14/04/24 - Centenary Way Summary

Length of Heart of England Way - 100 Miles

Amount walked on Circular Walks - 193.5
Geocaches Found - 66
Stages Completed In - 26
Start - Kingsbury Water Park - 20/03/21
Finish - Lower Quinton - 14/04/2024

The Centenary Way is a 100 mile Long Distance Path in Warwickshire, created to commemorate 100 years of the counties existence.  Stephen Cross, former Mayor of Warwick, takes his blueprint for the Heart of England Way and produces a guide book that splits the route into a series of circular day walks.

Providing inspiration for monthly walks, I completed over 26 stages.

The Guide Book

Highlights

Several stages were accessible by public transport. This led to big days out in Nuneaton, Kenilworth, Warwick and Leamington. Walking could be combined easily with Good Beer Guide Ticking. There were some decent walking stretches too - Burton Dassett Hills and Edge Hill providing the best walks.

Lowlights

Poor paths in places - especially in the North of the County.  Overgrown and sometimes missing. I can't blame the path for the 2024 mud, but there was a sea of it towards the end. Several walks were deadly dull. Even as we edged into the Cotswolds.

The real killer was HS2 - causting rerouting and misery on a couple of stages - none worse than Ufton.  To be fair to the guide author, he did he best to warn us, with potential diversions detailed in a book published in 2017.

Alas, in summary, it was nowhere near as pretty or satisfying a walk as the Millennium Way and Heart of England Way, which have followed similar themes.

The Stages

Stage 1 - Kinsgbury Water Park

Stage 2 - Shustoke

Stage 3 - Furnace End

Stage 4 - Birchley Heath

Stage 5 - Nuneaton

Stage 6 - Bermuda

Stage 7 - Sutton Stop

Stage 8 - Ansty

Stage 9 - Brinklow

Stage 10 - Brandon

Stage 11 - Ryton-on-Dunsmore

Stage 12 - Bubbenhall

Stage 13 - Kenilworth

Stage 14 - Leek Wooton

Stage 15 - Warwick

Stage 16 - Leamington Spa

Stage 17 - Ufton

Stage 18 - Harbury

Stage 19 - Burton Dassett Hills

Stage 20 - Fenny Compton

Stage 21 - Arlescote

Stage 22 - Edghill

Stage 23 - Oxhill

Stage 24 - Idlicote

Stage 25 - Ilmington

Stage 26 - Lower Quinton

The Photo Album

14/04/24 - Centenary Way - Stage 26 - Lower Quinton

 The End of the Centenary Way

Here it, the end of a Long Distance Path that never set the pulse racing. With the exception of a few town centre highlights, the walking was pedestrian - often on unloved paths that if they hadn't disappeared completely, would be often overgrown. HS2 causing issues on several stages. Still, it provided structure to my monthly walking plans over the last 4 years. 

The final stretch is dominated by Meon Hill - an Iron Age Hillfort steeped in legend.....

Centenary Way sharing the path to Meon Hill with the Monarch Way

The Made Up Myth - The ghost of the Celtic King Arawyn, hunting the hill at night. He rides a pale horse, running a pack of white hounds with red ears.  

The Modern Day Murder Mystery - The location for the last unsolved murder in Warwickshire.  In 1945, Charles Walton was found with his own pitchfork embedded in his throat and the sign of a cross carved into his chest. This is how you kill a witch, in Warwickshire and there were some parallels to a similar killing in the 1800's. Plenty of documentaries on YouTube.

No spooky scenes on the day when Spring may have arrived.

Views from Meon Hills flanks

The walk continues to Ilmington before tracking its way north, back to Lower Quinton. It should be unspectacular agricultural field walking but the Centenary Way cannot help but deliver a final sting in the tale. The farmers are out ploughing up their fields - obliterating the footpaths.  We could have braved the churned up earth across ankle breaking clods but we would be playing frogger with the tractors. No one wants to be laughed at by a farmer. Lane based diversions adding a mile to the walk.

We arrive back in Lower Quinton for the twin village staples of Church and pub.

