Serendipity
The sort of strange coincidence that I love.
Five weeks ago, I had never heard of the author, Francis Brett Young. Yet there was enough motivation to join a Walkspace West Midlands group walk to find locations that were important to him and his haunted house novel, Cold Harbour.
My latest Travels With Pevsner walk provided the usual high amount of inspiration. I could have walked to the Chateau Impney, one of the Wells (Tenbury/Malvern) or Ribbesford House but how could I ignore Craycombe House?
The former home of Mr Young!
Craycombe House sits to the North of Fladbury - a charming village on the River Avon, with a mill, a couple of pubs and a doors open church. In planning, it remained a question of how close I could get to the house. A promising looking footpath sits in the woodland above the property. Another rambler - attempting to create a long-distance path in honour of Tolkien - states that the property does come into view.
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| On the Wychavon Way |
Only one way to find out.
For transportation purposes, the walk starts at Cropthorne - with a handy stop on the X50. A collection of thatched cottages and a firmly closed church.
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| The main street in Cropthorne |
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| Cropthorne Church |
Across the River Avon at Jubilee Bridge, through the village and across the golf course - homing in on the target. Somehow, I did manage to receive a personal tour of the church by the warden. On explaining my quest, he did say that the house is now owned by a banker, who likes his privacy. He's certainly let the trees grow to provide cover.
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| The Avon |
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| Fladbury Signage - the Anchor Pub in the background |
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| Banker's Privacy |
I start to think my quest is going to end in failure. Yet perseverance at Machine Farm - where they have removed all PROW markers and let the hedges consume the stile - provides the required result.
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| There she is! |
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| As good a view as I am going to get - short of knocking on the front door. |
Success celebrated at the Anchor Pub - a solid looking locals pub, with outdoor seating on the village green. They keep excellent Wye Valley HPA.
Walk Details
Distance - 7 miles
Geocaches - 1
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