29/11/14 - The Battle of Worcester

Distance - 4.7 Miles
Geocaches - 5
Walk from - Battlefield Walks in the Midlands


A Teenager's broken iPhone led to a last minute change in walking plans.  It was going to be a blast over Long Mynd, but the prospect of leaving a 16 year old with no means of communication meant that we hit Worcester.  We can drop the phone off at the repair shop, complete a walk and take in some Xmas cheer in the markets.

Drop Sonia off at the shop and find the only car park that has spaces left.  Meet up with her at the bridge to start the walk going.

The cathedral bells are peeling, luring in the Christmas punters.

Worcester - Heading into the Sun

The Labradoodle was strangely scared of the pigeons

The advantage of this walk over the Long Mynd is that there are some caches to find.  First one in a wall is easy enough but then we get two DNF on the bounce.  When I am king, I will ban caches on bridges.

Get back in the game with an easy Micro near Diglis Island.

The purpose of this walk is to reach the site of the Battle of Worcester - 1651.  This is the one where Charles II met Cromwell and was thrashed, escaping the city to go and hide in a tree at Boscobel House.  The route of his escape, forming the Monarch's Way LDP, that I keep meeting at random parts of the country.

The main site of the battle was on the other side of the river.  On my side, there is a cache in some rough land that I make a half hearted attempt at.  There is a tent in the woodlands and I always find these a little bit sinister.  I abandon the hunt.

The route in the book would have us retracing our steps, but the paths have become very muddy.  Instead, we cut inland to the houses, finding our last caches in a park and then along the canal.

Canal back to Town.

The canal, via the commandery and then Fort Royal (which I never appreciated was man made until I read this book) returns us to the town.

A last tour of the Cathedral - where Charles II stood at the tower and saw his armies defeated - before the madness that is a city centre four Saturday's before Xmas.

Resting Place of King John and the Arthur, brother of Henry VIII

River view from the Cathedral

Battle the crowds to the dine on fine scones at the Boston Tea Party.  All that remains is to collect the phone - we are hopeful it will last the 6 months until its out of Contract.