Lower Quinton Church

The College Arms is one of the odder pubs found on my travels. Poor on-line presence makes it tricky to determine if they offer food on a Sunday and if they do, what it might be. Their website redirecting you to their facebook page if you click on "Menus". Tripadvisor pointing to the go elsewhere, with a rating of the 117th best restaurant in Stratford.

I leave it to Mrs M and her internet sleuthing to decide where we should visit. The facebook review where someone's husband had run off with the barmaid making up her mind.

She knows I will be in post LDP completion high spirits and cannot be trusted

College Arms - Lower Quinton - I missed the sign saying "Motorbike Parking Only"

There is some history here - the building originally owned by Henry VIII.  Then it fell into the hands of Oxford's Magdelan College and the only pub in the land allowed to use its coat of arms.  A farmhouse originally, converted to a pub in 1897.

Now a bikers pub and how lovely to see Mods and Rockers drinking in perfect harmony.

At Mrs M's request, we Sunday lunched at nearby Long Marston's Mason Arms.

Walk Details

Distance - 7.5 Miles

Geocaches - 1

Pub - The Mason Arms, Long Marston (off route)

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

17/03/24 - Centenary Way - Stage 25 - Ilmington

 Ian McCulloch Was Here

Penultimate Stage of the Centenary Way. The drive in shows us what to expect. From the water running in streams down the lanes and some giant puddles, it would appear we have had another overnight monsoon.

Mrs M cursing as to whether a Sunday Lunch is worth the muddy sheep fields of Ilmington. We actually feel sorry for the sheep..... can they catch trench foot?

The walk is as dull as the Centenary Way can deliver.... fields to Blackwell and then Darlingscott. We choose the lanes on the way back, in desperate hope to save our trousers.

There must be something to report...... Well, we are just into the Cotswolds AONB and Ilmington is a pretty honey stone village, the highest in Warwickshire.

Centenary Way enters the Cotswolds

Its made of three streets - Back and Front surrounding the pedestrian only Middle - where you can see why the location is used for film. Manor House, the vicarage, a "fairy hole" and the church all located next to the ancient fish ponds.

View of the Medieval Cross from the Church Porch

Surprisingly for a small village, there are two trading pubs. The Howard Arms was chosen on my last visit. A gastropub servicing dodgy pints of TT Landlord leaves me in no mood to find out what you do get for a £26 Sunday Lunch.

Instead, we book for the Red Lion.

A more traditional Hook Norton House

Possibly more spartan than I was expecting. The Sunday Lunch is a "bargain" £22 here. Dining in either the front or rear bar - both with roaring open fires. Impressive quality, quantity and service.

Other punters match the 4 cask on offer but with Guinness patronage in full force for St Patrick's day, I am the only one on Old Hooky. Again, this exceeded expectations caused by worry of lack of turnover. 

Inside the Red Lion, Ilmington

The twitter jury is still out on the artwork - but the perspex cover makes me think its legit. Part of me needs to know how the lead singer of Echo of the Bunnymen ended up here.

I am sure it wasn't for the Centenary Way.

It has a perspex cover, so maybe @OfficialIanMac did enjoy an old Hooky at the Red Lion, Ilmington, Warwickshire 🤔 pic.twitter.com/55q0Ffg5qL

— Mappiman (@Mappiman1) March 17, 2024

Walk Details

Distance - 5.5 Miles

Geocaches - 2

Pub - The Red Lion, Ilmington

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

04/02/24 - Centenary Way - Stage 24

Dying of Boredom on the Centenary Way

I had made a new year's resolution to complete more research before heading out on my walks.

One look at the map for the latest leg of a stunningly dull long distance path made me realise this wasn't required today.  

The start is Whatcote. The decision on whether I wanted to patronise a two starred Michelin "pub", where the only menu detailed on their website is an £85 tasting menu is made for me. The Royal Oak is closed for their winter break.

The other building of interest is St Peter's Church. I was that bored on my return to the village that I forgot to inspect the damage caused by a stray WWII bomb. I can understand why the German's targeted the area.

St Peter's Church, Whatcote

Flickr can be relied on for research

The walk?  Six miles of Warwickshire field edges.  

