Geocaches - 5
Pub - The Plough, Stretton-on-Fosse, North Cotswold Brewery, Cotswold Best
Just like this time last year, we find ourselves in the Northern Cotswolds, completing a walk and visiting a brewery. Last time out, it was Hook Norton. This year, in recognition of Hung, Drawn and Portered being my pint of 2016, we are off to find the North Cotswold Brewery.
In a nice instance of serendipity, we can also start the walk at a CAMRA Good Beer Guide recognised boozer. Car parked up at the Plough, Stretton-on-Fosse at 9am.
First visit to Stretton. It's all thatched cottages and Cotswold honey stoned loveliness.
Cross the Fosse Way for the first time today and head out into the agricultural heartland that is this corner of Warwickshire/Gloucesteshire. Conditions are grim above, and grimmer underfoot.
Hood Up |
Half of Warwickshire is coming home with us |
The mud adds to the workout. It's like walking in deep sea divers boots, as we make our way South East to the medieval village of Ditchford Frary. No evidence of former dwellings, but there is the first geocache of the day.
Geocaching GZ and the Brick Hut |
There's something rather disconcerting as a working class Brummie to be walking past a line of country folk with shotguns. Thank god my map reading is up to scratch and I provide them with no excuses.
Reference points ensuring we didn't stray from the path |
The crack of firearms, combined with the mud, completes the Somme-like experience.
There's nowt wrong with the Northern stretch to the very edge of Shipston-on-Stour. A cache trail presents part of its circuit. We talk to a number of dog walkers, who we see twice as they complete a circular route. The conditions don't really lend themselves to photos.
South West for a couple of miles of hard going to reach Ditchford Farm. This is where the magic happens - in a little shed on the side of a farmyard.
All Joy Contained |
A country lane delivers us to the Fosse way and ultimately, back to the Plough. The locals ignore the sign outside saying "Opening Time 12am". The bar is packed at 11:45am.
The Plough, Stretton-on-Fosse |
Cotswold Best |
There's just time to hot foot it back to the Brewery to purchase a mixed case. This will keep us going over the festive period.
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