Monarch's Way Walk 2022

  Hidcote to Broad Campden 4.5 miles The weather was in our favour as the heat of the last couple of days had dissipated leaving sunny but fresh conditions for our walk from Hidcote to Broad Campden. We had decided to make an earlier start and not take picnic lunches - we found our backpacks to be much lighter - as we could then lunch at leisure at the Baker’s Arms in Broad Campden. This turned out to be an excellent idea. There were seven of us today: Rod, Di, Alison, Deborah, Melanie, Stephen, and Gill with Lily and Maisie representing the canine contingent. We set off from the NT free car park walking past Hidcote Manor itself and then  into the tiny hamlet of Hidcote Bartrim. We crossed through a beautiful orchard with sheep and lambs and then through a field crossing ancient ridge and furrow to reach a quiet country road.  After a short distance we left the road to follow a track leading to Harvest Piece farm eventually reaching a sign and driveway to Mickleton H...

  Although it was unseasonably cold, little or no rain was forecast for our second walk. Deborah, Alison, Lily, Di, Rod and Steven left a car at Hidcote, and drove to the start at Long Marston. We stopped briefly to look at The Kings Lodge, where Charles II spent a night on his flight from the Parliamentarians in 1651. Ben & Julia, who had driven up from London, joined us, and we set off shortly after 11.30.   The route was slightly more complicated this time, and we had to negotiate a number of rickety stiles, one or two of which made little or no provision for dogs. Poor Lily had to be manhandled over a couple, which she found a little undignified. After a couple of miles we came to the village of Lower Quinton, and beyond that Upper Quinton where there is a lovely village green, with an inviting bench, just right for a lunch stop. The black cloud which had been coming closer finally caught up with us, but we only had rain for about five minutes, and then the sun came ...

Leaving Stratford-upon-Avon the King, still acting the part of a servant, was brought to Long Marston where the party stayed the night at the Manor House, now King's Lodge - the home of Mr John Tomes, a near relative of Jane Lane. For the first leg of our Monarchs Way walk, Rod & Di, Deborah & Alison, and Lily the dog were joined by Richard & Helen, who came up from London to meet us at the start, in Stratford on Avon.  The weather was a little chilly, but sunny and spring-like. We met outside the RSC and set off along the Avon, past Holy Trinity Church where William Shakespeare got baptised, married, and was buried.  The path continued along the Avon until the river was crossed by The Greenway. This former railway line is now a cycle and foot path, so navigation from here on was straightforward,  as the path goes through Long Marston, which was today’s destination.    After a couple of miles we came upon the Milcote Picnic Area, where a cafe in a ...