03/07/26 - The Old Royal Library, Malvern

Late, for the Summer Solstice 

This was meant to be walked on 21st June. It was also meant to be walked at sunset. I was meant to light a fire. My first excuse is that I have been busy on the coastal walking. My second excuse is that we have the 1am England Mexico game this weekend. I am not staying/getting up late twice in succession. My third excuse, I would be shot for lighting fires in the tinderbox heatwave we are experiencing.

Summer Solstice: The Longest Day

June brings the great pivot of the year: the Summer Solstice, when the sun seems to pause at its zenith before beginning its slow decline.

It's a festival of fire and light, of fullness and ripeness, of standing still in the very height of things.

Pilgrimage at midsummer has always been drawn to the great circles of Stonehenge, Avebury and Callanish, where sunrise aligns with ancient stones in a drama that has played for millennia. And, of course, in a more contemporary way, Glastonbury Festival, always occurring around Midsummer's Day.

But it can be as simple as walking to the highest hill near you, lighting a small fire, and watching the sun dip late before rising early once again.

For my highest hill, I have picked the County Top of Worcestershire - the Beacon. 

A short but beautiful walk that I know well. Up the 99 steps to St Annes Well, yomp along the spine of the Malverns and then work my way back to town along the western side of the hills. Four locations of an Adventure Lab Cache telling the history of the working donkeys of Malvern, adding to the entertainment.

St Annes Well

Traditional Caching, with views

The Toposcope

Trig Point Bagging

To finish a perfect day, Black Country Ales have opened a new pub, the Old Royal Library. Directly opposite the Unicorn, which has subsequently closed down. The two things may be related, but the Unicorn has survived years opposite a much cheaper (and grander) Wetherspoons. They were used to competition.

New Pub in Town - The Old Royal Library

Everything one would expect from a BCA - the usual decor, cobs, bewildering range of unknown breweries and real cider/perry.

Walk Details

Distance - 5 miles

Walk Inspiration - Julie Royle's Worcestershire Walks Book 2

Geocaches - 6

Previous Celtic Pilgrimages - Imbloc, Spring Equinox, Belatne

29/12/25 - Godrevy Point, Cornwall

Seal of Approval

Down in Hayle, Cornwall for a week with our new charge, Coops. An affectionate Labradoodle that likes swimming and is well behaved in pubs and cafes. We are going to get on famously.

Spot the Dog

Welcome to a week of coastal views, where the photos will not do justice to reality. This first walk of the week is an absolute belter. An Adventure Lab Cache takes us sequentially to some key sites of the coast around Godrevy Point. This includes a beach, where Coops recall and swimming abilities are tested and past with flying colours and a island hosted lighthouse. Built in 1859 after the SS Nile ran aground on the rocks, with the loss of 40 lives.

To the lighthouse

The other key feature here is the seal colony at Mutton Cove. With the tide retreating, we are treated them frolicking on the beach. If you have never seen a seal try and chase a seagull on land, you have not lived.

Down on Mutton Cove

This is as good as Cornish coastal walking can get. Once the height is gained onto the Knavocks it is not lost as we make our way to Hell's Mouth. Here, you will find a wonderful year round open cafe.

Inaccessible (from land) Hell's Mouth.

Last table in the cafe grabbed and a decision to be made. The walk route has a little more coast around Hudderdown before taking the direct route back via the lane. 

We agree it is better to simply retrace our steps, maintaining the sea views at all times. Occasional in-land deviations are taken, just for variety.

Walk Details

Distance - 6 Miles

Geocaches - 8

Walk Inspiration - AA Walks

04/12/25 - The Black Star, Stourport

My Local

A familiar walk from home - inspired by the pages from the book "Worcestershire's Historic Pubs". Sometimes, it's good not to have to wait at bus stops whilst your plumber drives past, winds down his window and hollers "Bus W*nker!" at you.

I'll try not to repeat text on this familiar walk over Burlish Top, Ribbesford and back over Stagborough Hill.

Blackstone Rock, observed from the other side of the river.

