Easton Maudit & Yardley Hastings Circular Walk

Today's Route

A  Little uncertainty about the walk today....Weather forecast not great , heavy showers and sunshine forecast.
It's always good to get out the house though isn't it? Especially in these troubled times. A lot of the area around Yardley Chase is private property , some belonging to the MOD so best avoided.

Even at the start of the walk I was pretty well 'layered up'. Starting point was by this rather splendid Grade II thatched cottage dating back to 1810. The thatched roof overlaps the cottage and is supported by amazing rustic tree stumps.
I think it might be a 'Hobbit House' ?

We depart to the rear of the cottage going uphill through a gated field.

A flock of inquisitive sheep watch our every move. We are going in the direction of 'Horn Wood'.

Big Skies

Sheep 'weather watching'

It is actually quite warm despite a brief shower . The mac is back off along with the fleece as the sun puts in an appearance. Lovely open spaces and not a soul about as we make our way along the path towards 'Cold Oak Copse'. We actually go slightly wrong shortly after this point. As is often the case the footpaths are not always obvious. In this case it's more of a 'happy accident' as the path takes us through the churchyard of St Andrews Yardley Hastings.

St Andrews Church Yardley Hastings

Skies starting to darken

We make the turn back towards Easton Maudit and the skies are starting to look a bit ominous. Someone is getting a downpour not too far away.

Amazingly in the middle of nowhere somebody has managed to dump an armchair ! How they have got it here I have no idea...It is making a home for a few snails though who are enjoying a bit of comfort.

My walking companion , ever the optimist seems to think the storm is going to go around us. I'm not convinced though as we start to quicken the pace.

We haven't gone too much further when the first rumbles of thunder start up.

I've just about got the mac on again as the first drops start to fall. The lightning is starting too. I'm really not sure if being directly underneath electricity pylons is a good or bad thing ??  I'm opting for bad and break out into a jog as the rain turns to hail and it's flipping hammering it down.

We have to find some sort of shelter, and make do with cowering behind a hedge, at least it's something.
We are right in the eye of the storm now and there is no escape. Just got to ride it out and let it pass.   

  

A hint of blue sky

St Peter and St Paul's Church Easton Maudit

By the time we arrive at the Church in Easton Maudit the rain has lessened to a light drizzle.
There is even a hint of blue sky through a break in the clouds.

The churchyard is the burial site for the actor and Witt Derek Nimmo a lifelong resident of the village.
He always seemed to play vicar roles so I'm sure he feels perfectly at home here.

Despite the weather it's been a good walk , at just under 6 miles not one of our longer ones, but always interesting. 

A bedraggled walker amongst the puddle reflections