Seduced by the blue skies and watery sunshine, I abandoned my usual four layer insulation for just the three. There will be a lot of water on today's walk. Thankfully none forecast to come from the skies though.
Starting from Leamington Spa we pick up the Centenary Way. path. We pass Welches Meadows Nature Reserve on the south bank of the River Leam. We follow the river into the heart of Leamington Spa. We arrive in Jephson Gardens, a beautiful formal Victorian park. The gardens, were once a place for the wealthy to 'take the air' and 'be seen'. Talking of being seen, a strange gentleman was walking without shoes and on his toes... If you can imagine that.He stopped to ask me if I was Norwegian or even a Viking? I never thought to ask him why he was walking the way he was.. He tottered off in his invisible high heels muttering something about studying quantum mechanisms. Now it all makes sense!
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| Are you Norwegian? |
The historic Royal Pump Rooms are famous Spa Baths opened in the late-18th and mid-19th centuries. People would travel from throughout the country, and indeed Europe, to benefit from treatments using the town's healing waters.
By the mid-19th century 'taking the waters' became less fashionable. The decision was made in 1860 to close the Pump Rooms with a view to demolishing them. A group of local investors clubbed together and bought the building in October 1861. A Turkish Baths and Swimming Pool were added and re-opened in 1863.
Today the building is home to an Art Gallery and Museum.
We pick up the Grand Union Canal and follow the towpath into Warwick.
A figure of eight circuit around Leamington Spa, we have just passed over the River Avon where it joins the canal.
Leaving the water behind for now the walk takes us around the back of Warwick Racecourse and the 9 hole Golf Course. The racecourse is not the best for watching the races. Apart from in front of the Grandstand the horses disapear from view for about 5 minutes until they appear once again.
Former Champion Jump Jockey John Francome once joked that he was able to 'light up a fag' around the first bend. The footpath isn't particularly well marked, thankfully no horses to negotiate today though.
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The Lord Leycester Hospital
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The Lord Leycester Hospital sits at the top of the list of the most important and intact medieval buildings in England.It is a Grade I listed building dating back 900 years. The hospital started out as The Chapel of St James and dates back to 1126. Today the Hospital is run by the Master, a retired officer of the Armed
Forces. Eight ex-servicemen and their wives are provided with flats in
return for their past services: they act as guides for visitors.
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Warwick Castle
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In the centre of Warwick we get a glimpse of one of the Towers from the Castle. Warwick Castle is situated on a bend in the River Avon. The river, which runs below the castle on the east side, has eroded the
rock the castle stands on, forming a cliff. The river and cliff form
natural defences.
When construction began in 1068, four houses belonging to the Abbott of Coventry were demolished to make space. Suffice to say there is a lot of history thereafter that I can't possibly do justice to in this blog! Plenty of further reading to be had for those who so wish.
A stretch along the River Avon and then we are back on the Grand Union Canal again heading back towards our starting point. It has noticeably turned a bit colder too, particularly when the sun disappears. Don't forget I've gone into this walk a layer light as well! We pass an area on our right called 'Jephson's Farm'. A lot of Pigeons have taken up residence in the steel girders underneath many of the bridges. There is the usual canal graffiti although some is better than others.Some can only described as amazing artwork.
We arrive back at the start having clocked up 11.5 miles in total. A very different type of walk today in a figure of 8 shape. Lots of history on show today in both Warwick and Leamington.Great fun as always and another leg of The Shakespeares Avon Way ticked off!
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