26/11/17 - The Abberley Circular

Distance - 3.7 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Walk Inspiration
Pub - The Manor Arms, Wye Valley HPA


Another cold, crisp winter day under glorious blue skies.  Mrs M demands a walk, fully in the knowledge that I fancied a day recovering from a 300 mile round trip and 10 mile walk in Kent yesterday.

Sometimes, you just have to take advantage of the conditions.  www.walkingworld.com is sparked up and a short local walk is found in Abberley, a little Worcestershire village steeped in history.   A sparkling new web site for the Manor Arms shows its back operational and allows tables to be booked on-line.

Sunday is panning out rather well.

Park up at the their car park and hit the trail, heading South to conquer Abberley Hill via a gently climbing path that works with the contours.

View from Abberley Hill

A mile long ridge path runs along the hill top.  Views are obscured by the trees but its fine mud free walking before a terrifyingly steep descent at Shavers End.  Definitely do the walk in the direction advised.

Abberley Hill Ridge Path

The Worcestershire Way is picked up, even if it has been subtly moved by land owners in the years since my OS map was published.  Despite GPS and detailed route instructions we take a couple of false turns in the sheep fields of Bank Farm, eventually annoying the farmer by turning up in his yard.  Hedge based stiles are sometimes too tricky to spot.

If you're going to get lost, get lost somewhere gorgeous

No further navigational blunders, we can see the Church Spire and know that the only unfound geocache of the day awaits.   A quick find and a delightful walk through the village green to the pub.

Geocache Ground Zero

Manor Arms, Abberyley, Wye Valley HPA

Manor Arms, Abberley.  Now in Good Health.

Every village needs a pub at its focal point.  The Manor Arms is now in good health, following a major refurbishment.  There have been times in the new millennium when it has been sadly closed down.

Which is a terrible fate for any C17th inn that can trace its history so well.  Some wonderful old photos and history at this web site.

Today, its been knocked through and lovingly restored as a country dining house.  Every table, including those in the old front bar, is setup with multiple items of cutlery, napkins and wine glasses of differing sizes.

They haven't neglected beer - with Butty and HPA from Wye Valley sitting next to Ludlow Gold.

The lunch was superb, resulting in a perfect Sunday.

Until Mrs M decided to start DIY.

Wye Valley HPA