07/01/18 - Walking from the Snitterfield Arms

Distance - 7.5 Miles
Geocaches - 2
Walk Inspiration - Jarrold Shakespeare Country, Walk 21


First walking blog of the new year and we may as well award the prize for "Rude Sign 2018" now.

Not quite beating last years "Minge Lane" in Upton on Severn

We are starting in Snitterfield, a Warwickshire village just off the A46 and halfway between Henley and Stratford.

And what a boster of a walk to herald in the New Year.  Gorgeous blue skies, frozen mud and plenty of variety.

We head South, picking up the Monarch's Way on the aptly named King's Lane.  This leads us to some superb views over the Avon Valley and all the way to the Cotswolds in the far distance.

Warwickshire Views under Blue Skies

The Obelisk in the Welcombe Hills Country Park can be seen for most of this walk and we have plenty of time to guess what its in honour of.  Not a War Hero, just a rich Mancunian Cotton Business Man who built the nearby home, now a hotel.

Mark Phillips, Cotton Manufacturer

Downhill, to pick up the River Avon for some superb upstream walking, along the riverbank and through sunken lanes.

River Avon

Great Paths

The last couple of miles back are along quiet lanes and through fields that are just starting to thaw out.  Entertainment provided by a solo deer trying to find an exit but being thwarted by the high fences.  It keeps us company more or less all the way back to the Village.

Great walk, but will the Pub match it?

The Snitterfield Arms is very smart both inside and out.  Cask Marque Accredited and the certificate is proudly displayed to become my first scan of 2018.  I would say its almost a Gastropub but as the only watering hole in the village, there have kindly left space for the drinkers at the bar.

Real Ale wise, they have a choice between Brakspear Bitter, Greene King IPA and Rev James.  I may have made a mistake with the Brakspear.   Both worringly cloudy and served in a Doom Bar glass.

The friendly service and Sunday Lunch were much better than the pint.

Snitterfield Arms

Brakspear Bitter - More opaque than I would like