23/0716 - Flyford Flavell Movie Caches

Distance - 4.1 Miles
Geocaches - 18
First Cache
Pub - The Ivy Inn, North Littleton, Doom Bar

Holiday traffic and an overturned caravan on the M5 put paid to my plans of investigating Gloucestershire's premier neolithic long barrow.

Mrs Mappiman was delighted.

Instead, we planned to complete a more local walk and visit our friends who have just taken over the running of the Ivy Inn in North Littleton.  31 miles away from Chez Mappiman - just enough distance that I cannot make a nuisance of myself by calling around for frequent freebies.

I noticed that a new Geocaching trail had been placed at Flyford Flavell.  I know FF pretty well.  Its on the early stages of the Millennium Way and all the local pubs down A422 - including the Boot Inn where we parked - have been previously investigated.

The cache trail is perfect.... lots of adventures for a good day out, a variety of caches - including a couple of multis and bonuses.  The CO, Team Squishy Hamster, have a wicked sense of humour. 

Great job on your trail!

I'm not going to describe the caches in any detail, other than to stick with the movie theme and quote Danny Glover in the Lethal Weapon.  Having got stuck up a tree at the grand old age of 46, I declared that I was "too old for this sh*t".

And if you are doing this trail, and I suggest you do cachefans, don't miss the classic in the phone box back at the village.  It's beyond brilliant.

Call Flyford Flavell Fire Brigade

Leap into the Unknown

Millennium Way

King of the Caching Containers

Circuit Completed with 1x DNF and 1xDNL (puzzle too hard to work out in the field), we make our way to the other side of Evesham.

Now, I thought I had walked everywhere in Worcestershire but Offenham and the Littletons (there's a South and Middle) are completely new to me.  Prime walking country too - nestled below Bredon Hill and the Malverns - with great views.

The pub is a classic piece of little England.  It's next to the village green and the centre of the village with everything a pub sportsman could want - including a skittle alley.  I'm sure last night's Morris Dancing on the green would have further enhanced it's timeless feel.

Next time we come, we are bringing a tent.  Sticks.  And some bells to wrap around our knees.

Which Way to the Ivy Inn?

16/07/16 - Thames Path and the Wey Navigation

Start - West Byfleet
Finish - Hampton Court
Walk Inspiration - Saturday Walkers Club, Walk 45
Distance - 11.5 Miles
Geocaches - 11
Pubs - The Old Crown - Youngs Bitter, The Mute Swan - Triple F Moondance, The Albion, Exmoor Silver Stallion


I'm back down South, this time walking the wonderful waterlands of West London.  I found this route on the Saturday Walkers Club, which seems to be an online version of the excellent Time Out Country Walks in London books.  I'll check, but I'm fairly sure that this great walk is not in the printed version.

The walk starts at West Byfleet and instantly picks up the Basingstoke Canal.  After this walk, I may have to revise my views on canal walking - which normally, I have no time for.  This canal has crystal clear water, interesting buildings, great geocaches and not a single submerged shopping trolley in sight.  It may be because this is not strictly speaking a canal, but a Navigation - a waterway that follows a river and empties into the same basin.

Never found a decent pub called the Station

House Boats that look like House Boats

Even the M25 cannot spoil this walk

The Mill at Coxes Lock

I was looking forward to Weybridge, never having previously been there.  It didn't disappoint.  The walk skims the town but does provide the chance to look at some very fine houses on the riverbank.  Mrs Mappiman informs me that residents are Cliff, Shakin' Stevens and Ronnie Corbett.  My mate Neil tells me at least one of those is pushing up daises.

Into Weybridge

One of many fine residences

The Wey Navigation, enjoyed as it was, ends at the Thames Lock.  There is a little hay strewn visitor centre in an old barn.  I learn the differences between man made waterways.

Before getting to the Thames, I have a short amount of road walking and I am faced with a choice of recommendations. Two pubs, one Cask Marque, one Good Beer Guide Accredited are directly opposite each other and a battle ensues for who gets the Mappiman Dollar.  The Minnows (CM) loses out to the Old Crown (GBG) by virtue of the fact that its open at the very civilised hour of 10:30am.

A good choice - I loved it's weather boarded exterior, old school interior and a very decent pint of Youngs Bitter.  Lovely landlady stopped her cleaning duties to talk about the price of some of the riverside properties for sale (£3.9m but its been up for 18 months and they may take an offer) and to tell me that I have two hours more walking before hitting my destination.

Too Beautiful to walk on by

Take Courage

Old School

Refreshed, I hit the Thames.  Its a hive of activity.  The Molesey regatta is in full swing,  The banks are full of spectators, the paths are full of cyclists (one more bell ding and someones in for an early bath) and the river is full of racing craft of all shapes and sizes.

I am also being serenaded.  In Jerome K Jerome style, a boat full of Carling drinking toffs are out for a pleasure cruise that heads in the same direction as me, chugging along at the exact walking pace of a 46 year old, one pint in.  I find it quite soothing to listen to a medley of Beatles tunes belted out by posh lager louts with a trilbeyed tit on a Ukulele.

Race Day

New Bridge

Musical accompaniment into Henley

Where the House Boats are two storey 

Ukulele Tit in a Trilby 

The bridge marks the end of the walk.  A final cache and a drop off a TB rescued in Ibiza and a quick look at Hampton Court - scene of many a Tudor drama.

