My Country Walks: November 2019

Wednesday 27th November Malvern Hills

A shame about the weather. One of the best places in the UK for spectacular views and we didn't get any.... None at all. Low cloud was the dominating feature.

Starting from the car park below British Camp we followed the ridge north over Pinnacle Hill and Jubilee Hill to the Wyche cutting. On over Summer Hill to the Worcestershire Beacon. Then down to loop over Sugarloaf Hill, Table Hill and North Hill before returning to the Worcestershire Beacon for our lunch stop.

Back to the Wyche cutting and then an alternative route on the eastern side of the hills to rejoin the main path just south of Pinnacle Hill.

9 miles and lots of steep uphill sections for a strenuous walk with 2600 feet of ascent.

Low cloud everywhere

Just the odd glimpse of the view below

On the Worcestershire Beacon

A glimpse of the sheep on North Hill

Less cloud at the lower level

Lunch on the Worcestershire Beacon with flood visible in the distance

Sunday 24th November 2019 Brand Green

A dull and misty cool day. Starting from the village hall at Brand Green. Past Pauntley Court and on to Playford Bridge. Through Cobhill Rough to join Poets' Path 1. Then on to Ketford and through the orchard to Poolhill. Down to the ponds and back through Compton Green.

8 miles and 900 feet ascent

Pauntley Court Farm

Deserted on a Sunday morning

The nearby church

Down the hill towards Playford Bridge

Coffee stop in Cobhill Rough

The flooded field adjoining Poets' Path No1

The steeper bit near Ketford

On of the orchards

The big ponds near Durbridge Mill

Wednesday 20th November 2019 Andoversford

From Andoversford to Whittington. Through Puckham Wood, Wardens Wood and Westwood to Brockhampton.

10 miles and 870 feet ascent

Sunday 10th November 2019 Dover's Hill

What a difference a day makes. Cold and wet the day before and lovely autumnal sunshine today. Starting from the car park on Dover's Hill we initially followed the Cotswold Way to Broadway. A coffee stop at Fish Hill car park and it being Remembrance Sunday we observed the two minute silence. On to Broadway Tower with lots of people out enjoying the sunshine. Steeply down to Broadway to skirt the edge of town and take the underpass under the A44 to Saintbury for a lunch stop at the church. Through the fields to Buckle Street then back up to the hill to the start.

8 miles with 1100 feet ascent.

Broadway Tower comes into view.

Going down to Broadway with lots of people going up

Broadway

Under the A44 and a very rural underpass. They always have graffiti!

Lots of mud - this was the worst

Lunch at the church in Saintbury

Shades of autumn all around

At the start of the way up and a strange place to find the signpost. It lets you know where the footpaths are but doesn't tell you where they are going.

On the way up

A fine view from the topograph on Dover's Hill.

Wednesday 6th November 2019 Cotswold Way - Coopers Hill to Severn Springs

The seventh leg of the Cotswold Way from Coopers Hill to Severn Springs. A mainly dull autumnal day and after all the recent rain there were a few muddy bits.

For most of the walk from Cooper's Hill to Birdlip you are in woodland so views are restricted but at this time of the year with a little sunshine the woodland is magical.

We came out of the woods just before Berrow Wake. On past the Air Balloon roundabout and up to the cafe on Crickley Hill for lunch. Rain had been forecast for the afternoon but it wasn't as heavy as expected. We looped round past the Star College and up to Leckhampton Hill. A brief visit to the old area of quarrying and the chimney. Then back over Hartley Hill to Seven Springs.

11 miles and 1800 feet ascent

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