Hermit home of the baby rescuer of Bewdley

Ribbesford Church, I've still not completed as much research as this page. There's no need. They have done the work for me. At long last, I have paid attention to the tympanum - a carving above the North door. It shows a hunter, a skinny dog and an unidentified animal, rumoured through folklore to be a duck billed platypus. Not that we have many of those in Worcestershire. I also noted how the original Norman church is much extended, with an extra arcade supporting the roof with oak beams.

Ribbesford Church

Tough to photograph - a hunter, a skinny dog and whatever that is on the right

Space and airiness created by an extension

The trig point at Stagborough Hill logged and recorded in the relevant ticking app.

Views over Ribbesford Woods

See - I told Mrs M I wouldn't get bored in retirement. I'm still finding things to record on very familiar walks. A "busy fool" is what she calls me.

Which brings me on to my local. The Good Beer Guide regular, The Black Star. 

No point creating work. Here is my PubsGalore review;

Ha - my local, so I suppose I ought to review.

The current owners have just celebrated their 10 year anniversary. Its no exaggeration to say they saved the town but doing the basics very well. Exceptionally kept beer that is just about the cheapest I find outside spoons. Butty Bach currently £3.80. Decent food, cobs, pork pies. Live music everyday of the weekend.

There was simply nowhere to go for a decent pint before they took it over. As a result of the "grey pound" coming back out, other pubs have come from the ashes (Swan), upped their game considerably (Hollybush, also in GBG). We even have a micropub and a brewery in town.

The building is actually three terraced together - a front cottage. An old chapel and where the kitchens are, a former school. Decent outside patio.

Now a freehouse, it still has close ties with Wye Valley. All theirs on and usually LocALE breweries such as Ludlow Gold and Fownd from Kidderminster.

Always busy. It shows the demand is there for a well run pub.

Three buildings - the highest, a chapel, the smallest a school.

Let's see what the Historic Pubs of Worcestershire has to say;

Long Live the Local!

Walk Details

Distance - 8 Miles

Geocaches - 0

Walk Inspiration - WikiLoc

13/11/25 - Ledbury to Malvern Link Rail Trail

A Great Pub Guarantee At Either End

A new rail trail that is so new, it hasn't even been published. I noticed it as an advertised Ramblers Walk, where I couldn't make the date. Little information, other than the route detailed on an OS Map. What more do I need?

And the great thing about this walk?

The Prince of Wales awaits in Ledbury, the Nag's Head at Malvern Link. Two of my favourites, that I can never tire of.

I decide to start in Herefordshire.

Herefordshire Bull, Red Earth, River Wye

The first half of the walk follows the Geopark Way, climbing Oyster Hill for the day's Trigpoint. Slippery underfoot, as we appear to be in monsoon season, but fine views to the west making up for tricky walking.

The Geopark Way is a 109-mile walking trail designed to showcase the geology and landscape of the Abberley and Malvern Hills Geopark. It starts in Bridgnorth, Shropshire and ends in Gloucester, Gloucestershire.

Herefordshire Trail slapped on

Westward Views

Oyster Hill Trig Point

The Church of St James the Great at Colwall makes a fine lunchstop. Minor investigation and route diversion to get the Multi-Geocache. “Doors Open”, so I can admire the fine ceiling woodworking, complete with a dated beam from 1675. The carpenters’ initials, “RM and RC” also carved.

Colwall Church (St James the Great) has seen several extensions and modifications over the centuries. The core of the church dates to the 13th century, but significant changes occurred in the 15th century with the addition of Perpendicular Gothic features.

Extension on Extension

Fine Ceiling Work

Dated Main Beam

Of course, the item of most interest to me is the Ale House.

Really?  Oh Go On then!

A church alehouse was a common feature in medieval England, built within or beside church grounds for the purpose of hosting “church ales”—communal feasts where ale was brewed and sold to raise funds for parish upkeep, charity, and festivities. These alehouses were important social centers, playing a key role in village life, especially before the Reformation. Over time, most were lost or repurposed as festivities declined and public houses became more common. 

This example at Colwall is one of the few remaining in Herefordshire. Alas, like more contemporary pubs, it no longer functions for its original purpose. We will have to remind ourselves of the joy through this quote.

"About mid-service, they goe in a rowe, after Priest, into the Church-ale-house to carouse"

No carousing for Mappiman today. At least not until the Nag's Head.

