30/03/19 - The Elephant Stone on Bredon Hill

Distance - 7.5 Miles
Geocaches - 3
Walk Inspiration - Day Walks in the Cotswolds, Walk 8
Pub - Queen Elizabeth, Elmley Castle


If we had a list of 20 Top Walks, this one would certainly be on it.

We love Bredon Hill.  Gentle(ish) slopes for maximum rewards.  We love it that much, we even managed to convince a 20 year old student to borrow a pair of boots and leave the comfort of his bed.   Stunning views and a pub lunch were promised.   He eventually got both.

What happens when you start a walk early in March

The walk starts in Elmley Castle.   Black and White village where they have long, long memories.  We'll come back to the pub and the significance of a Summer's day nearly 450 years ago.

Black and White Village

Medieval Cross and the Church 

Through the mist, we pick up the Wychavon Way at Castle Hill, skirting around it to gain height into the plantations.   Nothing nicer than the sun making an appearance on a walk.

Through the Plantation

A gradual climb to a long hill top

Despite the fact that we've walked it so often, there's still new things to discover.   A virtual cache has been placed since our last visit and for once, we approach the Elephant Stone in a direction where we can understand it's name.

Can you tell what it is yet?

The tower makes a great place for rest, not that Guide Dog in Training Joy is showing anything other than enthusiasm for the trip.

Resting at the Tower

How to make a Labrador happy

Free running is over for Joy, as we drop down to Woolas Hall.  A handful of new born lambs, with the majority of the sheep absolutely huge.   Come in the next couple of weeks for maximum lamb cuteness.  These fields will be full of them.

Back into the mist

The dry village of Great Comberton is reached.  No refreshment opportunity, so we grab one of the unfound geocaches, rest in the church yard and prepare ourselves for the last couple of miles around the base of Bredon Hill.

Great Comberton Church

The reward?   The pub of course.   I've blogged about it previously.  A pub that was closed for a long time but taken over by the community and now listed in the Good Beer Guide.  They've had a new sign since our last visit 14 months ago, but the 20th of August 1575 is still celebrated.

The day Queen Elizabeth I came to town.

New Sign

In a break from the real ale norm, I was going to try a Lowenbrau.   Dispensing problems meant that one of Munich's finest was not available, even after three jugs worth of froth were extracted.

Never mind, the Wye Valley HPA was in tip top condition.   Free dog biscuits and the sandwiches were out quick enough that the 20 year old student had not realised he had blisters.

End of a Perfect Morning