13/02/21 - Winter Conditions on the Lickey Hills

Distance - 3 Miles

Geocaches - 1

Walk Inspiration

A lockdown drive to the furthest reaches of Worcestershire.  Mrs M is nervous.  She needs to stop following Wyre Forest Police Tweets for further evidence of road blocks.  Frankly, Wyre Forest Police need to stop tweeting.  Its doing nothing for anyone's health and temper when you feel a criminal for a 25 minute drive to a wonderful walking location.

A spacious car park awaits on Monument Lane.  The eponymous Monument never fails to make me laugh.  My first serious walk was from here, and the guide book photo of the castle looking Arthurian in its magnificence was the main reason for choosing it.  In reality, we've seen bigger forts in posh kids' back gardens.

The Monument

You cannot take away the views.  Birmingham, in all it city (remember them?) glory below.  Last night's King Rocker Documentary on the Nightingales has me yearning for a pilgrimage to the site Barabarella's.  I want to know what Thornbridge's new venture at the Colmore Tap is like.   The bottle menu at the Post Office Vaults is sorely missed.  

All pleasures that remain for another day.

Today's pleasures are not inconsiderate.  Some lovely walking through the woods on the North Worcestershire Path, dogs for Guide Dog in Training Abi to frolic with and coffee and sausage sandwiches at the visitors centre,  perfectly placed half way along.

Through the Woods on the North Worcestershire Way

Even the conditions were exciting.  Mud frozen solid and frozen streams of ice along the paths.  Here's what happens when you try to take a low down arty shot whilst walking with a Golden.

Photobomber!

And the Icy, Arty Shot I was after

27/05/19 - Town Walk and The Prince of Wales, Ledbury

Distance - 4 Miles
Walk Inspiration
Geocaches - 2


Mrs M has never been to Ledbury.   I needed no further excuse to take her to one of the finest pubs found my travels - The Prince of Wales.

First, a walk needs to be found for Guide Dog in Training, Joy.   It must be getting close to her leaving us to go to "big school" as the adult kids want to come along for the walk too.   How lovely to spend a bank holiday with my immediate family.

The round has just doubled in price.

Ledbury has a Town Trail which is a perfect sounding 3.5 miles.  It starts at Leadon Valley Picnic area and follows the river north until the water disappears.   Joy has been with us a year and despite loving a good paddle, will not progress in the water above her shoulders.  There's plenty of chance for her to practice until the river runs out and she emerges from the nettles with four muddy "boots". 

We hope she is clean by the time we get to the pub.   There's plenty of time, as we leave the river to pick up a disused railway line for more free running. 

A fine walk for families and dogs.

Today's Walk

Guide Dog Joy unnecessarily using a bridge

Easy Walking along a disused railway line

To visit the town, you can either take a detour from the railway line or pop in after the walk. 

And what's there?  Lots of independent shops, some classic "black and white architecture" and of course the Prince of Wales.

I have so many versions of this photo over the years

You can tell from the photo, its a classic.   Dating from 1545 and Grade II listed.  In completing research, I found a story that sums up Britain in two acts.

Act 1)  In March 2009, the landlord woke up to find that pranksters had painted the pub pink overnight.  A group of "workers" in overalls were observed setting up dust sheets and ladders.   They were assumed to be legit, as they looked so professional.   They even dropped an invoice "for works completed" through the letterbox.  The landlord had no idea who did it or what for and exclaimed;

"We have no idea who did it. We've never had any bother with vandals and we keep a good house here – there is never any swearing or being abusive"

Act 2)  West Mercia Police made the Landlord re-paint back to the original black and white, as it broke Grade II listed building standards.

There you go - Britain in a nutshell - bizarre practical jokes, no doubt forged after one too many and bureaucracy.

I'll drink to that.   Thornbridge California Sun in perfect condition.

25/08/18 - Severn Valley Country Park

Distance - 4.5 Miles
Walk Inspiration
Geocaches - 1


Having responsibility for a future guide dog puppy means we are having to find relatively short local walks of less than five miles.   I think I will get value from this year's subscription to www.walkingworld.com.  This is the third walk in 10 days from that resource.

Starting point is the Severn Valley Country Park - once again, we have found a walk that finishes with a cafe.  A drop down to the River Severn, where the golden fields are looking stunning at the moment.

She's not one for posing but this is best Joy photo today

Easy walking, with access to water provided by a shore, commandeered by ducks.

