08/08/26 - King Alfred's Tower and the Stourhead Estate

Great Estate

Our host has left a series of George (the dog we are sitting) favourite walks. King Alfred's Tower recommended for the shade provided by Penselwood, an ancient forest.

Early and out for free National Trust Parking. How lovely! Usually the most expensive in the land.

It's forest rides, ancient earthworks and hillforts until we reach Stourhead - a country estate, for which we were wholly unprepared. The footpaths go around lakes, past follys and right to the front door of the country estate. A national trust kiosk baking fresh pasties and you know you have lucked out.

Stourhead is a celebrated 18th-century landscape estate in Wiltshire, created by the Hoare family around a picturesque lake, with temples, grottos and woodland walks designed to evoke an idealised classical landscape. One of its most striking features is King Alfred’s Tower, a 160-foot (49m) folly built in 1772 by Henry Hoare II to commemorate Alfred the Great’s victory over the Vikings in 878.

Here are some photos;

Forest Rides

The Bristol Cross - Originally in Bristol and relocated in 1762

Entering the Stourton Estate

Where we can ring the front door bell.

George and the Obelisk

The source of the Stour - Six Wells Valley and St Peter's Pump

King Alfred's Tower

Walk Details

Distance - 5.5 miles

Geocaches - 6

Walk Inspiration - Komoot

07/08/26 - Digby's Tap, Sherborne

The Host Knows

Our latest dog-sit brings us to Cucklington. It's quite possible over the three-day weekend that we may be able to do a walk in three different counties.

We start in Dorset. During the introductions and our host listens to my planned walks at Castle Cary and Bruton. I can tell he is unimpressed and ask him where we should go. Shaftesbury is mentioned, but we have recreated bread advents. Then he says "Sherborne". We've never been. Plans are changed.

We can tell on the drive in to the Long Stay Car Park that this is our sort of place. History seems to be dripping off the streets. As you could expect from a town with two castles, the architecture is both ancient and impressive. An Adventure Lab Cache shows us some of the history;

Sherborne is a town with a remarkably long history, its origins stretching back to Roman times and the foundation of a Saxon cathedral in AD 705, which later became Sherborne Abbey. Its two castles tell a later story: the medieval Old Castle was built in the 12th century, while Sir Walter Raleigh acquired it in 1592 before abandoning it for the grander New Castle, completed in 1594. Centuries later, another famous name arrived in the form of Alan Turing, who attended Sherborne School from 1926 to 1931, long before his pioneering work in computing and codebreaking made him one of the 20th century's most important scientists.

Our walk is hastily compiled from Komoot and as usual, is wonderful. Green lanes out into the countryside to Oborne. The brown signs point us to an historic church just off the footpath. St Cuthberts arguably the smallest church in the land. But like "Oldest Pub", the rules are contested. In this instance, the remains can be classed as chancel to previously larger building.

Green Lanes

Single Roomer

Into Sherborne Park - a deer park, where all the deer have been taken in for the summer. This leads back to town, via the new castle. Sights are seen. Photos are taken.

Sherborne Country Park

Sherborne (new) Castle

Sherborne Abbey

There is one Good Beer Guide recommendation in town. Digby's Tap. I have to say, I was expecting a micropub, or a taproom on the side of a brewery. I couldn't be more wrong. The oldest parts of the building date from the C16th. Digby's Hotel was next door and this private residence was purchased in 1870. It outlives the hotel.

Thirsty Post Walkers

Three small rooms inside, under a low ceiling. It appears to be just as renowned for its food as its beer - which leads to a rather unpleasant pubby experience. An 11am opener, we were there before midday. Every single table has a reserved sign on it - ranging in times from midday to 13:30. This means the drinker has the choice of squatting or hogging the bar. Some do both. Some move tables as one becomes available with a later booking time. Increasing numbers of punters come in, going through the same rigmarole.

It means the small interior is in a state of perpetual motion. Our dog gets tripped over.

We can't wait to get out of there, to be honest.

My campaign for comfy seats in pubs gets a subchapter. 

Ban table reservations.