How was your Sunday?

Two legs left on the Centenary Way.  I'm sure you will be as pleased as me it is coming to an end.

Walk Details

Distance - 6 Miles

Geocaches - 2

Pub - The George Townhouse, Shipston-on-Stour (visited post walk, 6 miles away)

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

26/12/23 - Centenary Way - Stage 23 - Oxhill, Whatcote and Tysoe

 3 Pretty Warwickshire Villages, separated by mud

2024 New Year's resolution has to be to read walk background information before setting off.

As usual, I spent too much time looking at pub choices, trying to determine which ones might be open on which day. Bank Holiday Boxing Day can always go one way or the other.

This leg of the Centenary Way connects three little villages, each with a pub, a church and various buildings of Grade II listed status. In between, it's mud - ranging from the thick claggy stuff that leaves your feet covered in pizza sized cow pats - to slurry, where you disappear up to your calves. It was not fun. Let's concentrate on what was found - or not.

Oxhill - I made this the start of the walk, mainly as the Peacock is open 7 days a week. Four cask ales on and a solid enough village local trying to cater for everyone. The church wasn't explored but had I completed my research, I could have discovered Myrtilla's Tomb - one of the earliest in England to commemorate a person of African descent. A slave, so by rights, I would have needed to vandalise some property of the Beauchamp family.

The Peacock at Oxhill

Post Walk Hook Norton Twelve Days, taken in my socks.  Muddy shoes left outside.

Whatcote - Has a pub, the Michelin awarded Royal Oak, which I don't think is for the likes of me.  Click the link for a web site that is worthy of a four course tasting menu for £85. However, the Whatpub description makes it sound slightly more appealing and I do return on the next leg. There is a 90 minute window on a Saturday/Sunday lunch;

An ancient stone-built pub in the middle of the village, it dates back to 1168 and was originally built to house masons building the church. The extensive inglenook contains rungs leading to a hideaway. Patronised by Cromwell's officers after the nearby Battle of Edgehill. Previously it was a Hook Norton pub but is now a free house. Completely refurbished and re-opened in 2017, it holds a Michelin Star (first awarded in 2021).

Again, the church was unexplored but this one suffered bomb damage in WWII. There may well be a memorial to the only casualty. A sheep.

Not for you

Upper and Middle Tysoe - The biggest of the three villages, which I access through the grounds of the manor house. Another Peacock Pub, which would not normally be open on a Tuesday but making special allowance for Boxing Day. Only my mud covered footwear stopped me from investigating the laughter within.

Tysoe's Peacock

Walk Information

Distance - 7.5 Miles

Geocaches - 2

Pub - The Peacock, Oxhill

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

05/11/23 - Centenary Way - Stage 22 - Edgehill

 Gauging the impact of inflation on hospitality

4.5 years (and 2 guide dog puppies) since we last visited the Castle Inn, Edgehill. A wonderful location, great Hook Norton beer and a beautiful Sunday lunch that has gone down in legend - both in terms of quality and cost.

I do understand that you get what you pay for.

In a rare perfect walk for a disappointing Long Distance Path, the Centenary Way delivers me back to this location. No tables available through on-line booking but when the name of this pub blog is relayed over the phone, they say they can fit us (Man, Woman, Guide Dog) in a little alcove by the bar. A chance to see how bad inflation has been. We remember exactly how much we paid last time :-)

Our Pub for Today - The Castle at Edgehill

The building created 100 years after the first battle of the English Civil War - no winners, no losers, apart from the loss of 1500 men in 1642. Converted into an inn in 1822, almost on the exact spot where Charles I setup his headquarters.

The walk starts directly from the pub and heads SW through woodland, following the escarpment, where the battle raged on the plains below. There are occasional views through the tress but at the are marked "Edgehill Covert" on the map, the views open out.  All of Warwickshire below.

Guide Dog in Training Ivy loving a free run through the woods

It's a beautiful day

Finally getting Ivy to pose

Agricultural fields, past Upton House. Surprisingly mud free after the record rainfalls but Mrs M still finds the opportunity to curse. She wants me to write an email to Home Farm to thank them for their diversion away from the farmyard but to request dog friendly stiles.

