22/04/17 - Wye to the Thames - Walk 10 - Kingham to Charlbury

Distance - 9.7 Miles
Geocaches - 6
Previous Walks - Walk 1, Walk 2, Walk 3, Walk 4, Walk 5, Walk 6, Walk 7, Walk 8, Walk 9
Pub - The Bull, Charlbury


Another gorgeous slice of the Cotswolds, as we make our way along the Railway Stations from Hereford to Oxford.

We are getting close to the end.  This leg is almost entirely along the Oxfordshire Way.   Although early signage suggests a problem.

Closed to All

Rerouting takes place along a quiet lane to Foxholes, where we pick up the River Evenlode to pass Bruern Abbey.   Early walking is easy going, flat and we make swift progress.

The first few Geocaches appear Shipton-Under-Wychwood, where of course, we meet the first other walkers of the day.  Mrs M uses her usual style of just diving in for the hunt safe in the knowledge that "we will never see them again".  It seems the locals know of the caches.  We get quite specific help with "Gone Fishing" - with the dog walkers having stumbled on it by accident.

The Cache Stretch

We've not been to Ascott under Wychwood before.  Its beautiful in its simplicity - enough to make the volunteer shop keeper relocate from London and commute back daily with his £6000 annual season ticket.

We get into quite a chat, as I attempt to work his tea machine.  It's a delightful little shop, run by the community.  I attempt to buy a newspaper - they have 20 copies of the Times and one Daily Mail.   I failed to see the sign saying they were all pre-ordered for the residents and not for general sale.

Tea taken in the sunshine, near to the impressive Church.

Ascott Church

A lady pulls up in a very dirty A6 that has "F*ck Pigs" drawn in the dirt on the passenger side door.  I ask if she has fallen out with the Neighbours and she instantly replies "Yes, I have".  I'm guessing that she hasn't realised that she is driving around Partridge Style in an obscene publication.   She takes it all in her stride.

Tea finished, we head out through fields for the best part of the walk.  We gain a little height and have wonderful views over the patchwork fields system, a blaze of yellow rapeseed.

Doesn't get much better than this - and a few more caches along this path

1 hour before our train back, we arrive in Charlbury to be met with a typically Costwold Greeting.

Historic and very polite

We have time to explore the town for the first time.   All independent shops, museum and typical architectural beauty.

The trio of pubs are huddled together at the intersection of Sheep Street and Market Street.

We pick the poshest of the three.  Beer pumps with hand written advertising and not the usual corporate branding.  Free range children named Rafe and Kit entertaining their younger sister in the beer garden.  Bottled artisan cider at £6 a pop.

C16th Coaching House

We head out into the sunshine to enjoy a bang average Hooky next to a mini milk churn.  Bravely, I attempt to stop Mrs M from eating her own sandwiches.

Probably the 1st Pull of the Day. 

Refreshments enjoyed, it down for our transport with a fine 10 minutes waiting for the train at a station that maintains it's original 1853 features.

How pleasant is your morning commute?