Sunday 15 September 2019

15/09/19 - Heart of England Way 30 - The Bell at Moreton in Marsh

Distance - 7 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Pubs - Coach and Horses, Longborough and The Bell, Moreton in Marsh
Previous Stages - Stage 1Stage 2Stage 3Stage 4Stage 5Stage 6Stage 7Stage 8Stage 9Stage 10Stage 11Stage 12Stage 13Stage 14Stage 15Stage 16Stage 17Stage 18Stage 19Stage 20Stage 21Stage 22Stage 23Stage 24Stage 25Stage 26Stage 27Stage 28, Stage 29


Out with the old and in with the new, as September sees the release of the 2020 Edition of the Good Beer Guide, known only in this blog as "the bible".   Ticks have been moved over between editions and and London appears to need completely restarting again.

Bible Change Over
Let the Ticking Re-Commence
Moreton-in-Marsh is easier.  It had one entry last year.   It has one entry this year.   The Bell remains a valid post walk destination.

From the heart of this bustling tourist trap of a town, we head west towards Batsford.   Decent paths shared with puppy walkers upsetting Mrs M with their tiny charges, who bizarrely appears to be canine broody.  Our destination, Bourton-on-the-Hill, where the truly thirsty could imbibe at the Horse and Groom.

Monarchs Way out of Moreton
Heading out on the Monarchs Way
Bourton on the Hill
Horse and Groom at the top of the Hill
It's at the church where we pick up the Heart of England Way and this little stretch is as fine as the walking gets on this LDP.   We are slightly elevated, with an endless vista of patchwork fields to the left and Sezincote Hall delivering a taste of architectural India on the right.   Even the sun comes out.  Bliss.

HOEW towards Sezincote
The finest walking on the HOEW
Sezincote
Sezincote Hall, peeking through the trees
Sezincote
For a Mr and Mrs Mappiman Selfie
At the end of this stretch?  Longborough - a quintessentially charming Cotswold Village.   I've walked through it a couple of times, always before the Coach and Horses has scrapped back the bolt to allow in thirsty ramblers.   Not today.... it's 12:03pm and as Mrs M didn't have the requisite change to use the space age loos in Moreton, facilities are required.

Its a Donnington Tied house, so we can expect a wonderful building and beer that's a slight improvement on Arkells.

Coach and Horses, Longborough
Lovely Beer Garden
Coach and Horses, Longborough
Beautiful Building.  Scrumpy drinking American consulting the Map.  Stone dog keeps watch

The walk back to Moreton is 2 miles of gentle countryside on the Monarch's Way,  delivering us to the Duck Pond.   A well walked area means there's little chance of unfound Geocaches but there is a new Church Micro, should you be able to get a car driver to pause to let you cross the road.

Paths Back
Walking Back to Moreton
Church Micro GZ at Moreton Church
For a Church Micro Geocache in a lovely location

Onto the first tick from the 2020 bible.   I've booked a table for 13:30 and its 13:28 when we breech the threshold, having looked at the tenuous signs proclaiming Tolkein significance.   Mrs M mutters under her breath about it being like Tintagel and King Arthur all over again.

The Bell, Moreton in Marsh
Ding Dong, its a gorgeous Cotswold Pub
The Bell, Moreton in Marsh
Prancing Pony, Frodo Baggins local.

Its much quieter than you would expect.   The bar staff are nearly equal to punters - of which there are four elderly diners and yours truly.

Its therefore rather disappointing to be told there's a 45 minute wait for food.   What on earth is the Chef up to?   He can't be cooking for anyone else. 

At least there's a good choice of Ales to keep me entertained.   Prescott Hill Climb and North Cotswold Shagweaver would have been more loyal to the area, but as I failed to find Timothy Taylor Landlord anywhere on our recent holiday in Austria, there could only be one winner.

14:15 and the elderly's food comes out.   A parsnip is dropped into a drink.   There are complaints about burned Yorkshire Puddings.   Al Dente Vegetables need to be rigorously defended by a harassed manager.

We are glad we don't work in Public Service Jobs. 

Although I did need to ask where the head on my Landlord had disappeared to.

The Bell, Moreton in Marsh
The Map offered no clues


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