Pushing on with the walk, its the Worcestershire Way taking me to a previously undiscovered private railway. The Downs Light Railway running for all of 0.75 of a mile and the oldest private miniature railway in the world. A project devised for entertainment and education at a nearby school.

The usual fine views from the western flanks of Malvern, with the usual issues in finding the best paths to escape it. Much zigging and zagging adding the miles, when you could just roll downhill.

Looking West from the side of Table Hill

The walk ends, as all good walks should, at the pub. 

The Nag's Head, Malvern Link

It’s been almost three weeks since my last cask pint—ice-cold Efes making sense in the 28-degree heat of November in Turkey. The usual exceptional choice available at the Nag’s Head, where I can either nominate my favourite son or have a family reunion.

• Timothy Taylor Landlord
• Otter Bitter
• Hook Norton Old Hooky
• Holdens Golden Glow
• Teme Valley This
• Thornbridge Jaipur
• Bathams Bitter

And this is just the cask - they also have a fine collection of ciders, bottled international and craft.

In other good news – the pub is heaving. Literally no room inside, with every table in the higgledy-piggledy multi-roomer taken. Even outside is busy, but at least covered.

A fine place to while away a couple of hours.

Walk Details

Distance - 10 Miles

Geocaches - 2

Previous Cotswold Line Rail Walks - Worcester Parkway - Foregate Street, Foregate Street to Malvern, Worcester Parkway to Pershore, Pershore to Evesham, Evesham to Honeybourne, Honeybourne to Morton-in-Marsh

07/10/25 - Thurstaston Common for the Mill at Irby

All about the Bass

Our final walk on the Wirral. We've enjoyed it. So many options for off lead walking, with the Wirrall Way, The English Coast Path and little pockets of woodland. We explore two today; Thurstaston Common and Harrock Woods.

The common, the bigger of the two. Early highlights at the hill summit, with a toposcope memorial and a trigpoint.

Billy at the Toposcope

The Views to Wales

A break at Irby Village, where we find a coffee and cake stop and the former haunt of a popular beat combo.

The streets won't forget

Harrock Woods are a thin strip of woodland that leads to great bridle paths and onwards to the Irby Mill Pub. A recent addition to the Good Beer Guide and proudly proclaiming so on Twitter. With a hint that got Quinno tagged. They have the cask Bass.

Solid looking but not always pub.  Originally a Cafe

The rumours are true

 

Looks can be slightly deceptive. It's only been a pub since 1980. Today, there are very low ceilings and a number of rooms surrounding a central bar. Busy with locals, ramblers and the odd dining table. But it's primarily a drinking pub.

Refreshed, and back home through the woods of Thurstaston Common, attempting to find our way home through the myriad path.

Finding our way through the woods

Walk Details

Distance - 7 Miles

Geocaches - 8

Walk Inspiration - Pub Walks on Merseyside, Walk 23

22/09/25 - Brown Clee Hill

The Shropshire Summit

The Clee Hills Walks always come in pairs. A July summit of Titterstone, followed one month late by its Brown sister. One day, I am sure to walk the saddle between the two peaks.

This is a straightforward walk - park up on north-west flanks (SO607872)  and consider the changing seasons. Fleece on, a nip in the air, with the parked up cars bombarded with falling acorns. But it's bright and sunny and I really wish I could find a way of bottling it up for the cruelest of incoming months.

Early in the walk - looking over North West Shropshire

In terms of interest, there is little. Abandoned quarries, showing former mining activity. The highest coalfield in England. Dhustone - a hard dolerite - used in road building. Just the shells of former buildings, the old metallic posts and the dips in the landscape remain.

Mine Workings

And WWII air crashes. 23 Airman lost their lives. The wreckage of a Wellington apparently in Boyne Water (passed on this walk). A Junkers bomber, lost after a raid on Birmingham, cutting a swathe through the trees and resulting in the deaths of 4.

Near Monkey's Fold

A day to enjoy the views...

Atop Brown Clee Hill

Looking towards Titterstone - July's Conquest

Dropping down to Abdon 

After climbing back up, dropping down to the car

Walk Details

Distance - 9 Miles

Walk Inspiration 

Geocaches - 2

04/09/25 - The Bell at Pensax

The Lost Snug

Another book to work my way through. Worcestershire's Historic Pubs. No index and rather haphazard organisation - chapters on Mug Houses, Canal and Railway Pubs, Road Side Pubs and Locals. 

