18/02/17 - Curbar and Baslow Edge

Distance - 7.5 Miles
Geocaches - 10
Walk Inspiration - Our 2017 Calendar


Only 7 weeks into the new year and we already have a strong contender for "Walk of the Year".

This varied walk has it all.  River, geocaches, endless views and a rather convenient pub at the half way stage.

We start in the pretty village of Baslow.  Nicely geared up for walkers with a long stay car park offering more than the usual facilities that you can expect.

Within moments, we are out of the Village on Gorsebank Lane, finding the geocaches and enjoying the classic Peak District views as much as we can in the gloomy mist.  We are optimistic that by the time we reach the heights, the sun will have burned the worst of it away.

Gorsebank Lane

A fine geocache trail keeps us entertained, showing us some sneaky hides and how telephone boxes have been re-used as map laden information points.

The River Derwent is picked up at the impressive Calver mill, which we follow northwards to Frogatt Bridge, always in the shadow of the Edge.

Easy Walking along the Derwent

There's a pub at Froggatt.  Its more or less the exact half way stop and we want to ensure we have the best of the weather for the hard fought views.  It would be rude not to.  We share the Chequers Inn with a couple who are celebrating exactly 51 years since they met on a date there.

Maybe Mrs Mappiman and myself will come back in 2068 and reminisce on the time I had £1.75p change from a tenner for two pints.

Chequers Inn - Frogatt.

As LocALE as it gets

Fortified for the climb, we head up on a fantastic wooded path, gaining height quickly and delivered straight into the heart of the action.

Close to the Edge

Where there's lots of this going on

Fortunately, there is an easy way to get onto the Edge that doesn't involve ropes.

The next two miles are simply awesome.  You can walk right on the rock edge and are rewarded with constantly superb views.  Many great spots for lunch, a couple of geocaches and endless photo opportunities.

Curbar Edge

A fine spot for Lunch

More views

Worth the wait for the Blue Skies

Eagle Stone and the Wellington monument mark the end of the Edge walking and we have a fine descent along Bar road to take us into Baslow.

Bar Road to Baslow

There's some debate as to whether to celebrate the success of the walk with Bakewell Tart in the Cafe or a pint at the Devonshire Arms.

It's been the type of day where both are justified.

Inn, Kitchen and.....

... purveyor of Black Sheep

11/02/17 - Wye to Thames - Walk 8 - Honeybourne to Moreton-In-Marsh

Distance - 12 Miles
Geocaches - 5
Previous Walks - Walk 1, Walk 2, Walk 3, Walk 4, Walk 5, Walk 6, Walk 7
Pubs - The Inn on the Marsh & The Black Bear in Moreton-in-Marsh

When looking in the guidebook of the walk from Hereford to Oxford along the stations of the Cotswold Railway Line, I always knew that stage 8 would be the "poster boy" for the entire route.

Plotting on the map and incorporating Dovers Hill, Chipping Camden and taking in long stretches of both the Monarch's Way and Heart of England Way should get the pulse racing of any amateur walker.  Finishing at a CAMRA Good Beer Guide pub in bustling Moreton-in-Marsh seemed unnecessary garnish.

A bit of snow thrown into the mix counteracted the lack of views caused by the lack of clear skies.

So, back to Honeybourne and an unnecessary detour into the village to look at the last leg's pub.  I can just about see the snow on the hills, but first I have to navigate the mud and frisky horses to get to Weston Sub Egde.  Handsome pub that will be checked out at a more convenient time and the first of today's geocaches, where dog muggles stop searching.

See you next time, Seagrave Arms

Weston Sub Edge Church.  Failed on caching.  Learned about Medieval Fish Farming

The guide book warned me that this leg was more strenuous than others and I have a reasonably stiff climb up to Dover's Hill.  I remember it well from the Cotswold Way and other walks.  Normally, the views are more extensive.

Looking North over the Vale of Evesham

Looking East

Familiar ground on the Cotswold Way as I drop into the Chipping Campden.  Gorgeous as ever and full of temptation (euphemism, read pubs) but even on this, my upteenth visit, I find something new.

New Blue Plaque - Grahame Greene Lived Here. 

As well as the Cotswold Way, CC is the meeting point for a number of other long distance paths.  I seeminly stumble on the 630ish mile Monarch's way everywhere in the country and I am rather pleased to get a taste for my next challenge, the Heart of England Way.  No issues in walking this section again in the future.

Its takes me to Broad Campden, smaller in scale to CC but equally full of interest (euphemism, read pub and ancient Quaker House).

Bakers Arms just out of Shot

Next up, Blockley.  Reached on decent paths and a place that I have not been to before.  This will be rectified today and in the future for a more extensive visit.  Built on a hillside, it consists of multiple layers of streets revealing typically beautiful Cotswold architecture and an impressive church.

Take me somewhere new

Blockley - Lovely and worth a future exploration

Its more or less downhill to Moreton-in-Marsh now, skirting the edges of Batsford Arboretum before navigating field systems and delivered right into the centre of ultra wide high street.

12 miles done, no need to resist temptation any longer.  90 minutes until the train, I can fit in 2 of the 8 pubs.  First up, and slightly out of town, is the Good Beer Guide Entry.

The Inn on the Marsh, Stow Road, Ringwood Bitter

GBG told me to come

I'm hoping for a roaring fire to get some warmth back in.  I am only disappointed in the fact that other buggers have got there before me.  I can sit in front of the bar on proper old school furniture or move into the annex on the left and relax on a lovely battered sofa.

