03/05/15 - Twisted Spire

Distance - 5.83 Miles
Geocaches - 0
Walk Inspiration - Walking World


Cleobury Mortimer is known as the "Gateway to the Shropshire Hill".  So rather than stopping here, I am usually trying to navigate my way through the parked cars in the high street to get out to higher ground.

Not today, I have found a fine walk from www.walkingworld.com and also realised its time to visit the Hobsons Brewery flagship pub, the Kings Arms.

The walk starts directly under the town's famous twisted spire.

The Inspiration for a Hobson's Brew

You've always got to like a town that has a nice central map for walkers.

Geared up for Walkers

I head south, taking in some roller coaster ups and downs as I navigate the River Rea and then the disused Bewdley to Tenbury Railway.

And this is Cleobury Country

The walk is dominated by three impressive properties.  The first is Reaside Farm.  The name doesn't really do this Grade II 15th Century building justice.

And I get to walk up their drive

No sooner is this navigated than I stumble across Shakenhurst House again.  This is not the first time I have been here, walking along its magnificent drive on a walk from Mamble a couple of years ago.

Shakenhurst Manor

I walk away from Shakenhurst, along their drive and ultimately along lanes to Bayton.

Bayton Church, looking down from above.

I don't really get a good enough view of Mawley Hall to get a decent photo.  Shame, as its possibly the most impressive with a long history concerning the Blount family.  Its now a wedding venue, so you never know, I may get an invite there one day.

The reason I don't get too close is because I am deep in bluebell woods and can't see the building for the trees.  I do get to walk around their walled gardens.

Bluebells

Back over the River Rea and up the hill, where the views open up.

Views over the River Rea Valley

All that remains is to check out the pub.  The twisted spire rings 12pm as I re-enter the town, so I know that they are open.  So does everybody else, as there is quite a scrum at the bar when I get in.

Hobsons Home - The Kings Arms

And this is why they are queuing - Hobson's Town Crier

A fine walk.  If only there were some geocaches.

02/05/15 - Jewellery Quarter Pub Crawl

Distance - Negligible
Pubs - 4
Geocaches - 1

The weather is not all that today.  Well, it is the start of a Bank Holiday weekend.  Time to indulge in another of my hobbies, the great British Pub.

On on the evidence here, it's death has been greatly exaggerated.

Thanks to an early taxi driver (wonders never cease), we are disembarking the 11:55am from Kidderminster at the Jewellery Quarter Station at 12:40pm.

The Rose Villa Tavern is our first port of call.

Next to the Chamberlain Clock

Beautiful Stained Glass Windows allow light to flood in

There are three types of punters in this lunchtime.  The majority of people are aging Villa fans, squeezing into their vintage kits.  They are in good humour - Tim Sherwood has brought back the feel good factor to Villa Park.  I can't help but think they are cutting it a bit fine, as we are a fair way from the ground.  They must know what they are doing.

The 2nd type are the brummie hipsters.  We are talking sleeve tattoos and great big bushy beards.  Like Hoxton has re-located.

The 3rd and final breed are a little more unstated and harder to spot.  The notebook wielding real ale fan, holding his pint to the light and studying the architecture of the place and nodding appreciatively.

Good to know that I am not alone.

A pint of Black Sheep served in a nice solid jug and we are off for lunch.

Who would have thought we would find a taste of Louisiana in North West Birmingham.

But this is what the Church Inn has reinvented itself as.

Deep South

Beyond its traditional exterior is an american diner, complete with booths, Southern Fried Chicken, ribs and Burgers named after Elvis.

Sonia gets into the swing of things by ordering a Mojito.

Whilst I stick to water.  And Everards Tiger Bitter

The food arrives at the same time as our Villa fans from the Rose Villa Tavern.  Now, they are really cutting it fine.

Suitably fed, we grab the one cache on route before heading to the Lord Clifden.  It's a big decision on whether to go in or not, as from the outside, its not really worth a photo.  Looking very run down and uninviting, we have to muster up the bravery that can only be provided by rum based cocktails to walk through the door.

It was one of our better decisions, as this was pub of the day.  And not just because vintage New Order was blasting out the jukebox, as I order my Canon Royal Teddy Bear.

Now, who on earth came up with that name in their marketing department?  The bar lady giggled.  A fellow drinker asked me what it was like, not being comfortable enough with his masculinity to order it himself.

It was superb.

My Teddy Bear

Feed the jukebox with 1 golden nugget for 5 plays.  There is nothing finer than Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in a public place.

As well as the top tunes, they also did wonderful food and were serving the community by staying open to at least 6am for the Mayweather fight.  As tempting as this sounds, I don't have the energy.

So we pull ourselves away for the last pub of the day.

The Jeweller's Arms looks a little "down to earth" on the outside and unlike the Lord Clifden, matches it on the inside as well.

Opposite the Station

A Taste of Shropshire

At last, we understand why there are so many Villa Fans around.  The game is being shown live in this pub.  There's an equal split of villains, old boys boozing away the afternoon and wedding guests getting dutch courage.

It's a short trip back to the station from here.  I have my own date with TV football - the Albion are on at the 5:25pm game.

28/04/15 - Chirpy Chirpy Beep Beep

Distance - 4.5 Miles
Geocaches - 20
First Cache

There is no point me walking in the Cotswolds again, as a Geocaching Round has shown me the most beautiful part and introduced to a new cache type - the Chirp.

These are the views you have to look forward to at Cache 5.



HKMHill, the CO, thinks of everything and directs you to a Parking Area at Stumps Cross.

