Latest Reports from Hinckley Ramblers:

Charlbury, Oxfordshire.

18 Ramblers travelled down the Fosseway to Moreton in Marsh, then across country to Charlbury, a large Oxfordshire village. Here they found parking spaces at the railway station then Pete Hopewell led them out of the village onto the picturesque Oxfordshire Way. It was hot and sunny as they headed uphill with ripening crops in the fields. Reaching Wychwood Forest, they enjoyed a welcome relief from the blistering sunshine, strolling along under the shade of ancient trees. Eventually leaving the forest, they emerged onto a riding track, passing groups of horses and riders, and looking out over stunning views of the Oxfordshire country. After a lunch stop in the pretty village of Finstock, they headed out across fields once more, climbing steadily to a high ridge. Pete pointed out various landmarks, then they descended to follow the pretty River Evenlode back to Charlbury. A wonderful 10 mile walk.

Winster Open Gardens. A group of Hinckley Ramblers spent an interesting weekend in a dramatic part of Derbyshire, around the Youlgreave and Winster area. John Sim led a 5 mile walk on Saturday morning, with 9 members heading out from Winster churchyard. Field and woodland paths led to the village of Elton, then uphill towards Birchover , where they stopped to explore some caves on the outskirts of the village. Following the main street, past a disused quarry, they entered Barn Farm campsite, home for the weekend to 7 members of the group. A downhill path took the group into a steep sided valley, then up the other side to reach Winster. Here, after a welcome pub stop, they bought programmes for Winster Open gardens, and dispersed to enjoy an afternoon of looking at interesting plants and garden designs. Some of these had steep terraced gardens, with stunning views over to Stanage Edge and Robin Hood’s Stride, well known large rock formations in the distance. The following day, 6 more ramblers travelled from Hinckley, swelling the group to 15. Karen led a 9 mile walk from Youlgreave Youth Hostel, down into Bradford Dale, following the pretty River Bradford. Here, they watched brown trout, drifting lazily in the current. Leaving the river, they donned waterproofs when a sudden heavy shower caught them unawares. Karen led them uphill along a popular route to a picnic spot with tables and chairs, where they were amused to discover that each chair had a large puddle in its seat. A steep uphill track took them to Over Haddon, with a busy pub, high above the dales. It was cool and breezy, as they sat outside, admiring the stunning views. Eventually, Karen led the group back along moorland tracks and fields, to reach Youlgreave and the long drive home, after an excellent and varied weekend.

Church Wilne, Notts. It was warm and sunny as a group of 14 Hinckley Ramblers headed for Church Wilne, in Nottinghamshire. Karen led them from the wooded car park, to the banks of the River Trent, where fishermen sat along the banks. They paused on a bridge, with the river flowing swiftly underneath, where they saw a huge fish, stationary in the murky depths. One member, a keen fisherman, proclaimed that the fish was dead ( a fact borne out when they returned several hours later, to find the fish still in exactly the same position.) On across the water meadows, to find a shady wood for their coffee stop, then fields of crops led to Draycott, a large village where they passed a huge former factory, now being converted into upmarket apartments. On now, to the canal, busy with boats passing through the locks. Karen led them across a narrow lock gate, to continue to a canal junction at Shardlow, with two pubs right next to eachother. They spent a pleasant hour in the shade, then Karen followed the towpath past a small island, where an enthusiast had laid out a model railway. It was now extremely hot, as they crossed water meadows, back to the bridge where they saw the dead fish. A short walk past the pretty church now led them back to their cars, after an excellent 10 mile walk.