I had noticed the Rose and Crown at Ratley on the previous leg of the Centenary Way and planned to visit today. Timed to perfect for when its open but too late to get back to the castle on time for our booked table. 

Mrs M not wanting to run the risk of our table being given away.

On plotting my routes - Google Maps says "Temporarily Closed". The web site confirms, adding "Due to unforeseen circumstances". Facebook claims power outages on Oct 11th but that doesnt sound enough for long term closure. Blimey, I love a pub mystery but I cannot bring you anymore information. 

We are bang on time for the Castle and have a tiny table in an alcove that we can just about squeeze the three of us in.

The food is as good as we remembered. 

Inflation over the last 4.5 years is running at 23.5%. Previously, we were forced to share a pudding. This time we decided to make a crumble when we got home.

Walk Information

Distance - 5 Miles

Geocaches - 0

Pub - The Castle, Edgehill

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

03/09/23 - Centenary Way Stage 21 - Warminster

A Walk Linking the Civil War Villages of Arlescote, Ratley and Warmington

Handsome walk, this. Not often I say that about the Centenary Way but at long last, it is starting to deliver interest, good walking and a surprisingly good post walk pint.

I'm starting in Warminster - a timeless village, with a spacious village green overlooked by a 1603 manor house. The Church at the top of the hill contains several graves from causalities of one of the first battles in the English Civil War. 1642 and the Battle of Edge Hill. The vicar recorded the burial of one of the Parliamentary Captains before supporting the war effort rather more directly;

Warmington’s vicar, Richard Wootton, supplied swords, pikes and muskets to Parliament from the war’s outset and eventually abandoned his parish to captain a parliamentary troop at Warwick. Roaming the countryside with his men, Wootton was eventually relieved of his commission after raping a lady’s maid. He was finally expelled as vicar in 1656.

What a wrong 'un.

Warminster Village - Timeless

Final resting place of Captain Alexander Gourdon

This tranquility is soon lost to the roar of the M40. I feared the worse for the fields leading to Avon Dasset. A previous log on a missing geocache showing head height rape crops with no discernible paths. Thanks to crop rotation in the C21st, I have a freshly harvested wheat field to cross.

Lanes take me through Arlescote. Another manor house, where Kings Charles children supposedly stopped during the days before battle. The walking turns beautiful, with undulating but mercifully short climbs and drops over Edge Hill.

Warwickshire Views 

And Good Paths

Ratley will be rediscovered on the next leg. The village itself is stunning, hiding away in a dip in the hills. A lovely looking pub, the Rose and Crown, will surely be visited - although it looks like there may be some competition. I've previously enjoyed the Castle Inn at Edge Hill and that cannot be missed either.

St Peter Ad Vincula - 4 different window styles suggesting the Black Death interrupted construction

An easy stretch on the Macmillan way delivers me back to Warmington, route carefully plotted to ensure my final steps lead to the Plough Inn.

The Plough Inn, Warminster

Door ajar, and I enter into a low ceiling bar. All the talk is on the Indian Summer and it makes sense to take advantage of their rear beer garden. In these hard times for hospitality, every pub needs a selling point. 

A mini golf course guarded by a gorilla may be unique in all my pub exploring.

Might have been two runs behind, making it a 6 holer

Beer-wise, it also delivered. With the needle in the mid twenties and a handful of other drinkers, I would normally go Euro-lout. Having never heard of the Church Farm Brewery, I made an exception. Their Harry's Heifer, a superb session bitter.

From just outside Warwick - with a ceremonial glass.

Bucolic walking. History. Good Beer. Mini Golf.

It's been a fine old day. 

Walk Information

Distance - 6.5 Miles

Geocaches - 1

Pub - The Plough Inn, Warminster

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

15/07/23 - Centenary Way Stage 20 - The Fenny Compton, Avon Dassett Classic

 A familiar route walked several times, but never in a thunderstorm 

I've not been the greatest fan of the Centenary Way but there can be no complaints about this classic walk that can be started at either (pub hosting) village.