Touristy Sight Seeing

Directly opposite Hampton Court is the Mute Swan.  A beautiful building but chain owned and obviously full of tourists (self included).  It could have been terrible.  It was wonderful.  Six real ales on and a barman who knew his stuff and made a fine recommendation of Triple F Moondancer.  Top pint, top food and excellent service.   Highly recommended.

Great Beer, Great Food, Great Service

And in juxtaposition to the touristy poshness of the Mute Swan, I head for the Cask Marque approved Albion.  Down a side street full of antique shops and estate agents and bistros, it can be filed under "earthy".

A proper drinkers pub, filled with proper drinkers and another first beer for me, a wonderful Exmoor Ale Silver Stallion.

Boing Boing Boozer

All Badged Up

So, that's the Thames Path walked from Crayford Ness all the way to Windsor.  Time to head into the home counties, upstream.

10/07/16 - The Coach and Horses at Weatheroak Hill

Distance - 4.5 Miles
Walk Inspiration - Pub Walks in Worcestershire, Walk 6
Geocaches - 2 found, 1 Seen
Pub - Coach and Horses, Weatheroak Gold

Just over two years ago, we celebrated completing the writing of the Brummie Ring by shunning the refreshments available in Alvechurch and finding the more remote Coach and Horses at Weatheroak Hill.

We vowed to come back and complete a walk from here - after all, it is number 6 in the top 10 pubs in the West Midlands (although is actually in Worcestershire).

It's taken a while.

First, lets get the walk out of the way.  It wasn't the best, battling as we did against appallingly maintained stiles, dense undergrowth, disappearing paths (god damn you Alcott Farm with your roping off of horse enclosures) and one spectacular stumble before I had even had a pint.

It could have been worse - after a stagger, lurch and roll, I came to rest with my head inches from a large pile of horse manure.  It would have been messy but a strangely symbolic walk review.

We start at the pub and head up the Roman Road of Ryknild Street.  A geocache is halfway along a tunnel used as a stream conduit - I had a torch, clambered down and thought, Na - I want to be half decent for my pint.  Always sad to spy one but not get the smiley.

Another lonely pub - The Peacock is at the top of the hill.  Unlike the Coach, its shed it's agricultural watering hole roots and is now a Chef and Brewer.

Must win a prize as the most remote Chef and Brewer

Rest of the walk is made up of a stretch of the North Worcestershire Way and a drop down to walk alongside the M42 to the horsey hellhole of Alcott Farm.

These are the highlights;

Lovely Blue Skies

2 Cache Finds today - this one next to the M42

Things reached a nadir when we were faced with a totally overgrown swamp or a clamber over a barbed wire fence to make our escape.  The fence won.  No way for two 46 year olds to behave.

Pleased to get to the pub, where they have got everything correct.  They have left the original building for drinkers and inside, its probably not changed much in centuries.  To cater for diners, they have built a smart extension on the side.  The two groups of punters can exist in splendid isolation.

In an old stables at the front, they have their own brewery.  I went for a Weatheroak Gold and as you would expect, it was in perfect condition.  Top pint - with a choice of four others from the brewery and a number of guests ale.

The real highlight was seeing the mound of cling film wrapped cobs (not batches, barn cakes - cobs) behind the bar.  So many times we only have the offer of a full Sunday Lunch when out on the Sabbath.

The pub is only a couple of miles from Hopwood Park Services at J2 of the M42.  If you are passing and want a break - come here instead.  Its an improvement on KFC.

The Stable Brewery

Drinkers Quarters

Balanced Lunch

09/07/16 - Wye to the Thames - Walk 2 - Ledbury to Colwall

Distance - 6.5 Miles
Geocaches - 9
Previous Walk
Pub - Prince of Wales, Ledbury, HPA


Continuing my journey from the Wye at Hereford to the Thames at Oxford along the Cotswold Rail Line.  Strictly speaking, this should be blogged as Colwall to Ledbury, as the lure of the Prince of Wales proves too strong.  I have unfinished business with Ledbury - I need to check in this fine pub in the Cask Finder App (after all, it was here that it was discovered) and there is a cheeky little micro Geocache that I have had a tip off about.

So, leave the train at Colwall, admire the walkers map and in a first, head away from the Malverns.

Walking Away from the Malverns

I love it when a planned walk has a high concentration of unexpected Geocaches.  At Colwall Church, I find the first of a Circular series called Wellies and Wine.  The caches accompany me to the top of Oyster Hill, where I leave the trail to continue my linear walk.

Unsure if I have been up Oyster Hill before and it provides fine walking along the Geopark Way and super views over the full length of Malvern Hills.

Through the Orchards onto Oyster Hill

View from Oyster Hill

I don't really lose any height from Oyster Hill before I am walking through Frith Woods to another elevated position of Bradlow Knool.  The path is superb but unfortunately, the trees obliterate any potential views.

Have to agree with the Sentiment

Drop down to the wonderfully named Cut Throat Lane and follow what I think is an old railway line that takes me back into Ledbury.  The church bells are peeling for my arrival.

Ledbury Emerges

Ledbury is once again a hotbed of excitement.  In the first leg of this walk, I was nearly press-ganged into joining the Morris Dancers.  Today, it's the Poetry Festival.  Outside the Prince of Wales is a large yellow tube that looks like it should be on a ship.  Press a button and a poem is read out for you.

The trains back are hourly and I have 30 minutes to reacquaint myself with the pub.  I wrote last time about how good it is.  You really should go.

Pint demolished, pub checked into the App and the cheeky little geocache found - directly in front of a busker playing some decent blues.

My work in Ledbury is now done.

No finer setting

Identical shot to the pint on the last leg