05/06/14 - Perfect Evening

Distance - 3.25 Miles
Geocaches - 6

Broadway to Buckland at EveryTrail

I have had my eye on the weather all week.  Looks like a washout for this weekend's London Loop.  Oh well, too late, the rail tickets have been bought.

Saturday might be thunderstorms but Thursday has been showing as glorious.

It can only be time to knock off another of the Top 10 County pubs - this time, the furthest away from us.

Will the 40 minute drive for a pint, a bimble and some caches be worth it?

It could be our day, as we get one of the remaining spaces in the small car park at the front.  That makes us a couple of quid up on the day already.

Head off for familiar paths on the Cotswold Way.  How I love this path.  Obviously haven't been on this section for sometime as there are a number of caches to collect.  Cache 1 evades us on the way out.  To make matters worse, I very nearly fall into the stream, as the bank gives way.  Sonia was poised with camera ready and disappointed in my recovery.

Continue on the Cotswold Way and huff and puff up a small hill to be rewarded with views.

Anywhere finer than the Cotswolds on a nice day?

At least we start to find the caches as we continue on the route.

Following the Cotswold Way

Unusually, I am not following a prepared route.  I just know that I want to follow the caches and circle around to Buckland.  This proved to be a great idea, as I find previously unexplored paths a little of the beaten track.

They may be a little more overgrown than the main Cotswold Way but they did provide some great views.

Horse Reflections

The best of the views were when we turned right to Buckland and had a descent through long grass with superb views over the vale of Evesham.  Buckland Church, hidden in the trees, chimed its bells to announce our arrival.

Photobombed by a happy Labradoodle

Views into the west

We skirt our way around Broadway Coppice and find a cache that has its very own Zip wire.  In the interests of Internet Based amusement, Sonia insists I have a go.  Fortunately for me, I was too generously proportioned to make it go.  Twice she had the potential for Jeremy Beadle style amusement and twice I let her down.

The Coppice is a mudpit, which is a shame as we had kept clean all the way around.  Not long before we are through a field of hard sheep who want to get a closer look at the dog and repeating the short stretch back towards Broadway.

On the Way Back

The dog cleans off in the stream and I have another look for the elusive cache 1 and grab a find.  Great not to leave one on the map unfound.

All that remains is the reason why we are here.

Crown and Trumpet

I have noticed this pub on several previous walks but never made it in.  It looks the perfect English Boozer. Thursday night is live music night and we have Jazz tonight, with a band setting up as we arrive.

Worth staying the night in the village and making a night of it.

They have at least five real ales on.  I have to ask for descriptions and go for the Old Codger.  A fine choice.

Old Codger.  Not Shakie - the Beer

A perfect end to a perfect evening.  Totally worth the effort.