Dymock Poets and where ‘Coffee and Cakes’ are served every day during the daffodil season. Alongside the River Leadon, we passed several signs for the various Poet’s Paths that criss-cross this area. Beyond Allums Farm we walked through an orchard carpeted with daffodils before entering Allums Grove Wood. We made a short stop at St Mary’s Church, Kempley, with its 12th century wall paintings before following Kempley Brook and then carefully crossing it on a bridge with several missing treads. Our only ‘climb’ of the day, we headed through fields full of spring lambs (behaving as spring lambs do) before reaching the Arts & Crafts St Edward’s Church and the end of the walk.
Alan & Pauline
10.0 miles
A country walk in the sunshine
Hazel & Paul’s Hinton Short Ramble – 18 March
We met in the car park of the Galton Arms, Himbleton on a beautiful spring day.
We then set off walking through Himbleton towards the Church and the black and white Court Farm. Taking to the fields, there was plenty of mud still around, especially near field gates and crossing ditches.
Having walked towards Earl’s Common we joined the Wychavon Way, going south. Then we returned via undulating tracks and paths near Huddington and past Huddington Hill Farm.
Hazel & Paul
5.5 miles
Charming Charlton & Cropthorne
Chairs Sunday Ramble 22 March
On a bright clear morning 25 ramblers assembled at the Evesham Rowing Club (another ERC who actually pre-date ourselves). A few of us got there early in order to have a quick bacon butty at the Boathouse Café before the ramble started. Once our bellies had been filled everybody was assembled in the car park where I explained that due to unfortunate circumstances our Chair was unable to lead today so they would be stuck with me. Happily, Diane would be able to meet us for lunch later. I explained that we would be following circular walk 5 today which will take us to Charlton and Cropthorne.
Setting off we followed the path towards Abbey Bridge and then Pershore Road to the confluence of the Isbourne and the Avon. The river path has been cleared quite a bit in readiness for the proposed bridge from Hampton to Evesham. Clarks Hill proved to be a lot drier than of late with just some mud on the steps on the upper part of the hill. Walking along Red Lane you could imagine the noise coming from across the river 760 years ago when a couple of guys called Simon and Henry decided to have a party on Geenhill.
Passing the leaky damn on Merry Brook we entered Charlton. An interesting little village. Henry Workman, former Mayor of Evesham, once lived at the manor house and saw it as his duty to look after the villages financial and spiritual welfare. He built a school and converted a tithe barn into a church among many other deeds. Taking a water stop on the green the group leaned about the battle of Charlton. In 1645, Sir Edward Dineley, leader of the Worcester Clubmen, learned that Prince Rupert, a high ranking General in Charles I army, would be passing through Charlton with 160 cavalry. Dineley decided to intercept Rupert and assembled his men on one end of the green. Rupert charged through and escaped the ambush.
We then followed an old coffin road to Cropthorne. The Charlton Bier could be seen at the Almonry Museum until it closed for refurbishment. We then continued along the CW5 route back to the rowing club. Just pausing briefly at the top of Clarks Hill to look at the Bell Tower and imagine how imposing the Abbey must have been considering it was 3 times the height of the Bell Tower.
After changing out of our boots, lunch was taken at the Royal Oak before heading back to the Rowing Club for the AGM.
Carl
7.5 miles