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Week 62 – Salisbury to Guildford

Posted on December 11, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 4th to Tuesday 10th December 2019

Salisbury to Broughton (Clarendon Way) 12.71 miles
Broughton to Winchester (Clarendon Way) 13.08 miles
Winchester to Alresford (Pilgrims Way/North Downs Way) 10.74 miles
Alresford to Alton (Pilgrims Way/North Downs Way) 13.60 miles
Alton to Farnham (Pilgrims Way/North Downs Way) 13.03 miles
Farnham to Guildford (Pilgrims Way/North Downs Way) 10.92 miles

Total miles this week 74.08

Total miles to date 2785.77

The wooden ram above the shop just outside the High Street Gate dates from the shop’s former use, Stonehenge Woollen Industries. It was set up in the early C20th by Catherine Lovibond, with the aim of regenerating the rural economy. The firm continued in business until 1959.

Elisabeth Frink’s Walking Madonna (1981), Salisbury Cathedral

The mural, by artist Fred Fieber, under the flyover of the Ring Road, Salisbury. It was painted in 2011 and represents some of the local characters, buildings and businesses that were there before the Milford Street Bridge and Ring Road were built in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Another part of the mural, by artist Fred Fieber, under the flyover of the Ring Road, Salisbury. No. 88 Milford Street was destroyed to make way for the Milford Street Bridge and the Ring Road. This action also destroyed a thriving local community, many shops, businesses, buildings and the lives of many who lived there.

Monument to “Beware Chalk Pit”, Farley Mount. This horse was named after surviving a 25ft deep fall into a chalk pit whilst out fox-hunting in 1733 then carrying its owner to a racing victory a year later. Broughton to Winchester.

The statue of King Alfred (Alfred the Great) at the bottom of The Broadway, Winchester. Alfred ruled Wessex from Winchester and his reign (871-899) marked the beginnings of a kingdom of England. He prevented England from falling to the Danes and promoted learning and literacy.

Church at Kings Worthy. Winchester to Alresford

Celebrating 100 years if Lions Clubs. “Lions are ordinary people who do extraordinary things to help others and support good causes”. I’ve had positive dealings with them during my journey 🙂

Alton

One of the sculptures at the University for the Creative Arts at Farnham

Start/end of the North Downs Way, Farnham

Week 61 – Avebury to Warminster

Posted on December 9, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 27th November to Tuesday 3rd December 2019

Avebury to Bromham 12.5 miles
Devizes to Trowbridge 10.63 miles
Bath to Trowbridge 12 miles
Warminster to Westbury 8.58 miles

Total miles this week 43.71

Total miles to date 2711.69

Caen Hill Locks (C 1810), on the Kennet and Avon canal near Devizes

Kennet and Avon canal, Devizes to Trowbridge

Dundas Aqueduct, Kennet and Avon Canal, Bath to Trowbridge

Kennet and Avon Canal, Bath to Trowbridge

Imber Range Perimeter Path/Wessex Ridgeway. Warminster to Westbury

Westbury White Horse. No longer chalk, now concreted

The view from the Westbury White Horse’s ear

Week 60 – Pershore to Swindon

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 20th to Tuesday 26th November 2019

Due to problems with diversions caused by flooding my walks were cut short on some days

Pershore to Evesham 9.29 miles
Evesham to Beckford, Tewkesbury 7.38 miles
Walk around Tewkesbury 5.31 miles
Gloucester to Painswick, Stroud 6.84 miles
Stroud to Cirencester 10 miles
Siddington, Cirencester to Ashton Keynes, Swindon 8.57 miles

Total miles this week 47.39

Total miles to date 2667.98

The statue in the Market Place, Evesham, depicting the 8th century swineherd Eof (or Eoves). Legend had it that he saw an apparition of the virgin Mary in the trees and this was interpreted as the place where an abbey should be built. It’s also how Evesham got its name, Eoveshomme (Evesham)

Ashton under Hill. Evesham to Beckford, Tewkesbury

The now closed Healings flour mill in Tewkesbury, which dates back to 1865 and produced flour for over 150 years.

Touching Souls by Mico Kaufman, outside Tewkesbury abbey. It’s an exact replica of the same sculpture in Tewkesbury, Massachusetts, and shows 4 children – native American, European American, African American and Asian American.

Robinswood Hill Country Park, Gloucester

Robinswood Hill Country Park, Gloucester. On a good day the views are amazing apparently. Unfortunately this wasn’t a good day.

Painswick’s lovely yellow oolitic Jurassic limestone buildings

St. Mary’s church, Painswick. The village is known as the ‘Queen of the Cotswolds and is one of England’s oldest ‘Wool Towns’, the wealth from wool production and weaving in the area gave the town many fine buildings, particularly this one.

https://www.stmaryspainswick.org.uk/

The disused Thames and Severn Canal, Stroud to Cirencester

A sculpture named “Pink Lady Dancing with Big Brown Dog” at the Market Place in Cirencester. The sculpture is on loan by the sculptor Sophie Ryder.

The disused Thames and Severn Canal, Siddington to Ashton Keynes

A stile without a fence. Siddington to Ashton Keynes

Week 59 – Leominster, Herefordshire to Worcester, Worcestershire

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 13th to Tuesday 19th November 2019

Leominster to Hatfield 10.62 miles
Hagley to Upper Arley 12.11 miles
Bobbington to Kidderminster 14.01 miles
Ombersley to Worcester 7.97 miles

Total miles this week 44.71

Total miles to date 2620.59

Bache Camp hill fort, Leominster to Hatfield

110 steps, Kinver Edge, Hagley to Upper Arley. This area was part of my training route and I remember these steps well!

Bridge over the River Severn, Upper Arley

Enville Estate, Bobbington to Kidderminster

Kinver Edge, Bobbington to Kidderminster

Flooded footpath, Ombersley to Worcester. The flooding along the River Severn meant I had to divert and walk along the roads

Week 58 – Nottingham to Aston, Birmingham

Posted on November 16, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 6th to Tuesday 12th November 2019

Borrowash to Findern 12.95 miles
Findern to Burton on Trent 8.39 miles
Burton upon Trent to Lichfield 15.62 miles
Birmingham – Butlers Lane Station to Aston 10.18 miles

Total miles this week 47.14

Total miles to date 2575.88

The River Derwent had burst its banks leaving a camp site submerged with only the pitch markers showing. Borrowash, Derbyshire.

River Derwent in flood, Borrowash, Derbyshire.

The Grade II listed gardens of Elvaston Castle Country Park. Derbyshire. Borrowash to Findern.

Trent and Mersey Canal, Borrowash to Findern

Trent and Mersey Canal, Findern, Derby to Burton upon Trent

Trent and Mersey Canal, with the flooded River Dove. Findern, Derby to Burton upon Trent

Pavement detail in Burton upon Trent town centre

Exmoor ponies at Sutton Park, Birmingham

Birmingham – Butlers Lane Station to Aston

Week 57 – Nettleton, Lincolnshire to Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Posted on November 6, 2019 by Beth

Wednesday 30th October to Tuesday 5th November 2019

Nettleton to Market Rasen 9.88 miles
Market Rasen to Dunholme 12.82 miles
Lincoln
Worksop to Edwinstowe 13.01 miles
Edwinstowe to Blidworth 11.02 miles
Blidworth to Nottingham 10.65 miles