Saturday, 20 June 2020

20/06/20 - Hanbury Circular

Distance - 5 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Walk Inspiration - Times Summer Walks - 6th June 2020


Along with a weekly walk, the Saturday Times newspaper often has a collection of seasonal walks.  June 6th had "Summer Walks" and out of the 20 listed, 6 looked of interest - either by location or walk quality.  Pictures of routes saved to my Evernote organiser.

With the Championship resuming at 3pm, this little 5 miler from Hanbury Church looked just the ticket for a a football and pub starved rambler, his holiday starved wife and their up for anything Guide Dog in Training, Abi.

Parking is found on the high ground of Hanbury Church - a former iron age hillfort, with religious links going back over 1200 years. Audio from services are used in Radio 4's the Archers.

Hanbury Church
Hanbury Church on the high ground
We drop down through Pipers Hill woodland, picking up good paths on a field edge that has a stream.  One of the party provides a warning of what is to come by darting through the undergrowth for a splash around.

Enjoying the Freedom
I'm free - to do whatever I want
Field Edges
Field Edges

The fields lead to the Worcester-Birmingham Canal, where we have about a mile of towpath walking. It seems cruel to have her on her lead, but Mrs M - the main trainer - is unsure if she can be trusted to not jump in.

Abi is our third dog and 2nd Guide Dog puppy we have trained.  Neither of the other two have leapt into a canal before.  I'm that convinced she will be fine, I put my usual post walk pint money on it - knowing I am saving money in the pub barren lockdown and can afford to be reckless.

Post Dunk
That's a fiver I will never see again
Of course, she let me down. A dive in like a furry Tom Dailey and a swim around the canal like some sort of big golden otter.

To dry off, we have some more lovely field walking - an arrow straight path cut through the crops - before crossing the grounds of Hanbury Hall, debating whether it has a cafe and if so, whether it is open.

Alas, Google could not provide an answer to that question.

Hanbury Hall
Hanbury Hall - we are reasonably sure there is a cafe behind

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