Walk Details

Distance - 7 miles

Walk Inspiration - Komoot

Geocaches - 5

05/08/26 - Geocaching in Inkberrow

Drinking with the Archers..... How Much!

Inkberrow, Worcestershire, is connected to the county town by an infrequent bus service. Running only sporadically, it means that once I'm there, I'm stuck for a while. Fortunately, there are two pubs in which to while away the time. The bull seems to have been an animal of particular importance to past landlords, featuring in the names of both of them.

The village is one of the oldest in Worcestershire - with plenty of history. The name derives from "Inta's Burial Mounds", suggesting ancient civilisations were there. There was a castle. There is still a moat. Charles I apparently left his battle plans for Naseby at the vicarage. Which provides an indication on how that worked out for him.

In more modern times, the Old Bull is the inspiration for the pub in Radio 4's The Archers. We'll come to that once I have calmed down. There is a plot spoiler in the blog title.

Today's walking is haphazard, as I am on a Geocache Trail - which takes in around 30, including some pirate themed Adventure Lab Caches. Don't ask. It's better that way.

Some nice views over the Worcestershire low-lands to the Malvern Hills, showing how it runs as a ridge up to Abberley.

From the Millennium Way

Caching completed at 11:50am. The next (but one) bus home at 14:50. Can I stretch three hours over two pubs? I do have the Metro newspaper and my cryptic crossword solving skills are improving.

The Old Bull

This is an entry in my 1960s Pub Guide - Historic and New Inns of Interest.

Undeniably Handsome

It's what you would want from a country pub. Ancient flagged floors, low ceilings, oak beams, signs saying "bullshit corner", 1970s pop playing out over external speakers. Catering for the tourists, there are some Ambridge Photos and an eye watering price list.

When Butty Bach is £5.70, the game has gone. 

I stayed for two, just to make sure I hadn't bene overcharged.

Still, there is something quaint about riders parking their horses (do you park a horse?), under the village green tree and nipping in for a pint in their jodhpurs. Cost consciously frugal foal fans can go to Costcutter.   

Horses in the Shade

The Bulls Head

Told you that Bulls are important to Inkberrow. I suppose with such a famous pub over the road, they are on a hiding to nothing here. Indeed, there were just a couple of old boys and a TV tuned to one of the last music channels, with the volume far too loud.

It's a Wye Valley House - and really, I should have had another Butty for cost comparison. Instead, I gave £6.50 to Jeremy Clarkson for his Hawkstone Lager.

Bull

Walk Details

Distance - 4.5 miles

Geocaches - c30

04/08/26 - The Teme Valley at Eardiston

New Cicerone Guide Klaxon

I do like the Cicerone Day Walks Guides. Always interesting, always on the right side of challenging. And my home county has a new 2026 release.

Saves me having to think too hard

Having the car, I decide on Walk 2. The Teme Valley. I ask AI what to look for in the hamlets of Eardiston, Stanford Bridge, Orleton, Eastham and Lindridge. It replies, "There is nothing of interest there." Knowing me, as it does so well, AI then suggests a blog theme.

One theme that might work well is that "nothing happened" is actually the story.

It's not wrong.... I don't pass a church or a pub on a 12 mile route. Especially cruel when much of the walking is through cider apple orchards and hop gardens. Worse than that, my own fears from knowing the area are confirmed. Badly overgrown paths - to the point that it's nearly a non-starter - and ridiculously steep woodland climbs.  Walls Hill Woods is a case of one step forward, three steps back and pulling myself up by any available root.

That said, the occasional superb view presents itself and with no distractions, I can plod on at a reasonable speed. Stopping only for lunch on the AMCO at Eastham Bridge.

How Eardington Locals Entertain

Down Valley

Up Valley to Abberley School Clock Tower

The OS Map does have one Big Blue Cup of Joy at Lindridge. A surprise that it lasted as long as 2009. Even more surprising, it had a short lived life after that as an Indian Restaurant. This was followed by a period of dereliction before being tarted up as a private residence. Rubbing the locals' nose in it by naming it "Nags Head House". 

No one likes Pedigree anyway

Walk Details

Distance - 12 miles

Geocaches - 3

Walk Inspiration - Cicerone Walks in Worcestershire, Walk 2