Saturday 26 December 2015

26/12/15 - Five Caches Left

Distance - 7 Miles
Geocaches - 11
Walk Inspiration - Jarrold Heart of England - Walk 9

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Jarrold Walking guides rarely disappoint.  Book 14 covers my neck of the woods, The Heart of England, and I have just a handful of the 28 walks contained within to finish.

This walk, from Tanworth-in-Arden, has been on the radar for a long, long time.  Today, it is undertaken with a view to both getting some fresh air and hitting my 2015 target of 1000 caches.

I've walked from here a couple of times, most recently on a quest to find the grave and home of Nick Drake - the 1970s musician.  This route starts at the church in the centre of the village, rather handily at the handsome looking pub.

The Bell, Tanworth in Arden
Ding Dong Merrily on High
St Mary Magdalene
The Church Tower

The walk gets off to a fine start.  I am sharing an arrow straight, tree lined drive with a number of dog walkers and their festively adorned hounds.  This is the drive to Umberslade Hall, the 1700 house of a former member of parliament.

Tree Lined Avenue
Tree Lined and Paved
Umberslade Hall
Leads to Umberslade Hall

First couple of caches of the day are collected along this stretch before I kiss the concrete goodbye and head into the saturated countryside.  I get in a bit of a mess today.

Countryside
Into the Quagmire

Over the railway line at Danzey Station and into Mockley Wood.  Walking through the trees adds another touch of variety into what is turning out to be a very decent ramble.

At the top of the hill is the 1000th Cache.  With 5 days of the year left, I have hit my target.

Cache 1000
Cache 1000
The caches come thick and fast, as I pick up a series called Ugly Bugs.  These are micro caches with a twist and all attached to rather big plastic bugs.  They blend in to their various hidey holes rather well.

Past Mockley Manor, a trudge through the worst of the mud and along Forde Hall Lane to be welcomed on my return to the village by a wonderfully bucolic view of the Church.

Hay Bales
View of the Day
A superb walk and a reward is in order for hitting a target.  It was an unexpected surprise to meet Timothy Taylor again.

Timothy Taylor Landlord
A rather fine example

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