If it had been nearer the fire, I might be still there now.  Gently snoozing, holding a half consumed Ringwood Best Bitter.  It was never going to happen, the cuckoo clock make a hell of racket on the hour.

Fine locals pub, with one other Ringwood, Hobgoblin and two unnoticed real ales.  The real surprise was the price.

£2.90.  And I am in the heart of the Cotswolds.  Bargain.

View from a Comfy Sofa

The Black Bear, High Street, Donnington BB

Donnington Tied House

Two things brought me in here.  A peak through the window showed the football was on.  On lots and lots of TVs.  It makes sense that beerintheevening.com suggests that the landlord is an ex professional footballer.

Secondly, I have a sense of lotalty to Donnington Brewery when in the Cotswolds.  They have their own Long Distance Path to all their tied houses, so when I get around to doing it, I will be here again.

Its a long, cavernous pub full of dog walkers, diners (the stew smelled delightful to someone who ate a cheese and onion baguette on the hoof two hours ago), old school gentlemen boozers and the odd football fan.  I am not surprised at its popularity, the Donnington BB was an better value £2.70.  Take that, Banbury.

I settle at the last available table.  The referee blows for full time.

When in Rome, count your change from three quid

05/02/17 - The Good Beer Guide Pubs of Saffron Walden

Distance - 6.2 Miles
Geocaches - 3
Walk Inspiration - AA 1001 Walks, Walk 639
Pubs - The Old English Gentleman and The Kings Arms


"Which plant is Saffron produced from?" is one of those classic pub quiz questions that always have you scratching your head and announcing to your team that you know this one.

As we have it on good authority from reliable sources that there is little of interest in Bishops Stortford, we stop off on route to Stansted Airport (and hopefully sunnier climes) to see if we can determine the answer.

Unusually from such a reliable source as the AA book, the walk isn't all that.  We get a glimpse of the impressive church but will leave investigations of SW until we return.  Once we are through the grounds of Audley Park and found a couple of caches, the walking gets a little agricultural.

SW Church - Up Close

Looking back to SW from Audley Park

Rest of the Walk is mainly this - perhaps full of crocus in a different season?

The walk has proved functional and infinitely better than looking at the inside of a Premier Inn room. It also drops us back into the town, where amongst other architectural gems are two Camra Good Beer Guide Pubs.

The holiday starts here.

The Old English Gentlemen, Gold Street, Theakstons XB

The OEG to its Friends

Gold Street provides a suitably impressive portal to the town and at the far is the OEG, one of two GBG entries in the town.

Its all perfectly functional - four real ales on and as per last week, I was tempted by a Woodforde Wherry but I couldn't resist another chance to have the best pint I found in Yorkshire last year.

I placed my Theaskstons XB on our little table and Mrs Mappiman inquired as to where the head might be.

I explained they like it like that in these parts.

The Kings Arms, Market Hill, Woodforde Wherry

A nice bimble through the ancient streets and we are delivered to GBG #2, the Kings Arms, making great use of their external bootscraper to get the most of Essex from beneath our feet.

Mrs Mappiman in a rush to get to the boot scraper.

Now this is exactly my sort of pub.  Bustling but with myriad rooms.  If one is busy, just try another.

I make my way to the bar, see the wares on offer and it had to be a Woodforde.  Previously not seen since Norfolk and now found it three times in a week.

Drinks are taken to a lovely quiet lounge with mini chesterfields, the Sunday papers and a roaring fire.

There's not really any need to leave the UK is there?

All is right in the world

04/02/17 - Richards Castle

Distance - 7.1 Miles
Geocaches - 3
Walk Inspiration - CW Magazine, June 05 Walk 15

Mortimer Forest is an ancient hunting ground on the Herefordshire/Shropshire border. Perfect weather contributed to a fantastic walk to Richards Castle, somewhere I've been planning on visiting for some time.

We park up at Black Pool Picnic Area and boot up in the company of the Ludlow Dog Walkers Society.

The tall trees interfere with Satellite Reception but we head off on the obvious trail, picking up height on the Mortimer Trail before dropping down to Mary Knoll Valley.

Tall trees = GPS Bounce

Its easy walking on broad forest tracks, grabbing the first cache of the day at Sunny Dingle Wood.

All the hard work is the ascent to High Vinnalls. 1230ft on a beautifully crisp winter's morning leads to some stunning views over the Clee Hills and most of Shropshire.

Views North from High Vinnalls

Mr and Mrs Mappiman getting in the way of the Views

Muddy walking until we enter a field system called Vallets on the map.  No trees to block the views and superb walking amongst the sheep.  This time in a few weeks and the new borns will be out.

Views to Clee Hills

Not sure what to expect at Richards Castle.  The map shows the ruins clearly marked but from the path, its not too obvious what remains.  An investigation through the churchyard shows there are bits left, all guarded by the world's most friendly goat.

Castle Ruins - Built in 1051

Richards Castle Goat admiring the views

An unfortunate bit of road walking brings us back to the Black Pool car park and a decision on where to go for post walk refreshment.

We stick with the ancient architecture theme and head for the Peacock, a C14th Coaching house around 10 miles away on the outskirts of Tenbury Wells.  Its a pub that I have driven past 100s of times and today marks the first actual visit.

Its all low beamed loveliness, with a wood burner in a fireplace under some decorative heraldic iron work showing a date of 1664.

Got to love old England.

C14th Coaching House

A fine Wye Valley HPA