05/04/14 - Pleasures Combined

Walk Inspiration - Millennium Way Stage 11
Distance - 6.25 Miles
Geocaches - 14


Time is just too precious.  Too many plans, not enough free time.  So what to do?

How about combining my hobbies?

This one takes in a Top 10 County Pub, loads of Geocaches and this month's installment of the Millennium Way.  Perfect for a man with more ideas than time.

The route would have us start at the Throckmorton Arms.  I prefer to have Alcester as my start, as on my return, I will be delivered to my pub to investigate.  From previous walk, I also know that the parking is free.

So park up and head out on familiar paths along the Monarch's way.  Someone has been planting caches, otherwise I would have had these previously.

Fields of Yellow as we head out of Alcester

Turn Right at the entrance to Cold Comfort Farm

Nine caches as we make out way along Spittle Brook towards Coughton Lane.  Quite a variety and I have to make use of several tools in my Geocaching bag, including Tweezers, Penknife and Magnetic Ariel effect "Bodger".  Add in a couple of near tumbles into various streams and good spirits abound.

Easily the best GZ on route

A mile on the tarmac of Coughton Lane brings us to the first real things of historical interest.

Medieval Cross marking the entrance to the Forest of Arden

We also obtain glimpses of Coughton Court through the trees and over the heads of the new born sheep.  Another walk, another Tudor reference, as this was the home of the Throckmorton Family - close friends of Henry VIII.  Until he tried to divorce Katherine of Aragon.

From R-L, Catholic Church, Church of England, Tudor Manor House

Sonia wanted my feet over the top of the tower.  Achieved Neither.

A couple more caches on the way to pick up the River Arrow, which we follow all the way south back to the town.  The walking is OK but expectations of refreshments are taking priority.

I have completed my research and I am looking forward to the eight real ales that are served at the Hollybush in town. 

However, Mrs Mappiman has other ideas

But I will not be denied to tick off the Top 10 pubs in my closest counties.

Unassuming from the Outside

Joyful on the Inside

The pub is a proper 10 out of 10 experience.  It doesn't look much on the outside but inside its has a central bar with some lovely alcoves surrounding it.  The dining room and menu looked incredible.

And with my perfect pint of Black Sheep, I was presented with a card to collect stamps from the top 40 real ale pubs in Warwickshire.

Could I have found a new challenge?

We return to the car by walking up the high street passing;

1. Turks Head
2. Three Tuns
3. The Bear
4. The Royal Oak

All in a line.  All waiting to be discovered.  We get to the car park at the back of the Swan.  We can see two more pubs.  The Swan have a comedy night on tonight.

Alcester.  You are my new favourite town.

30/03/14 - BST

Distance - 4 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Inspiration - July 2009 Country Walking Malvern at EveryTrail

My favourite weekend of the year.  It's like coming out of hibernation, knowing that after 6 months of dark evenings, I can increase my outdoor activities by taking in mid week adventures.  There is only one way to celebrate and that is to pick another County Top 10 pub walk.

The pub is easy to choose.  The Nag's Head in Malvern is a ten real ale classic of a pub.  A suitable walk is found from a five year old Country Walking Magazine. 

We park up at the pub and head for the hills.

And its all uphill.  We skirt our way around the back of the clock tower and have the steep climb at the back of the quarries and resevoirs.  Sonia leaves me for dead.  The winter spent eating pork pies everytime I make a cup of tea has left me hill unfit.  Sonia shouts diet plans from her elevated position.  The dog looks confused, wondering whether to keep up with her mistress or "stop to check the map" with her master.

As with all hill climbs, the views of worth it when we make it to North Hill.

Hazy views from a welcome bench

That's all the heavy work completed as we make our way past Table hill towards Sugarloaf.  There is the one cache I need to find up there, so I leave Sonia on a bench as I go and retrieve.  She spends her free time fighting off the attentions of gentlemen ramblers whose tongues are as silver as their hair. 

Only a man of a certain age would even attempt to address a woman with the line "Do you come here often?".

One of them doesn't give up his wooing on my return and for a time we think he will follow us to Beacon Hill.  However, the lure of St Anne's Well cafe means we go our separate ways.

We pick up the track with a sulky looking teenager whose dad has made him come for a mother's day ramble.  At least they got him out.  Ours is at home "revising".

Highest Point In Worcestershire

We drop down looking for the excellent paths on the Eastern side of the hills.  There is another micro to look for but not knowing the difference between a Bilbury and a Gorse Bush, I have little chance of making a find.

Sonia has no 3G, so our botany research cannot go on line

The walk back has everything going for it.  Good paths, great views and importantly, all down hill.  We soon make our way to one of the best 10 pubs in the County - The Nag's Head.

Nestling in the Shadow of the Hills

Sign

Beer Garden

It is a superb pub.  The only problem is knowing what to have.  They are doing a roaring trade in Mother's day Sunday Lunches but a meal of that size seems a bit heavy.  Especially for an out of condition hill walker.  So how about a compromise of a Hot Beef Sandwich, with two roast potatoes and a little pot of gravy?

