Geocaches - 3
Pub - The George and Dragon, Lichfield, Banks Bitter
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4
Stage 5 on the Heart of England Way and it delivers it's first real highlight. Lichfield Cathedral's three spires can be seen long before arrival into this charming city.
The Nelson Inn at Creswell green was found at the mid point of Stage 4 and provides the start of this walk. A chance to pick up a couple more of the Chorley Circular Geocache Trail.
The walking is agricultural - country lanes and wheat fields, where in the main, the farmers have adhered to leaving the rights of way accessible.
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| Easy Walking |
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| Big Skies on the HOEW |
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| First Peak of Lichfield Cathedral |
First surprise is that its a Marstons House, a brewery that's not usually troubling the Booze Bible. The 2nd is that it's open at 11:10am. They might be still doing the cleaning up, with all the chairs upended on the tables, but this does provide an opportunity to explore. Impressive tiling throughout and the Cask Marque certificate found, we make our way outdoors.
It's not every pub that has a beer garden complete with a memorial explaining the history. Prince Rupert's mound was a siege position built during the civil war. I'm always finding bits of Civil War history on my walks but here is the location of a rare Royalist victory.
It now makes a nice spot to enjoy a top quality Banks Bitter with commanding views.
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| George and Dragon - Deserved Good Beer Guide Entry |
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| Mrs M wondering what I'm not sitting with her. There is a a memorial to read from here. |
Next up is the Cathedral. A group of lads are dressed as Peaky Blinders. We spend the rest of the walk arguing whether they are on a stag do, a wedding or are the real Peaky Blinders. No stag do I have ever been on has a professional photographer.
The Cathedral is as stunning on the outside, as I am sure it is on the inside. I could spend hours admiring the intricate stonework. Many photos taken but I will leave you with a shot of the restoration of Charles II shoe.
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| Mappiman. Peaky Blinders out of Sight |
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| Charles II - Paid for the Cathedrals restoration |
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| So he got a new shoe |
The walk back is merely functional. Through Lichfield's many alleys and a slightly rough housing estate and back into the not quite as well maintained wheat fields.
Stage 5 and the HOEW is really getting into its stride. A top walk.
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| Battling the field borders |
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