20/01/19 - Heart of England Way - Stage 22 - Into Bidford

Distance - 8 Miles
Geocaches - 17
Pub - Bulls Head, Bidford-on-Avon
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7, Stage 8, Stage 9, Stage 10, Stage 11, Stage 12, Stage 13, Stage 14, Stage 15, Stage 16, Stage 17, Stage 18, Stage 19, Stage 20, Stage 21


A lengthy stretch for this month's leg on the Heart of England Way.   It's a simple walk from Bidford on Avon to Alcester - heading North along the River Arrow and following the Heart of England Way back.   Unfortunately, this is a stretch that I have walked relatively recently on the Cakes and Ales Trail but doing it the opposite way may present new views.

I'll do the new bit first.

Picking up the intriguingly named Marriage Hill to the west of the town, the route provides a good vista of the housing expansion taking place.  Plenty of unfound geocaches, as I pick up the Arrow to deliver me to the outskirts of Alcester.

Looking over Bidford from Marriage Hill

The interesting part of the River Arrow

By rights, I should head into Alcester now to pick up the Heart of England Way - but having walked it many times and relatively recently, I decide to take a previously unwalked bridleway below Oversley Hill and pick up the HOEW at Oversley farm.   Three previously unfound caches may have had something to do with this decision.

Onto the HOEW - an obstacle course of stiles through farmland and horse grazing fields.   Timed correctly, I could have revisited the Fish (wacky) or the more traditional and Good Beer Guide endorsed Broom Inn.   Today, I am too early but there is music coming from a potential new micro pub.

Nailed on for the 2020 Good Beer Guide

Soon back in Bidford on Avon, emerging from the back lanes at the Church and the previously unvisited Bulls Head.  It's 11:55am and hanging around a pub for lunch time opening is never a great look, so I head down to the river for a final cache.

Bidford on Avon

Sun past the Yard Arm, or whatever the saying is, I add the Bulls Head to the list of pubs visited, having previously frequented the Frog and the Bridge.   The Royal is now closed down and the Falcon Inn is the stuff of Shakespearean lore.

Bills Head, Bidford on Avon

I'm still the first punter through the door.  Two real ales on - Doom Bar and Tribute and I was pleased to see the landlord pull through the first couple of glasses worth before handing over a reasonable example.



A sneak peek at Stage 23 and this looks a familiar walk too.   I'll have to find a way of getting a unique experience from it.