Duck Island

Joy's earned a drink

River walking ends at Hampton Loade, with a strategically placed pub - the River and Rail.   A fine beer garden but the least "pub looking" pub ever encountered.  We discussed whether it was a bungalow or not.  Regardless, it was too early for a visit.

A climb on public footpaths through someone's back garden to pick up lanes at butter cross to work our way back to Alveley.  A village that has the honour of hosting a fine church and the oldest pub in Shropshire.

Alveley Church

Three Horseshoes - Since 1406 - Not open at 11:32

Too early for both today's pubs, we arrive back at the visitor centre to see what is on offer. 

Teacakes.

18/08/18 - Guiding Joy Makes Her Debut

Distance - 4 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Walk Inspiration


A blog debut for our latest house guest, Joy.  She's a guide dog in training - we have her for around a year to get her used to different environments before she goes to "big school".   She's had many short walks but today's her first proper ramble.

A route has been carefully selected that's not too far away, not too strenuous and will provide plenty of variety for a five month old puppy.

We start at Hanbury Church near Droitwich, prominently positioned on a hilltop with extensive views over to Malvern and Bredon hills.

Hanbury Church - Used by the Archers Radio Programme

It's downhill into the wide open spaces of Hanbury Hall estate.   Joy makes her first acquaintance with sheep - kept on the lead of course - and she finds what they leave behind in the fields quite tasty.

Behave, they are not maltesers

One more field of cows and its freedom in the newly harvested crop fields.   Her recall off the lead is near perfect and plenty of problem solving ability required to navigate the stiles.  Under, through or wait to be carried are the options available.  With minor coaxing, she makes the correct decision.

Its also International Geocaching today - for which Joy helps get the souvenir badge with the only find of the day.  A water break for her whilst the admin is completed.

What's this Geocaching all about if you just put the treasure back?

Her skills at behaving in pubs have already been confirmed but it's a touch too early today.  Instead, we have the cafe at the Jinny Ring Craft Centre for refreshments.  The rules for canines and humans are all too clear.

That's clear then

She's met sheep and cows and what to add ducks to the list

After tea for us and a kibble and peanut butter kong for Joy, it's a short walk through woodland before we return to the car and head home.

She normally sits in the boot but needs to be trained to settle in the footwell of cars, in case she has to assist in taxi ride.   Today seems a good time to try travelling back this way.

So how does a puppy look after their first four mile ramble?

Dog Tired and able to sleep anywhere.

16/08/18 - The Bridge Hotel, Stanford Bridge

Distance - 5.5 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Walk Inspiration


I've had my eye on this walk for a while but was put off by the comments from the last people to have completed it.   They talked of bad stiles and impenetrable crop fields.  As this was in 2012, I decided to bravely provide an update to the walking community.

And I'm delighted to announce that in August 2018, all is good.  The stiles require a touch of athleticism but the problem paths down by the Teme are now clear... although I was fortunate enough to walk it on harvest day.

One of the reasons I was interested in the walk is that it starts from an unexplored pub, The Bridges Hotel.  A steady uphill climb through fields rewards with fine views over Shropshire's Clee Hills.

First of the Views over Shropshire

As well as the Bridges, there is a chance of a mid point stop off at the Cross Keys in Menithwood.  The same comments about bad paths indicate that the pub opens at 5pm and as the sun is past this yardarm, I will investigate.  First, however, I come across the weirdness of Burnt House.

Could this be a bonus pub?

Burnt Wood

If it is, its a pub that has been swallowed by nature.  It's also at the end of a track that cars cannot navigate and I admit to being a bit perplexed.   Having watched too many horror movies, my investigations are curtailed when I hear a radio and find this.

Now I'm scared.

I hot foot it to Menithwood.  The OS Map shows the Cross Keys marked but I cannot find it on the ground.  A local confirms that it is a pub no more and we get into a conversation about Burnt Wood.  Carefully choosing her words, she tells of a gentleman that has removed himself from society and collects stuff.   Presumably restaurant signs and baby mannequins to stuff into wheel arches.

Downhill from Menithwoods to the potential problem areas... first a field full of beer ingredients and then wheat fields along the Teme.

Hops

Harvest time is to my advantage

Glimpse of the Teme only happens from Stanford Bridge

The only geocache of the day is found on the bridge - always nice to record a walk with a smiley - and all that remains is the pub.

The Bridge Hotel, Stanford Bridge

How can you tell when you are in a Country Pub?  A fair indication is when the local at the bar is trying to get the ladies to feel his cucumber.  The offer is extended to a rambling stranger but one look at his stubby, nobbly effort makes me pleased the supermarkets complete vegetable beauty quality control.

