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 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, Stage 22, Stage 23, Stage 24, Stage 25, Stage 26, Stage 27, Stage 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.

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.

Heading out on the Monarchs Way

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.

The finest walking on the HOEW

Sezincote Hall, peeking through the trees

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.

Lovely Beer Garden

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.

Walking Back to Moreton

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.

Ding Dong, its a gorgeous Cotswold Pub

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 Map offered no clues