I start at Fenny Compton for a return visit to the Merrie Lion. The height of the Burton Dassett Hills quickly gained to provide fine Warwickshire views.

Scene from a Geocache Location

Avon Dassett is reached, where the Yew Tree offers a pleasantly gastro experience. Previous visits have provided a fine Sunday lunch and unusual beers from Sheffield. Bradfield Brewery, found for the first time. 

Yew Tree - with a solution to problem punters

The route from here to the Burton Dassett hills is as fine as the walking has got on the Centenary Way. Good paths, running through agricultural fields, the distant hum of the M40 traffic, the beacon ahead the prize.  Will I beat the incoming storm?

Incoming

The answer is "Kind Of". I make to Burton Dassett Church just as it gets torrential. There is no external porch but it does have an open door. Time to get ecumenical.

Inside Burton Dassett Church

1685 the oldest memorial.  There may be older.

The storm has blown over by the time I reach the Beacon.

Up high, on the Burton Dassett Hills

No rain from above, but the crops are soaked and plentiful on the return to Fenny Compton.

The Merrie Lion doesnt really look like from a pub from the outside.  Two cottages at right angles knocked together. Inside, its stone floors for a mucky rambler to gain access and enjoy Courage Directors to Cask Marque quality.

The Pride of Fenny

The best stage of the Centenary Way (so far).

Walk Information

Distance - 6 Miles

Geocaches - 2 and an ALC

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

10/06/23 - Centenary Way - Stage 19 - Northend and The Burton Dassett Hills

Back to Harbury for a missing, but dubious Good Beer Guide Tick 

Considering the amount of road walking - this was a surprisingly decent ramble. I say road, traffic free lanes would be a better description.

Eyes on the prize, I make my way to the always in view peak of the Burton Dassett Hills, with its pepper pot Beacon Tower - a Medieval lookout post.

Heading towards to the Hills

Almost at the Beacon

The Views - Route all downhill from here

Two years ago, I walked this part the world extensively. A 150 cache trail, over four loops, the likes of which have not been seen subsequently. There was a bonus to collect but I never quite made it to that Ground Zero. A slight adaption - and you will be probably able to tell from the map where this was - and at last, I was able to claim the prize.

Old School Storytelling Logbooks - Old School Cache Container

This leaves pubs. In 2018, I visited the Red Lion at Northend and predicted its demise. Wasn't hard, 2 punters on that Christmas afternoon and checking the usual sites - a series of closures and grand re-openings.

It is dead once more.

Another Dead Soldier

The hottest day of the year (so far) - so I fired up the Good Beer Guide App to find the nearest tick. 

This highlighted a distinct lack of planning in the last stage, as the Crown in Harbury comes up. I had a choice of 3 but the Google Review stating "Avoid the Crown" put me off.

To be fair to the reviewers of Google - they were on to something.

Important Information on the far sign

Just three days before, there has been a grand re-launch, as a Cafe - Bar.

Ominous - but we have to support diversification, should it keep the hospitality trade surviving.

However, for this to work - there needs to be more than one member of staff.

I enter to an un-manned bar and wait. And wait. I engage in conversation with locals. And make jokes about self service. A harrassed man dealing with sandwich disasters tells me he will be with me in a minute. I wait. I exhaust all avenues of conversation. Another 5 minutes passes, by which time, I discover it is the day of the village carnival and I should consider moving my car, if I want to get home. 

Knowing I have half a bottle of luke warm water remaining, I take the advice and shun the chance to determine if the Butcombe is deserving of its place in the bible.

Similar prediction to the Red Lion.  

This won't survive another 5 years.

Unless it becomes one thing or the other.

Or employs staff.

Walk Information

Distance - 8 Miles

Geocaches - 2

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

13/05/23 - Centenary Way - Stage 18 - Harbury

 A bold claim is made - Harbury, the village with the most pubs in the UK

Back on the Centenary Way. After many disasters (HS2, Overgrown fields, failed stiles) it's OK to have a mundane, uninspiring walk with no hazards.

This is completed across agricultural land, heading South from the village of Harbury, meeting the M40 and turning back. Where there are crops, there are good paths through them. When there is mud, its manageable.