The Bell at Pensax is filed under "Road Side Pubs".

Proper Pub Queuing

Book published in 2007

The walk is from the Ramblers. Pensax and Menith Wood don't offer much for discovery. Half-hearted coal mining, but no evidence on the ground. I have to make do with hop fields, woodland and some fine views of the Worcestershire countryside.

At least I think they are hops. The Seek App identified them as "common weeds"

This is the third time I have walked past Burnt House. There's a hermit that lives in splendid isolation with an ever-increasing collection of junk. Last time I passed, a radio was playing but all was in silence today. The next field has a farmer chopping down a tree who confirms that the eccentric is still alive. Maybe he has run out of battery.

A similar photo from 2018

Pub Archaeology at Menith Wood. The OS Map shows the big blue cup of joy, but identifying the Cross Keys proves impossible. The internet provides only one nondescript external photo but a Facebook page hints at the joy within.  A closed pub is more than bricks and mortar; it is the fading of countless conversations, celebrations, and friendships.

The former landlady and slightly menacing landlord

We made our own entertainment. It was shite.

A return to the Bell at Pensax. It was a permanent feature in the Good Beer Guide and was probably my first serious attempt at blogging pubs. It was closed for a few years and reopened in 2023. But not to universal acclaim. CAMRA removed it from its "Inventory of Historic Interiors" when the snug was lost during the renovation.

Bell forged in 1886 - about the same time as the pub

The central serving hatch has also gone, but they leave the sign where Miss E Wallop has sold out her female sisters by insisting they know their place.

A pub is no place for discretion

A dining room to the left and the main bar to the right. Log Burner, flagged floors and a frankly unnecessary selection of 6 cask ales. No need, there are only two other punters on a Thursday lunch.

I'm counting four pales and two bitters.  Is there any need?

To be fair, the Ludlow Gold was pulled through with a full 100% "wastage". One pint for the sink, one pint for me.

Monumental sausage rolls and scotch eggs available under a glass dome. Alas, the Mappiman retirement budget only runs to a liquid lunch, despite the temptation of a wonderful smelling fish finger sandwiches delivered to the two other punters.

Hard, when the storms meant you didn't bother taking sandwiches on the ramble.

Walk Details

Distance - 7 Miles

Geocaches - 1

Walk Inspiration - The Ramblers

 

01/08/25 - Witley Court and Abberley Hill

Britain's Finest Baroque Church

Tomorrow's walk takes me to the heart of the Black Country. A nice coincidence that today's takes me to where the gentry spent their gains. Witley Court built by the Earl of Dudley - owner of the Gornal coal seams.

A very overgrown start to the walk - fields packed with geese suggesting that turkeys will be rather passé this Christmas. A new path up through Abberley School, with the views off the clock tower unavailable until we are a distance away. The trig-point a great vantage point.

Looking down on the school and clock tower from the Trig Point

Ridge Walking on Abberley Hill

Witley Court, once one of England’s great country houses, stands today as a dramatic ruin in the Worcestershire countryside. Originally built as a Jacobean mansion, it was transformed in the 19th century into an opulent Italianate palace by the Foley and later the Dudley family, surrounded by grand terraces, formal gardens, and spectacular fountains. In 1937, a catastrophic fire—believed to have started in the kitchens—destroyed much of the main house. The damage was never repaired, and the estate was abandoned, leaving behind a haunting shell of its former grandeur. Remarkably, the adjoining Church of St Michael and All Angels survived untouched. Built in the mid-18th century by architect James Gibbs and lavishly decorated by the Italian artists Giovanni Bagutti and Antonio Bellucci, the church is a rare example of English baroque design. Its richly adorned interior—complete with gilded stucco, elaborate ceiling paintings, and ornate decoration—makes it one of the finest baroque churches in the country.

And they've got a teashop. Running at London prices. £16 for two coffees and two slices of cake.

Open 12-3pm daily

Look to the heavens

The ruins - where you were free to explore in the 80s

Walk Details

Distance - 6 miles

Geocaches - 1

Walk Inspiration - Jarrold 74, The Malverns to Warwickshire, Walk 24