Evesham Ramblers :"Isbourne way part 3" 19 July 2026

6.6 miles. Start 1000 end 1320
 

Malvern Footpath: "Martley North and West" 18 July 2026

 9.1 miles 4 hours 20 minutes

Railtrail 3: Honeybourne to Evesham Reccy 17 July 2026

 As I was guiding this walk in mid August it seemed a good idea to do a reccy. Due to the current unreliability of GWR I decided that I would do the published route in reverse. So i went to Honeybourne and started it there

The walk goes through the centre of the strawberry farm which had lots of strawberries very few of which were ripe (by design?). The fleet Inn in was passed in Bretforton, then  through Badsey and the orchards then through Evesham to the station

I only met 5 people on the route, including an American trio who were off to the Fleet for lunch before flying home

7.8 miles in 3 hours. 

Worcester Ramblers: Powick Circular 16 July 2026

 I volunteered  to lead this walk, which should have been easy as it was done on May 2 by the Saturday group, It was not to be THAT easy!

I did a reccy on July 10. The steps down the west end of ham hill (part of the 3 choirs way!), which had been challenging on may 2 were impassable due head high brambles and nettles. I devised a diversion via ham lane, but that had the same problem, making it impassable for a group, so I retreated

I returned on July 13 to try another route, bypassing Powick. by going down old malvern road. The first footpath was blocked by a locked gate, but even overcoming that the footpath was non existent. Following the route on the OS map it came to a halt when blocked by an enormously wide/high/deep blackbeery coppice. A retreat was made and the second footpath nothbound tried. This allowed the route the to be completed even though the steep descent of ham hill was challenging

By the time the walk started on 16 July the temperature was more tolerable than the previous 7 days and the walk was completed without incident by 16 walkers despite the overgrown undergrowth in places

Worcester Ramblers: Railtrail 2: Pershore to Evesham 27 June 2026

 We met at Evesham station at 0930. We were met with walkers from the Evesham walking festival who were catching the train for a walk in the other direction, Unfortunately their train was cancelled before we left at 0935 for  Pershore. The good news was that the ticket machine at Pershore had been fixed and one can now buy a one day parking ticket!

There was  a headwind so the heat was less of an issue. The biggest challenge was attracting the attention of the ferryman who was on the opposite bank. We did start the alternate route into Evesham but that was so overgrown to make it unusable. Luckily I heard the sound of chains behind us as the ferry man brought the ferry across to our side!

9.3 miles 4 hours

Worcester Ramblers: Eastnor Park and Gospel Oak 23 April 2026

 This was my second walk as walk leader for Worcester Ramblers. 

We started at Swinyard car park promptly at 1000 (despite the parking ticket machine being faulty) and walked up past the Gullett Quarry to the Obelisk on the Eastnor estate. 

Continuing across the estate we passed the new addition, part of the Berlin wall! This was chosen as the coffee break

The walk then continued out to the railway tunnel to Ledbury entrance,  along the Ridgeway and back over the Malverns through News wood , passing the Pink cottage back to the car park (to be greeted by the sight of the car park machine being fixed....obviously the number of phone calls they got earlier in the morning forced them into action!). Some of us went to the Duke of York pub again for lunch

Total 6.8 miles

Railtrail Foregate Street to Pershore 18 April 2026

 I decided it was time to revisit the Cotswold line Rail Trails and offer it as a Saturday Walk to the Worcester Ramblers. The first leg would be a merging of the Foregate street to Parkway and Parkway to Pershore routes to form a Foregate street to Pershore route, as was originally done during the Malvern Walking Festival in 2023

A reccy in late February showed there was a diversion near Millhouse (Peopleton) as the wooden bridge was closed for 6 months to be repaired. Fortunately Worcestershire CC confirmed 3 days before the walk that the repairs were completed before Easter so the detour would not be needed

Four of us parked at Pershore station (actually in Pinvin! but beware, the GWR ticket machine on the platform only sells weekly Parking tickets for £20!!) We caught the train to Foregate street and met up with another 3 walkers.starting the walk at 0920

The route took us out of Worceter via the Country Park (coffee break)  to Lunch which was had at the lake near Peartrees  listening to the birdsong. The route then continued through Peopleton to Pershore station arriving at 1420, just in time for those who wanted to catch the train back to Worcester

11.8 miles

Second attempt to Reach the Canadian Lancaster Crash site 26 March 2026

After spending the previous day walking the four waterfalls dodging the hail storms the weather turned fine so I decided to have another go at reaching the Canadian Lancaster crash site. To avoid the need to wade across the stream again I decided to start from the Talybont reservoir 

The route starts with walking up Twyn Du then it is fairly flat until you reach Carn Pica where you are greeted with a steep walk up some steps to the marker.

