14/01/17 - Millennium Way Stage 44 and Grand Finale

Distance - 8.25 Miles
Geocaches - 0
Walk Inspiration
Pub - George and Dragon, Chacombe, Everards Tiger
Surprisingly, the official route of the final stage of the Millennium Way doesn't finish at a pub.

After 3.5 years, 44 monthly trips out, 268 Miles, 244 Geocaches and Mrs Mappiman muscling in on the glory, we need somewhere suitable to celebrate the final leg of this epic walk.

The George and Dragon at Chacombe will more than suffice and we make this our starting point for the day.

George and Dragon, Chacombe

The walking is typically Northamptonshire - easy, flat, agricultural.  We head North on the Jurassic Way.  The weather is the only thing that can threaten our good spirits.  After a week of promising glorious sunshine, we are left with sleet.  There are few complaints until we pick up a lane near Upper Wardington and the smell hits us.

My fair weather walking partner finally loses it and mutters "what am I doing out in this weather, walking next to a pile of cow sh*te"?

Its a fair question - but when you have booked a Super Saver Advance No Refund Premier Inn so that you can celebrate in the fleshpots of Banbury, there can be no going back.

Jurassic Way - Agricultural Northamptonshire

Entertaining Women Mappiman Style - 2 Degree walking next to a mountain of cow sh*te

We are making great progress.  The lack of gradient and geocaches mean we can just plod on with the miles.  Northamptonshire doesn't really do hills.  There's one gentle climb on this walk.  And they have named it "The Hill" on the OS Map.  No need for greater descriptions.

View from the Hill

The church spire of Middleton Cheney marks the end of the Millennium Way and we can see it in the distance.  Plod our way across sheep fields until we hit the village.  Pretty little place, but we fail to find a cafe and the pub is on the opposite side to where we need to be.

Packed lunch is taken in the only place to offer shelter.  The bus stop - eventually shared with Banbury bound pensioner shoppers.

Lunch done, we tour the Church, looking for the bunting that proclaims the end of this great adventure.  We make do with finding the last Millennium Way Sign post.

Middleton Cheney Church

The End (or Start of the Millennium Way)

A mile left to get us to where we can really celebrate.  We head back along the Jurassic Way, through the grounds of Chacombe House.

The Pub is down there, somewhere

We find the George and Dragon.  The packed lunch was possibly the best decision that we could have made, as the kitchen is closed for refurbishment.  Fortunately, the beer was in top condition.

Don't see Everards brews too frequently and it was a pleasure to be re-acquainted with their Tiger Copper Ale in a busy pub.

Wi-Fi made use of to share the news that the journey was over.

Mrs Mappiman uploading Facebook Photos and forgetting the Sleet

The Millennium Way proved perfect walking inspiration and is perfectly maintained.  A full summary of all 44 stages can be found here.