Walking

Friday morning saw us awake and eating a couple breakfasts while we secured our bearings and planned the day. At 11:00, we stepped out into the cool and followed Lou to a footpath leading south out of Brailes. Our destination was Whichford, some three miles away.

England’s USGS equivalent is their Ordnance Survey, which publishes detailed maps of varied scales. The ones I found most useful are 2½ inches to the mile, or 1:25,000. They show topographic contours, trails, farms, barns, churches, and (of course) pubs.

Lower Brailes South
Lower Brailes South

Our way went between the prominent Brailes Hill to the west and Mine Hill on the east. Various fields form a diverse checkerboard pattern across this landscape, interrupted by occasional woodlands. We skirted crops of barley, wheat, rapeseed, broad beans, and hay.

Through a Wheat Field
Through a Wheat Field

At each fence, the trail went over a stile.

Penetrating the Hedgerow
Penetrating the Hedgerow

We paused at the former Whichford Mill, now a private residence. Here flows the River Stour, on which gamboled ducks and geese.

At Whichford Mill
At Whichford Mill

Around 2-ish, we arrived in Whichford proper, where its free house, The Norman Knight, overlooks the wide village green. My lunch was traditional fish and chips, while Linda enjoyed egg and chips and Lou ham, egg, and chips. They drank the ever-popular elderberry soda while I swallowed a pint of ale.

Besides its pretty setting, Whichford is famed for its pottery. Lou is a friend of one owner, Dominique, who showed us around her extensive gardens adjacent to the factory and shop. I was enamoured of the split log tables that held ceramics of all kinds.

Whichford Pottery
Whichford Pottery

Dominique was kind enough to offer a lift back to Brailes. After a nap and a happy hour at (yet another) George Hotel in Shipston, Lou fed us a marvelous curry on rice.

Shipston’s George
Shipston’s George

So ended our Friday.

Comments

  1. Yvonne

    How lover-lee! I am v.m. relishing your walk, the photos, the details – like what you ate and drank. I bet you bought a lovely pitcher from Dominique. However, I am confused: today here in Austin is June 17 (Brett’s birthday). And your lover-lee blog sez Friday.

    I am missing you. And happy for you two taking this fine trip.

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