27/08/12 - Down by the River

Distance - 9.5 Miles
Inspiration - Julie Royle's Worcestershire Walks (I know its in Gloucestershire!)
Caches - 100%.  There was one on the trail.


Bank Holiday, so it was bound to rain.  Checked out the forecasts and its due to start at 10am, so if I set the alarm for the same time as Saturday, I should get round this 10 miler without a soaking. 

The early start confuses the dog, who doesn't even attempt to hide.  Even though this breaks my daughter's imposed 8 mile limit, I am lonely.  So she is coming.  End of.

Drive down in 42 minutes and park up by the church.  Head down to the river for the first stretch of this walk and realise that I could have communted down by nicking a boat from my home town.

Nice Stretch of the Severn - Weir

The walking is all fields.  Grass.  Wheat.  Wheat.  Sheep. Wheat.  Bull.

Our first sign of danger is when we meet this fellow on a narrow stretch of the path at Ashleworth Quay.

Eyes Right

Despite a bellow, he lets us over his style.  We reach the pub and then turn inland past the impressive Tithe Barn.  Built in 1481, Its the size and staure of a cathedral.

Probably the best barn on the route

Julie takes us on a bit of detour around the southern slopes of Barrow Hill.  Probably wants me to meet the other bulls in this field.  These do get a bit frisky and start following us down hill.  A shout of "Getoutofit!!" enables us to make safety.

Then through the village.  They like a lie in on their bank hols, there isn't a soul around.  

Centre of Ashleworth

But we do have a sneaking feeling that we are being watched.  And then soon enough, our tail reveals himself as a friendly hound.

Let the wooing commence

Not wanting to end up with any scoobiedoodles, I break off the courtship and he scampers off to whence he came.

We continue through the village, taking the no through road to Longridge and climbing the bank at the footpath.  Great views over the vale of Gloucester and we can see the rain sweeping in like a sandstorm.  Halfway up, we get the only cache of the day.

The cache - its not always about the numbers

Reach the ridge top on Over Old Road and have a strange detour around Woolridge.  I wouldn't have bothered with the detour, as it seemed unnecessary to the walk but I thought I would check out the big blue cup of joy on the map.  Even if it was 9am.  Never actually found the pub anyway, but I am sure it is there.

Do they do Moobs on the NHS?

Some really excellent walking downhill (always a favourite) through wheat and sheep fields.  There are great views of Gloucester ahead.  The aforementioned rain closes in and I have to take 5 mins to get the waterproof.  Whilst this is happening, we are stealthily approached by the gang of four.

On the lookout

Back at Maisemore and we skirt the court and get a closer look at the church.

Return to the car at 10:10am and we have the rest of the day to ourselves.  What else can you do on a rainy bank holiday?

I'll check the map for a closer big blue cup of joy.