Thu, 2013 Sep 12 9:33 AM British Summer Time
Led by Barry, with me, Maureen and Gordon. Flattish, sheep and cattle and some arable. Dry weather with a little sun later. 7.8 miles.
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| There's a smell of resin from the cut wood |
I meet the gang at East Carlton, and we make out way by car to Walcote once more. We park behind the same vehicle - 6IGEON of clay-shooting fame - as Monday.
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| The rowan berries are bright |
We take the A4304 for a short distance before our path leaves to the left - somewhat hidden by the lushness of the hedge. We cross the field and then walk along the edges going south. We pass a few tiny ponds in field corners and clamber over ten or a dozen stiles. We notice them today - nearly all are slippery. In one field behind Thornhill Stud, there are several horses. A white one is quite interested in us - not just for a fuss though.
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| "Is that all I get?" |
We walk past some old practice jumps , then cross the Lutterworth Road. Near Swinford Corner we take another path southwest - a bridleway this time, so no stiles for a while. This leads towards the M1 - we kept on the bridleway all the time, ignoring a path to our right. When we reach a bridge carrying the farm track over the motorway, we wander out to watch the traffic rushing along, then go back , and leave the bridleway, taking a footpath going south east with the motorway roaring away on our right as we walk. After a couple of hundred yards we turn east, and the noise grows fainter, as we approach the village of Swinford - nothing to do with swine, it seems, according to some online information:
The village of Swinford is a compact village at the head of a small tributary of the River Avon. The Anglo-Saxon name would have been “Suin Heaford” meaning “the head or source of the Swin Stream”. In time it was shortened to “Swin-ford”, but has nothing to do with swine!
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| 1718 - the photo isn't quite in focus! |
The village is quite big, and provides a seat where we sit a while.
Our footpath heads slightly north of east, past a playing field, over fields (more stiles) and past a wooded area, before meeting a byway heading more or less north. The main features here are power lines and wind turbines, both of which provide background music as we go.
After almost a mile, the byway meets the road between Walcote and Swinford. We promised outselves we'd have a second break today, so we sit on a handy length of wood, even though it's no more than 3/4 mile to Walcote. A bus passes by, but little else.
On the roadside there's a stall with plums and veg. Too tempting - I pays me money - but the paper bag's wet and they fall out instantly. They're not difficult to collect and re-bag, and tonight I feast again!
A pleasant walk, with more than twenty stiles - and no rain until later in the evening. There are still a few swallows around.
Our footpath heads slightly north of east, past a playing field, over fields (more stiles) and past a wooded area, before meeting a byway heading more or less north. The main features here are power lines and wind turbines, both of which provide background music as we go.
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| I had to include this photo for the colour that's in it! |
On the roadside there's a stall with plums and veg. Too tempting - I pays me money - but the paper bag's wet and they fall out instantly. They're not difficult to collect and re-bag, and tonight I feast again!
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| I love vegetable gardens - and sunflowers |
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| The Old Post Office |
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| Walks - you must be crazy! |
A pleasant walk, with more than twenty stiles - and no rain until later in the evening. There are still a few swallows around.
People complain about how ugly wind turbines are, although not related they do look much better than those ugly pylons Alison.
ReplyDeleteThe Orchard Farm site looks interesting.
http://www.orchardfarm.info
I'd rather have them than a nuclear power station in my neighbourhood!
ReplyDeleteThe farm does look interesting - though I hardly ever eat meat.
I dont eat any meat, only fish and poultry.
ReplyDelete