Beer wise, with have a Ludlow Brewery Blonde and a Wye Valley HPA availble.  Big fan of Ludlow Brewery but I play it safe with a top quality HPA.

Jimmy Quadrophenia is in the Snug

05/04/18 - Kings Arms at Ombersley

Distance - 4.5 Miles
Geocaches - 0
Walk Inspiration

Spring finally appears and it's just too good to ignore, so a short walk from Ombersley was found from www.walkingworld.com.

I really should have factored in the recent rainfall and thought twice about a riverside ramble

Things start well enough from the centre of Ombersley, crossing fields to find the river Severn.

First blue skies of 2018

Or should I say the River finds you.  This is Ombersley, Worcestershire but you could be forgiven for thinking you'd been magically transferred to Louisiana.

Managed to use a fallen tree to get through this hazard

Eventually resulting in carrying boots and rolling up trousers

A collection of houses at Hawford Wood provides an escape from the floodlands to cross the A449.

Fields, with fine views in all directions, from the clock tower at Abberley to the distant Malverns.

Malverns

Big Skies in Worcestershire

Back across the A449 to the pretty village of Ombersley.  Three pubs, a superb butchers/coffee shop (they are diversifying) and plenty of C15th Black and White half timbered buildings.  Everyone is out tending their gardens.

Today's refreshment stop is the Kings Arms.   A more traditional English Inn could not be found anywhere in the land.  All low ceilings, pensioners who lunch and £7 fishfinger sandwiches.  Chips are extra.

C15th Century

Ringwood Boondoggle - Looking lovely in the Spring Sunshine

26/11/17 - The Abberley Circular

Distance - 3.7 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Walk Inspiration
Pub - The Manor Arms, Wye Valley HPA


Another cold, crisp winter day under glorious blue skies.  Mrs M demands a walk, fully in the knowledge that I fancied a day recovering from a 300 mile round trip and 10 mile walk in Kent yesterday.

Sometimes, you just have to take advantage of the conditions.  www.walkingworld.com is sparked up and a short local walk is found in Abberley, a little Worcestershire village steeped in history.   A sparkling new web site for the Manor Arms shows its back operational and allows tables to be booked on-line.

Sunday is panning out rather well.

Park up at the their car park and hit the trail, heading South to conquer Abberley Hill via a gently climbing path that works with the contours.

View from Abberley Hill

A mile long ridge path runs along the hill top.  Views are obscured by the trees but its fine mud free walking before a terrifyingly steep descent at Shavers End.  Definitely do the walk in the direction advised.

Abberley Hill Ridge Path

The Worcestershire Way is picked up, even if it has been subtly moved by land owners in the years since my OS map was published.  Despite GPS and detailed route instructions we take a couple of false turns in the sheep fields of Bank Farm, eventually annoying the farmer by turning up in his yard.  Hedge based stiles are sometimes too tricky to spot.

If you're going to get lost, get lost somewhere gorgeous

No further navigational blunders, we can see the Church Spire and know that the only unfound geocache of the day awaits.   A quick find and a delightful walk through the village green to the pub.

Geocache Ground Zero

Manor Arms, Abberyley, Wye Valley HPA

Manor Arms, Abberley.  Now in Good Health.

Every village needs a pub at its focal point.  The Manor Arms is now in good health, following a major refurbishment.  There have been times in the new millennium when it has been sadly closed down.

Which is a terrible fate for any C17th inn that can trace its history so well.  Some wonderful old photos and history at this web site.

Today, its been knocked through and lovingly restored as a country dining house.  Every table, including those in the old front bar, is setup with multiple items of cutlery, napkins and wine glasses of differing sizes.

They haven't neglected beer - with Butty and HPA from Wye Valley sitting next to Ludlow Gold.

The lunch was superb, resulting in a perfect Sunday.

Until Mrs M decided to start DIY.

Wye Valley HPA

29/10/17 - Mow Cop from Congleton

Distance - 9 Miles
Geocaches - 19
Walk Inspiration
Pub - Queens Head, Congleton


Our two Mancunian offspring have been complaining that we don't come up and see them.  Taking advantage of Premier Inn's generous early bird offer, we rectify this position.  On the same weekend they both decide to come back home.

No worries, there are walks to do, CAMRA Good Beer Guide Pubs to tick off and generously, they have agreed to meet us in Manchester, so we can buy them dinner.

