29/10/16 - Saved by the Merrie Lion - Millennium Way Stage 41

Distance - 5.5 Miles
Geocaches - 3
Pub - Merrie Lion at Fenny Compton
Walk Inspiration - Stage 41 of the Millennium Way



Back on the Millennium Way.  The countdown begins - just three more stages left.

Hopefully this is the lull before the storm.  Little to commend this walk.  The Northamptonshire/Oxfordshire border offers little for the rambler.  The only drama of the day is walking through a field containing a bull.  Even he was that bored that he gave me nothing to write home about.

I look at the route.  Its a figure of 8.  We are meant to start at Claydon but research shows there is no pub.

I'm not having that.

Instead, we park at the apex of the 8 - at Little Boddington.  Directly opposite the Carpenters Arms.  I have brought Mrs Mappiman with me and I was a bit concerned I wouldn't be able to feed her after the walk.  It was with some relief that I saw the sign saying "Thursday Night is Burger Night"

Promising, they have a kitchen!

So we head south to Claydon.  Quick Geocache (the only one officially on route) and then we are out into the flat bovine fields.

As Interesting as it gets

Cross the Oxford Canal and follow the paths rather than the sat nav.  Miss a stile in a field corner and end up in a dead end at the back of a farmers kitchen window.  Route retraced into the Bull Field.

Claydon?  What have you got?  The OS Map shows an alternative to pub entertainment could be had in the museum.  No evidence of it on the ground.  Internet based research shows it was a private museum.  Before it closed down for good.

I pity the Claydonites on the upcoming long winter evenings.

Claydon Church

I spice the route up on the way back by avoiding some fields at the Canal and continuing along the lane.  There are an additional two geocaches to bag.

It's then an uninspiring walk through crop fields to get back to the pub.  The top loop of the figure of 8 could not be faced - especially as it was getting perilously close to a time when pubs stop serving meals.

As well as the sign for food, the Carpenters Arms carries a Cask Marque seal of approval.  My mood lifts but not for long.

We walk in and they are having some sort of meeting.  Possibly about the impending HS2 Railway Line.

Stop HS2.  Unless it goes through Claydon.

We are instantly asked if "We are Local?".  I reply with "We are merely ramblers in need of sustenance".

Our response is met with the "The Pub Is closed".

Now, 1pm on Saturday seems a strange time to close the pub.  Especially when its full of people.

I ask incredulously when they are actually open.  Conflicting answers from two people and a barely credible "Sunday Lunch Times only" and we are off before I argued about Burger Night.

Unlike the League of Gentlemen's Royston Vasey - we manage to leave the local pub for local people.

Fortunately, this presented an opportunity to try the Merrie Lion in Fenny Compton.  I have driven past it three times on the Millennium Way and it looks inviting.

Opening Times Dictated by the Corner Sun Dial

Also Cask Marque accredited, we were met with a wonderful welcome, table service and one of the finest meals we have ever had out.  All for £30.05, with four free humbugs when we paid up.

The day is saved.

The Fenny Pride - A local Pint for Strangers