The first Shakespeare's Avon Way walk of 2023. We are starting from the pretty Hamlet of Marlcliff, a mile south of Bidford-on-Avon. Parking is a little tricky, we park further up the lane where it is a little wider. Clearly a popular spot for walkers being so close to the river Avon.Considering we finished the previous leg of the walk here , It doesn't look very familiar? Bit of a false start too, as we climb the steep steps away from the River up the bank. Realising the error we soon came back down again. Maybe all will become clearer on the return part of the walk?
Thankfully It's a dry day if not a bright one. Lots of early signs of Spring with masses of Snowdrops and Crocuses in bloom. We are walking towards Marlcliff Lock.
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This part of the river is referred to as the Stratford Avon to distinguish it from other navigable river Avons such as the Bristol Avon. The Upper Avon (Evesham to Stratford) fell foul of the railways and fell into disuse after 1875. It was finally restored and reopened by HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in 1974.
Surprisingly enough there are very few people around? Not quite sure where they have all disappeared to? Anyway it's a peaceful and picturesque scene. Sadly though that is all about to change......
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It started with some panes of broken glass, and soon escalated to abandoned cars, trailers and all sorts of other types of rubbish. An absolute blight on a beautiful landscape. I couldn't actually bring myself to photograph the majority of it in all honesty. A painful reminder of how some people have now appreciation of the environment in which they live. I find it hard to understand the mentality,but unfortunately as I cyclist I see similar acts of rubbish dumping all to frequently. There is a close by 'Travellers' Park that may or may not have anything to do with it?
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Thankfully things improve as we head towards Offenham.
We are now in the famed 'Vale of Evesham'. For centuries regarded as the fruit and vegetable basket of England. This is a huge area of the River Avon flood plain given over to market gardening.It's a bit early for the world famous 'Asparagus' grown here. Picking usually starts in April, the end of the harvest in June or July. Other crops such as;carrots, peas, parsnips, leeks and cabbages are all grown in the area. There are literally acres of glass houses to protect the precious crops.
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Offenham village is noted for its 64 ft Maypole,the tallest of only six permanent maypoles remaining in England. I could see it standing proud in the distance but we turned off beforehand.The tradition of Maypole dancing dates back to medieval times. The St Mary and St Milburgh Church was first built in 1538.
Offenham was founded as a monastic grange and medieval deer park by the Benedictine Abbots of Evesham Abbey in the 13th Century.
The British Legion appears to be the place where it is all going on these days. The posters on the glass door advertise upcoming events including an Oompah Band (bring your own tea for the interval). There is also a Psychic reading and afternoon tea event. Presumably the Psychic will be reading the leaves once the tea has been drunk I presume? I would be tempted to combine the two events and make a real night of it.
We make our way out of Offenham down the interestingly named 'Three Cocks Lane'. Passing 'Three Cocks Cottages in the process.
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It's a bit of a climb to get to the top of Windmill Hill Nature Reserve. The excellent views of the Avon Valley more than compensate. One of the best remaining limestone grasslands in the county, a haven for wildflowers and butterflies. A great area for the lime loving plants such as; cowslip, fairy flax, field scabious, common knapweed, and common and spiny restharrow. The Malvern Hills in the distance provide a stunning backdrop.
My knee has been fine too, an absolute blessing. The recent steroid injection seems to have been a huge success!It makes such a difference.On some of the walks before Christmas I was literally dragging myself along towards the end.
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We drop back down to river level again as we head back towards Marlcliff. It isn't long before we find another dumped vehicle. Ominously perched on the riverbank as though taking a drink. A version of a cautious Zebra sipping at an African Waterhole. My companion disappears for reasons best not disclosed on here. A comfortable seat is found on a gate that has been bumped and dented a few times. Normal service is quickly resumed , relief is felt all around.
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There are some nice views looking back towards the Vale of Evesham. Arriving back to where we left the car I noticed several other vehicles have notes left on the windscreen. A quick glance reveals a friendly invitation to 'park better next time'. The distributor actually congratulated us on our thoughtful parking, which was nice.In summary I would say this walk has been 'The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' for fairly obvious reasons. In total a distance of 10.7 miles covered. A friend of mine sent me a 'Thought for the Day'. It seems quite fitting for the walk today.
'No man ever steps in the same river twice.
For it's not the same river , and he's not the same man' - Heraclitus.
Maybe we should be more like water and be formless?
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