Today's walk starts at Congleton Railway station and instantly heads out onto the Macclesfield Canal.  With October's geocaching smiley count looking poor, its fortuitous that there is a Power Trail of more than 100 caches laid along the canal's 15 miles.   We only do around four miles and Mrs M gets bored, leaving me to find what I can in short time frames at many GZs.  She pays for leaving me, as she misses our canal exit point and needs to retrace her steps.  She takes the extra 1/2 mile quite well, all things considered.

Mrs M deciding that finding film pots on canals is not for her

The exit is at the foothills of Mow Cop.  We have a stiff climb up tracks and fields to reach the hamlet of Mow Cop.  The views behind include Jodrell Bank and most of Cheshire.  Stunning day for it.

Cheshire

Mow Cop is where all the action is.  Along with the views, a lunch time bench, we also have the Old Man of Mow and Mow Cop Castle to explore.

Old Man of Mow - left over Quarry Stack

Mow Cop Castle - 1754

A gentle walk downhill, along a vergeless road before we eventually get refuge in Willocks Woods.

Willocks Woods

Fields return us to the outskirts of Congleton, where our 2018 Good Beer Guide Tick awaits.

Queens Head Hotel, Park Lane Congleton, Bass Premium Ale

Queens Head - from the Railway Bridge

Plenty to admire in this solid looking community pub.  I'll start with the monthly Sunday dog walks.  If you partake, you get a discount on their highly recommended Sunday Lunches.

There's two entrances, the main reception and the intriguingly named "Tap Room".  We deboot and enter through this door to a central bar.

And what a choice of beers!  We can only stop for one and I am forced to choose between TT Landlord, Black Sheep and a couple of others.  I eventually plum for the Red Triangle of Bass.

And the Sunday Rags

Stunning walk from www.walkingworld.com again.  Enough to justify this year's subscription.

24/09/17 - Cirencester and the Marlborough Arms

Distance - 7 Miles
Geocaches - 9
Walk Inspiration

A Sunday where my home town in Worcestershire is encircled by road closures for the Birmingham Velo Bike Race.  Escape is only possible going Southbound.

That's OK.  The Cotswolds are Southbound.

Cirencester is chosen.  A fine looking 6 mile walk is found from www.walkingworld.com.   They think of everything, even the free parking.   Mrs M wants a Sunday Roast, so Tripadvisor is consulted for the best in town.  The Bible is consulted and two potential Good Beer Guide Ticks await.

If there's time, we can also add in a visit to the Museum and learn all about Corinium.

Lord Bathurst is to thank for the majority of this walk.  We feel a little cheeky entering into the grounds of Cirencester Park though a small metal gate.  The signage initally appears to indicate "No" but on closer inspection, it reads "No Horses".   We don't have one of those, so we head on into 3,000 acre Forest Park.

Instead of Craghoppers finest pro-stretch, I feel Mrs M should be in a puffy Crimplene number, holding a parasol.

Cirencester Park Broad Ride

Architectural Follies in the Park

Being private land, there are no Geocaches until we get out to the Polo Pitches.  A trail of half a dozen leads us to Stratton.  A minor diversion could have taken us to the Drillman's Arms - the first of the two GBG Pubs in the area.  We delay gratification and follow the River Churn back into Town.

River Churn

We always like arriving into towns at the end of our walks.  Cirencester is more spectacular than most.  The Church dominates the skyline as we weave through the ancient honey stoned streets - picking up the odd urban micro geocache under the noses of the multitudes.

Coming into Cirencester

The Church

Time for a look inside

Cultural yearnings satisfied, it's time for the 2nd GBG entry.

The Marlborough Arms, Sheep Street, North Cotswold Brewery Windrush Ale

Yesterday's Essex Good Beer Guide tick was a let down but order in the universe is restored.  This pub is an absolute belter.  Being on the edge of town, it would not have been found without a recommendation.

My Sort of Place

The six or seven real ales are lined up in order of colour - lightest to the left, darkest to right.  Just like when ordering Steak, I hit the middle ground, shunning the Shagweaver for the North Cotswold Brewery's Windrush Ale.

Superb condition and taken to wooden seating, admiring the vintage brewery paraphernalia.

Mrs M, stealing the WiFi

Windrush Ale in a Classic Pub

Great pub but it doesn't do food.  An equally pleasant experience can be found in the tiny Twelve Bells Pub, a short stroll to the other side of town.

Mrs M concurred with the Trip advisor reviews but was too full to either a) have a pudding or b) hit the museum.

We will have to save that for another day.  There are four other walks on walkingworld taking in Cirencester.