Next choice is even harder - which of the ten real ales to pick?

I promise to be back to celebrate the end of BST and try one of the remaining 9.

22/03/14 - Looping into Surrey

Distance - 12.1
Geocaches - 9
Start - Hayes (Kent)
Finish - Upper Warlingham (Surrey)

This is the walk that should have been done in February.  Gales, landslips and a full cancellation of all South East Trains put pay to that.  So I am a month late on the next installment of the London Loop.

The forecasters put the symbols that mean every type of weather is possible today.  Rain, Hail, Wintery Showers are all promised.  In reality, it was perfect walking weather.

Usual 6:40am bargain train and arrive bleary eyed at Hayes station at 9am, retracing my steps to the pollarded oaks of West Wickham Common.  Some alley walking before hitting the first architectural point of interest, Wickham Court.  Dating from Tudor Times, it has strong links with the Boleyn Family.  And my book for the journey down?  The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory.

My life is the Matrix.

WWII Firefighters Memorial in Wickham Churchyard

Downhill walking to Spring Park where entry onto the loop is stopped by floods.

Underwater Loop

The detour allows me to get the first cache of the day, in-between the joggers and the dog walkers.

Proper route is picked up in Threehalfpenny Woods.  This is the motif of today's walk.  There is not a huge amount of interest, we pass only one pub, but the walking is superb in a series of woodlands.  Perfect hiking country.

Perfect Country Walking

Pass the meridian marker stone but photographic evidence is impossible, as there are a group of dog walkers having a chat.  I plod on to the next highlight, Addington Hill.

There are a couple of caches to find before being rewarded with a stunning view of the City.  I can make out all the landmarks up to the arch of Wembley Stadium.

View from a Hill

Leave this set of woods by crossing an unexpected tram line and enter the next set, Littleheath.  A father and daughter are flying a kite perilously close to electric power lines.  Did they not watch the 70s public safety films?

The London Loop shares a stretch with the Vanguard Way, which runs from Croydon to Newhaven.  Inspiration for another adventure?  Maybe.

More Woods

Couple more caches in Selsdon Woods, where I am followed by a man in a most unsuitable bike.  He is on rutted woodland tracks on a racer.  I walk much faster than his wheelspinning manages.

You get the picture.  Lots of Woods.

A decision needs to be made at Hamsey Green.  This is the end of the official leg of the route, but does mean catching a bus into Croydon to get home.  I have already spied that another mile and a half will get me into Upper Warlingham for a train back to Victoria.

I decide to add in a small amount of the next leg's loop section to get here.

The Pub at the end of the walk has been knocked down

Entering Dirty Surrey

After 12 miles, I am gasping for a pint.  A nice pink pub in the town greets me but it's camp decor belies the angriest set of punters I have observed.  Its packed with football fans and I can only assume from their demeanor that they are Arsenal Fans.

Rougher than a Badger's Backside

I move on, and save myself for a more civilised pint back at the Albert in Victoria, catching the end of the game.  Chelsea 6-0 Arsenal.

16/03/14 - Saving £29.80

Distance - 7.3 Miles
Walk Inspiration
Caches - 5

Stonehenge at EveryTrail


Another beautiful day.  The sun streams into our room at the Old Mill in Salisbury.  A full English Breakfast to build up the strength for today's walk and a short ten mile drive to Amesbury.

The Parking is town is free on a Sunday.  Right next to the impressive church.

Another pretty church

The start of the walk is a bit disappointing, as it is all roads.  There is good news and bad news.  This is where the only caches for the day are located.  But we are being followed by four muggles and a dog.  I get what I can on the way out and save the rest for the way back.

We say goodbye to our stalkers as they turn down a path marked for Stonehenge that is not shown on the OS Map.  We continue up to the A303 and turn down the path at Stonehenge Cottages for a pleasant walk next to the Old and New King Barrows.  Sonia shouts at me to look left for my first glimpse.

Stonehenge - Not Small, Far Away

Its an easy circuit of the perimeter.  Eyes are constantly drawn to the Stone Circle.  Occasional notice boards tell you more about the history - including the Cursus - a man made 3km earthworks that is our handrail towards the main attraction.

Cursus to the Left

Eventually we get to the stones.  We see the carts dragging in far eastern and American tourists.  We wonder how close we can get.  The sign says that it is £14.90 to enter.  Each.

Fortunately, there is a permissive path that gets you almost as close to the stones.  We are canny tourists.  Armed with a map, a GPS, short arms and deep pockets.

Rich suckers on the other side of the fence

Retrace our steps and back to cross the busy A303.  This really is taking your life in your owns hands.  Real life frogger.

The paths back to Amesbury are fine.  All chalk and flint, with the promise of some interesting diversions.

We were almost tempted to leave our planned route and investigate

A last goodbye to the Henge

The county-side gives way to a road.  Wiltshire is making a claim for the prettiest county.

Just a street in West Amesbury

Snaffle up the caches that I had to avoid on my way out and we return to the village.  We cannot make our mind up between the cakeshop and the pub. 

As with many pubs in this area, the pub sold cake.

Everyone has been a winner.