Good paths along the rape fields

Bluebells in Itchington Halt

Harbury village adds some much needed interest, with varied architecture, civil war history and a bold claim from the author of my guide book.

Harbury Mill - Currently Scaffold clad, but picture found on Flickr

Stephen Cross, Centenary Way guide book author and former mayor of Warwick, claims that Harbury has the highest number of public houses of any village in the UK. Stephen claims many watering holes were required to support the navvies from the nearby Oxford canal. Internet based research offers no collaboration of this fact so we can only use the evidence in front of us. 

The population is 2500 souls and until recently, there used to be 5 pubs. The Old New Inn and the Dog Inn have both gone. The former, for having a stupid name. The latter to create a nursery. Although judging by the behaviour of the after school mums who get tanked up on proscecco on a Friday afternoon, ruing the ambiance in the snug in MY local, closure was totally unnecessary. Let the kids run riot in the boozer. I'll take the crossword and my Butty Bach to Wacky Warehouse.

This leaves 3 pubs and there's little information to give Mappiman the information of which to visit. Few reviews on Pubsgalore. No Good Beer Guide Entries (Correction: And proof no one reads the blog to correct me - there is one!). Google reviews scream "avoid the Crown", but this may be a personal vendetta.

I was going to try the Gamecock but this looked uninviting, all in darkness but the door open to show its functioning.

This left the Shakespeare. A solid name for a Warwickshire pub and the sponsor of the local rugby club. Also the biggest in the village.

And the centre of all gossip.    

Largest pub in the village with most pubs.

Hard not to eavesdrop, especially when the groups of ladies voices drops to a pitch that you know the good stuff is coming. Only there 30 minutes and I learn who is the village cocaine addict is and the married teacher who is having an affair with one of the sixth formers.

Surprisingly, its not the same person.

Pub wise - you know you are in trouble when the menu is laminated and the size of a duvet. How many burger variations is too many? 

The Purity Ubu was more than serviceable and making up for the horrorshow of loaded chips, when all you wanted was a nice sandwich.

Chesterfields and a handsome pint of LocALE

Walk Information

Distance - 8 Miles

Geocaches - 6

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

10/04/23 - Centenary Way - Stage 17 - Ufton

 A HS2 induced disaster of a day, saved by a welcome 11am opener

When I look back over my 20 years of walking, there have been many disasters. I've fallen over and been blown over. I forded waist high Scottish rivers in spate in January. Lake district bogs have stolen a shoe. I've been bitten by dogs and nearly had my head taken off by buck-a-roo style horses.

But never have I had to abandon the walk until today. In a day of disasters - HS2 finally defeats me.

Disaster 1 - The weather is abysmal, that fine rain that Peter Kay brought to our attention as soaking you through. I do have upper and lower hard shells, plus protective covers for my electronics - even if the big camera needs to be left at home. 

Disaster 2 - I've only gone and left my walking boots at home. I'll be attempting a walk after a record breaking wet March in my veteran suede Scarpa approach shoes. Soles worn worryingly thin after 13 years service.

Disaster 3 - My footpath south of Stoney Thorpe Hall fenced off until 2024 due to HS2. No alternative available. A dangerous walk back along the re-routed itself A425. 

HS2 passable at Longhole Bridge - but unpleasant

Where the Grand Union Canal is picked up

I arrive back at the Ufton White Horse at 11:10am, expecting no reward for my safe return.  However, in a rare bright spot - this is an 11am opener, even on a bank holiday.

Idyllic pub location, with fine views over Warwickshire 

I'm not sure why a dining pub would open at 11am. The chef and waiting staff don't arrive until midday but liquid refreshment is available from friendly staff who are interrupted from setting up for the day by offering counselling to an angry damp man, who doubts he will live long enough to enjoy the fruits of a new train service to the smoke.

Three of the Purity brewery range available and for a first pour of the day, the Ubu was better than I could have hoped for.

All tables set for dining

I'll link the planned walk below.  Just don't attempt it until the damned line is completed.

Walk Information

Distance - 6 Miles achieved

Geocaches - 1

Pubs - White Horse, Ufton

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