Continuing along Waun Rydd you turn left at the pathway intersection to the Memorial which can be seen glinting in the distance

There are a lot of aircraft pieces still on site (the engine rolled down the hill!)

Having got to 700m i decided to keep walking at this altitude going along Graig Fal Las turning right at the Cairn to cross the very Boggy path to Craig cwmoergwm, The views of the snow capped big 3 was impressive but i decided to go to Fan y big (which i had previously visited up the very steep Western slope) for Lunch

I took a different route back along the ridge at Craig Cwareli and Bwlch y Ddwyallt with fine views of breacon and Sugar Loaf Mountain nearer Abergavenny before descending back to the reservoir down Cairn Pica

7 hours 15.4 miles total ascent 3200'

Four waterfalls and Porth Yr Ogof Cave 25 March 2026

 As the forecast looked to be continuing damp, and not wanting a repeat of the previous days conditions i decided to go and visit the four waterfalls trail. Having a lot of trees it would at least be sheltered

I went to the Cwm Porth Car park  (very efficient parking machine in the middle of nowhere...they use Starlink!) where the attendant was just setting up for the rush starting at Easter. He was very helpful and suggested a route which would visit all 4 waterfalls , including avoiding the path closure

The four waterfalls are Sgwd Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn, Sgwd y Pannwr and Sgwd yr Eira. The first three waterfalls are on the Afon Mellte (Mellte River) while the last is on the Afon Hepste (Hepste River).

After walking along the well signposted  track from the car park enduring two hailstorms, Sgwd yr Eira, (the ‘waterfall of snow) was visited first as you can actually walk behind the water sheet  and I wanted to avoid the crowds. Need not have worried there were just 3 of us and a dog there!

After walking behind the waterfall

Working Northwards Sgwd y Pannwr was next walking through another hail storm!

Sgwd y Pannwr

Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn was next although it was a bit hard to see as the footpath that goes by it was closed. This resulted in walking from Sgwd y Pannwr to a deadend then walking back again

Sgwd Clun-Gwyn was the last waterfall 

I then returned along the trail to the car park 

7.44 miles 3.5 hours

Having finished my HF holidays picnic i discovered there were caves nearby at Porth Yr Ogof which has the widest opening of any cave in Wales so I decided on an afternoon walk especially as it was now sunny blue skies!

Inside the cave

Outside the cave

First attempt to get to the Canadian Lancaster crash site 24 March 2026

 

This walk was to see  the Memorial on Waun Rydd marking the location of the 1945 crash of a Canadian Lancaster

The weather was damp but it shouldnt get any worse according to the forecast. I parked at Blaen y Glyn Isaf upper car park and walked down to the stream at Blaen y Glyn walking up towards the waterfalls. There was no safe way to cross the stream when the path changed sides so i had to remove boots and paddle across! I left the stream and headed up the slope to the Cairn at Gwalciau'r Cwym. The rain then got worse accompanied by high wind making it difficult to see through my spectacles. It would only get worse as I got higher so the decision was made to retreat (before reaching the Cairn) I took a shortcut across Waun y Gorlan back to the stream and after removing footwear again to cross the river returned to the car park for Lunch . The crash site would have to wait!

5 miles in 3 hours

CWOG: Colwall to Malvern Link 28 Feb 2026

This was my first time leading a CWOG walk.

We all met at Malvern link station (£1.25 parking on Saturdays) which had other hiking groups assembling. The train arrived on time at 0944and got us to Colwall on time at 1002.

We left the station over the footbridge and walked though the mud and surface water through Evendine up to British camp. There we paused for coffee, We then walked via Black Hill, Pinnacle hill and Peresevarance hill to the Wyche cutting where we had lunch in the sun.

We then went up the Worcestershire beacon which was crowded. 

We went over sugarloaf hill and around North Hill descending down the rocks to North Malvern and finishing at Malvern Link 

8.5 miles in 4.5 hours total

Worcester Ramblers: "Snowdrops at Hanbury" 26 Feb 2026

 The walk started at Pipers Hill car park, proceeding through the very muddy Hanbury woods to Hanbury church there was a mass of snowdrops. 

We passed Hanbury Hall then  over farmland, through three farmyards and crossing the railway We joined the canal for a short while before returning through the woods back to the carpark.

7.2 miles 3 hours

Worcester Ramblers: "Hollybush to British camp and return" 19 Feb 2026

This was to be my first attempt at leading a walk! It was planned as a  7 mile circular walk starting at Hollybush, visiting the Eastnor Obelisk, along the Three Choirs way past the side of the Hereford beacon to British Camp Car park then along the lower east side of the Malverns  via Bowling Green to Hollybush.