Stumps Cross - Does what it says on the tin

Straightaway, you are out onto the Cotswold Way and you don't get much more glorious than that.

Evening Sunshine

Caches 1-4 whet the appetite for the main event for me, the Chirp.  This is a beacon that emits a signal and I now its within range of a monument on the trail.  For me to receive the signal, I had to work out how to upgrade the firmware on my aging Oregon 400t GPS.  This device is only normally used abroad but it was my only unit capable of receiving the Chirp signal.

On arrival at the monument, I turn on "Chirp Receiving Mode" in the Setup and wave the device around like a 1990's salesman trying to get a signal on a Nokia 6110 north of Watford Gap.

The Chirpy Monument

After a few seconds the device beeps to indicate it's picked up the chirp and reveals the information that I need - the GPS Co-ordinates of the Cache.  Now, if only I had brought my glasses and I could see them.  Jot down a fair approximation and enter them into my UK caching device - bingo - looks good for the route.

I can concentrate on the views now.

And they are damn fine

Share the paths with the sheep until arrival at Didbrook where there is a multi cache for number 11.

Didbrook Church - Pay Attention for the Multicache Clues through the village

This involves collecting information along the highstreet - along with a few micros to keep your dexterity of jotting down information and finding regulars at the same time.

As discussed, the CO thinks of everything, including a handy bench to do the maths and programme into your GPS at the last clue.

Handy

Co-ords look good and true enough, I make a find.  Pay careful attention future cachers - along this stretch its possible to discover a trackable if you look carefully enough.  It did make me chuckle.

Now its just a case of plodding back up the hill to the start.  It's back on the Cotswold Way, so great paths and if you're tired, just look behind at the views.

The Only Way is Cotswolds

I'm that impressed with the views and the round that I take a seat at the penultimate cache and compose a tweet to the CO.  Alas, the signal means that it doesn't actually get sent until I get back on Wi-Fi.  I think they need to replace 3G with Chirp.

#geocaching live from the field in Didbrook. @HKMHillCacher - you sir, have excelled yourself. pic.twitter.com/EEs2fDl9YW
— mappiman (@Mappiman1) April 28, 2015

All that remains to look for the bonus from the Chirp.  Delighted to make a find.

The reply to my tweet states that the next Cotswold Trail is in progress.  It's gonna have to go some to beat this one!

Thanks so much for the trail, HKMHill.

25/04/15 - Wish Fulfillment

Distance - 5.25 Miles
Geocaches - 3
Walk Inspiration - Pub Walks in Derbyshire

A fine walk ends with a visit to an historically important Inn and the fulfillment of a promise made to myself 9 years ago.

So we are off to Leeds to meet friends for a weekend of fine Yorkshire beer and meat based Spanish food served on many small plates. Worcestershire to Leeds is a long old drive, so I consult the walking books to find a suitable ramble near to the M1 to break up the journey.

For the 2nd time in a decade, I pick on Hardwick Hall.  In 2006, I stopped off and hauled my hungover frame around the grounds, stumbling on the Hardwick Inn.  Although not in the mood for food on that day, I noticed a rather impressive mixed grill and vowed to come back.  Its taken me nine years.

We park up at the inn at 10:05, calibrate sat navs and head down the road to Great Pond, where less savvy walkers pay to park.  Meeting Sonia's 1st criteria for a walk, there are toilet facilities.

Great Pond - Below Hardwick Hall

Our route follows the Oak Trail, gently uphill through the Oak Trees.  If you exclude the M1, there are some fine views over the Peak District.

Cows guard the top of the Oak Trail

On the flat, there is easy walking towards Ault Hucknell.  No relation to Mick, this is the country's smallest village with three houses and the rather impressive St John the Baptists Church.

Easy Walking to Britains Smallest Village

St John the Baptist

Great paths lead us to the bluebell carpeted Norwood Woods.  April looks like being the best time of year for this walk.  I remember it being a mud fest in December 2006.  And no Bluebells.

Threatened to Shower - but rain hardly materialised

Bluebell Norwood

Fields of Yellow Rapeseed

Lady Spencer's walk through the woods has the added excitement of children's activity installations. Sonia make a brave attempt on the rope netting over a fallen tree but bottles it before I can take a triumphant photo of her astride it.  I claim she was scared but she claims that people were coming. And one of those walkers is noshing on an ice-cream, which is the 2nd factor for a Sonia great walk.

I buy her one from the National Trust shop before the magnificent Hardwick Hall.  Built in the late 1500s by a lady, Bess of Hardwick, whose wealth was only beaten by Queen Elizabeth.  She was that rich, that we actually get two Halls, an olden one fallen into ruin and the new one with her initials proudly displayed on the roof.

New Hall - large Windows and "E S" shouting from the roof tops 

The Old Hall

We use the exit drive from the Hall to make our way to the pub, making a couple of friends along the way.

Friendly Sheep

On the Way to the Pub

It's 12:03 on our arrival at the pub and I head inside for the menus.  The Mixed Grill is still on and I surprise my walking partner by ordering it.  Not solely because I am a greedy git but because I am fulfilling a promise made to myself.

Waiting Patiently for it to arrive

It is delivered on a tray by a teenage girl struggling to carry it.  The contents;

• Steak
• Gammon
• Pork Chop
• Lamb Chop
• Two Sausages
• Liver
• Kidneys
• Fried Egg
• Three mushrooms
• Two Onion Rings
• Home made chips
• Salad
• Vegetables

Its the first time ever, I have not finished a meal out.  The teenager offers me a doggie bag, but I am not sure that the Leeds Travelodge has a fridge, so politely decline.