Geocaches - 3
Previous Walks - Walk 1, Walk 2, Walk 3, Walk 4, Walk 5, Walk 6, Walk 7, Walk 8, Walk 9, Walk 10
Pub - The Horse and Groom, Bourton on the Hill
The logistics of this Long Distance Walk from Hereford to Oxford become increasingly complex with every leg. The distances to the start are getting longer and the gaps between when the pubs open and the trains are still running in the afternoon are getting closer and closer.
Today, to time it right, we need to arrive at Hanborough Station at midday, drink like a student on freshers week and arrive at the station a further half a mile away bang on 12:30pm.
We'll give it a go.
We start in the charming village of Charlbury, previously explored on Stage 10. Complex parking, where all the machines at the train station are broken and Mrs M berates my sense of fair play, insisting we don't need to phone up to pay.
At least we right the wrong from last time and find the Sidetracked Geocache.
Everything of interest on this walk is within 2 miles of the start.
Today, to time it right, we need to arrive at Hanborough Station at midday, drink like a student on freshers week and arrive at the station a further half a mile away bang on 12:30pm.
We'll give it a go.
We start in the charming village of Charlbury, previously explored on Stage 10. Complex parking, where all the machines at the train station are broken and Mrs M berates my sense of fair play, insisting we don't need to phone up to pay.
At least we right the wrong from last time and find the Sidetracked Geocache.
Everything of interest on this walk is within 2 miles of the start.
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| One of Three Charlbury Pubs |
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| Charlbury Church |
From the town centre, we cross the railway line and head into the spectacular grounds of Cornbury House. Come back in 5 weeks for Bryan Adams and the Kaiser Chiefs at their music festival.
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| I predict a riot in roughly 5 weeks |
Fine walking through the grounds, leading to woodland walking through Topples Wood, where we are serenaded by bird song.
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| Skirting the Edge of Cornbury House |
And from that point on, it all gets a little agricultural. There's a pair of geocaches, a game of guess the crop and the occasional Cotswold view.
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| If you are wondering why I'm on all the photos, I forgot my camera. Images courtesy of Mrs M |
We're making good time and hope for a cafe or early doors pub for refreshment. A hamlet called East End has the big blue cup of joy on the OS Map but on the ground, its all domesticity. The only clue, a house called the Leather Bottle. Little on the Internet to provide any sort of a story.
Two miles to Hanborough and we're a good 90 minutes before the expected train. The next pub closure is even more recent. The Swan is currently shown on Google Maps with a grand pub sign attached to the building and another notice board pronouncing morning teas and coffees. At Ground Zero, its a B&B. Got uniform 5 star reviews on TripAdvisor but as much use to me as an ashtray on a motorbike.
Excluding the twin Co-Ops, Hanborough offers two final places of refreshment. The Three Horsehoes is very obviously closed and unfortunately, I misread the opening signs at the George and Dragon. It closes at 11pm, not opening at 11am. No one ever accused me of not being optimistic.
This walk is in serious danger of being dry. We check the Internet and an earlier train at 11:30am avoids us getting arrested for loitering. A quick cup of tea at the bus museum (yes, really) and we are whisked back to Charlbury at the bargain price of 60p per minute per person.
£4.20 for a 7 minute train ride.
And then, inspiration. I remember that there is a Good Beer Guide Pub at Bourton on the Hill waiting for the Mappiman Tick. Usually, its impossible to park, but the gods are taking pity on me and there is one space left.
Horse and Groom, Bourton on the Hill, Banks Amber
Any pub that charges £6 for soup, £15 for Fish and Chips and £14 for the four cheese dessert is worthy of note. Its a gastro pub, impeccably decorated and with an extensive menu that contains exactly zero sandwiches.
But how did it get in the 2017 Good Beer Guide?
There's three hand pulls but on closer inspection, one is a cider. This leaves a massively uninspiring choice of Marstons EPA and Banks Amber Ale.
We're a way from Wolverhampton, but Banks win.
Another tick in the bible, but for me, an odd choice for inclusion.
Two miles to Hanborough and we're a good 90 minutes before the expected train. The next pub closure is even more recent. The Swan is currently shown on Google Maps with a grand pub sign attached to the building and another notice board pronouncing morning teas and coffees. At Ground Zero, its a B&B. Got uniform 5 star reviews on TripAdvisor but as much use to me as an ashtray on a motorbike.
Excluding the twin Co-Ops, Hanborough offers two final places of refreshment. The Three Horsehoes is very obviously closed and unfortunately, I misread the opening signs at the George and Dragon. It closes at 11pm, not opening at 11am. No one ever accused me of not being optimistic.
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| 60 Minutes too early |
£4.20 for a 7 minute train ride.
And then, inspiration. I remember that there is a Good Beer Guide Pub at Bourton on the Hill waiting for the Mappiman Tick. Usually, its impossible to park, but the gods are taking pity on me and there is one space left.
Horse and Groom, Bourton on the Hill, Banks Amber
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| At least we missed the rain |
But how did it get in the 2017 Good Beer Guide?
There's three hand pulls but on closer inspection, one is a cider. This leaves a massively uninspiring choice of Marstons EPA and Banks Amber Ale.
We're a way from Wolverhampton, but Banks win.
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| A pint of Banks, significantly more expensive than in Wolvo |
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