I did a reccie on 16 February. It was muddy in places but the worst part was across Berrow downs which had acquired 4 brooks and knee deep mud. The route was adjusted to avoid the area

On Feb 19 on the way to Hollybush snow could be seen along the peaks but it did not get much lower so the walk proceeded, Sixteen appeared at the start. The view was limited but at least it didnt rain

Highlight of the walk was near the end, when approaching Holybush when three Reeves Pheasants were seen

The walk was 7.2 miles and took 3 hours

Worcester Ramblers: "Blackstone Nature Reserve" 12 feb 2026

 We started off from the Blackstone Picnic site car park (not to be confused with the Blackstone car park) which was a bit muddy. We went under the SVR line and Past the West Midlands safari park where we saw wildlife that came out of their house to great us:-

Family Outing!

The Severn Railway passes by

We then followed the edge of the safari park along heathland and then woodland towards the scout camp, past the Devils Spittleful (which you cannot go onto) past the old Rifle Range (which was too wet to cross) passing the old WW2 camp at Burlish Top before returning to the car park. Generally muddy but passable. 7.2 miles total:-

Worcester Ramblers: "Cutnall Green, Rushock and a 'Whole lotta love' tomorrow" 5 Feb 2026

We started the walk at the Chequers pub at Cutnall Green

Th coffee stop was at the St Michael and All Angel's church at Rushock where the Led Zeppelin drummer, John Bonham, has his final resting place

The 6.7 mile walk in 2.5 hours included the villages of Elmley Lovett, Rushock and Bryan's Green

Although it was considered impossible for it to be muddier than the previous Thursday walk this walk managed it!

Worcester Ramblers long walk from Temple Guiting 31 Jan 2026

Having done short Worcester walks until now i decided to try a longer One. It was to be a 10 mile walk.

The forecast on Friday was for rain all Saturday. However Saturday arrived and the forecast changed to rain starting at 1230, so I decided to go. Heeding the warning from the leader,  I told Google maps to take me to Temple guiting school, which was just over the wall from the Village Hall
The walk started at Temple Guiting village hall.  Nine walkers arrived, then the car park filled up with those going on a turkey shoot, They were still setting up on site as we walked past the target area. It was here that we encountered three Reeves Pheasants who came across to have a conversation!

The walk progressed through Ward, then Taddington (NOT Toddington!) Then to Stanway, where the avenue of trees, planted over many years by the Stanway Hall estate was impressive

At the end of the trees was the monument, where we stopped for Lunch.  

Unfortunately so did a heavy rainstorm, which soaked us while we walked to Stumps Cross. The climb up Waterloo Larch was a muddy scramble but it dried out on the high ground enabling us to get back to the Village hall by which time the mud was drying!

10.5 miles in 4.25 hours:-

Worcester Ramblers Barn Owl Circular 29 January 2026

 

A  Worcester Ramblers circular walk that started at the Barn Owl pub on the North side of Worcester. Very muddy in places but at least it didnt rain seriously. 

The route visited the 12th century Grade 1 listed. St Nicholas church, the oldest in the Worcester Parish

total of 5.7 miles in around 2 hours

Worcester Ramblers Sinton Green 22 January 2026

 

Liz had bought me membership of Ramblers Uk as a christmas present. It took until January 15 for the membership pack to arrive! Looking on the web site the first local walk was with the Worcester group on January 22 so i decided to join them

This walk started at the bus shelter on Sinton Green. I was made very welcome. It was very muddy but at least it didnt rain

6.6 miles total in 2 hours 20 minutes

CWOG Reccie to Barby Northants

This was to be a CWOG reccie for a future walk. It was to start from the Barby Church at 1015. However when I arrived there was no sign of the other three expected participants, I did search all entrances to the church, churchyard and  hall without success. I hung around until 1025 (meeting the priest arriving for the 1030 service) then decided to go for a walk on my own. 

As I hadnt planned anything i decided to visit Ashby st ledger, then the locks at Braunston then back up the Oxford canal to HMP Onley then back to Barby. Navigation was challenging for the first half due to fog, resulting in compass navigation Practice. 

The Lower Braunston lock was inspected 

then the grand union canal was followed to its junction with the Oxford canal. 

The Junctiion Grand Union goes left, Oxford canal goes Right

The entertainment at the junction was provided by a long barge (from Bristol) taking the Oxford canal then realising the mistake and reversing back into the junction before continuing on the Grand Union canal. 

The Oxford canal has a very narrow towpath (12" in places) very muddy and inundated by the canal in places causing one to have to step over water connected to the canal. Onley had a large marina and a cafe . Unfortunately it was closing 10 minutes after I got there! I completed the walk by walking up the muddy Barby hill back to the Church

The view of HMP Onley and the Marina from Barby Hill. The Fog had not cleared