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Back in Offenham for what promises to be an interesting Riverside Walk. However things did not get off to a good start.....After a lengthy car journey, lets just say there was an urgent need to 'pay a visit' as they say in polite circles. A leafy narrow lane which was also a Public Right of Way looked promising. All was going according to plan until a car appeared out of nowhere. A angry lady pulled up, wound down the car window and proceeded to berate me for my actions. 'This is someones garden' she shrieked. Well no it wasn't , it was a verge that backed on to a paddock with horses. 'You need to find a better place' she continued without letting up. It's a bit late for that I'm afraid I replied, hastily adjusting myself. All very much to the amusement of my walking companion, who she had driven straight past! I wonder what she thought the horses did when they felt the need to go?
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Feeling suitably rebuked the walk continues towards Evesham. Over the Railway Bridge and through a housing area. One front garden is holding It's own Climate change protest. We cross the lovely 'Workman' Bridge into Evesham. Named after the mayor under whose auspices it was built in 1866.
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Evesham is situated on a horseshoe-shaped peninsula almost completely surrounded by water in a meander of the River Avon. The Town Centre is prone to flooding as you might expect. The 2007 floods were the worst recorded.
Its lovely walking riverside through the park. Lots going on on and off the water. We are on the ‘Round Evesham Walk too. A circular walk of about 5 miles and is way-marked with the distinctive ‘Round Evesham Walk’ discs. Very soon we will have to cross the River Avon Thankfully there is a Cable Ferry that will take us across without getting wet. (The Hampton Ferry). The ferry is manually operated by pulling on a cable that is suspended across the river.When the ferry is docked at either bank the cable is allowed to sink to the river bottom, so as not to interfere with navigation. However when in operation though things can work out slightly differently.
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Our larger than life 'Ferryman' tells us that the the Ferry has been in operation for over a thousand years. Originally created for the Monks to get to their Vineyards on the steep slopes of Clark's Hill opposite. These days a payment of a pound coin is required to secure passage on the very short trip.
Unfortunately it seems that he is a rather grumpy Ferryman too. Certainly no lover of the craft using the River. A two man canoe receives a high volume blast of 'stop your gas-bagging and get a move on' . Blooming Boat Club think they own the damn River. We've been her longer than them. Another canoe just manages to duck under the rope across the water. Do you ever catch anyone we inquire? His eyes light up as he replies 'Oh yes, several every day'. What happens then we ask? 'I just smile' he said in a deadpan manner....Chilling.
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Things are more sedate on the other side of The River Avon. We move away from the River towards a place called 'Bengeworth'. There are fields upon fields over Orchards. This followed by acres of Glass houses and Nurseries as we move towards Aldington. We are now 3 miles East of Evesham. All part of what is famously known as 'The Vale of Evesham'.
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There is still the small matter of crossing a busy weir as we make our way back to Offenham. OK, well it probably sounded scarier than it actually was. We make our way back through even more nurseries to our starting point.In truth the second part of the walk has been a little mundane compared to the first half. Maybe I'm just a bit cranky because It's hot and my knee is hurting, and the boots are pinching my toes? Relief comes in the shape of a sign saying Riverside Pub half a mile.My maths tells me this is going to a round trip of a mile. We agree to take the car parked close by. A pint of Buttcombe Pale Ale is quickly followed by their Best Bitter. A beautiful setting as we sit in an elevated position overlooking the River Avon.
The walk today has been a total of 9.68 miles.
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