Malvern Hills - Herefordshire Beacon & British Camp (Day 1)

A weekend of hill walking awaits in the beautiful Malvern Hills. Rising majestically from the Severn Valley this area of outstanding natural beauty borders Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The area is famed for its dramatic hills and for the pure spring water that flows from them. A brief shower just as we are about to start the walk doesn't deter us. Apart from putting on another layer of clothing to keep the rain off. It didn't stay on long as the sun soon came back out again.
The walk today will cover the 'Southern Hills' starting from 'Hollybush'. We take the right hand path as we will be coming back over 'Midsummer Hill'. Whichever way we had chosen to go would have been a steep start. We soon drop down int the woods, in places it is very wet underfoot. I have opted for comfort footwear rather than sturdy. Getting a grip is difficult and a couple of times I nearly go over. I'm quite relieved once we start walking uphill again in truth. Both my knees are heavily strapped to give extra support. We continue climbing past the disused quarry. 

We are heading towards Swinyard Hill, north of Midsummer Hill and south of Hangmans Hill. It has an elevation of 272 metres (892 ft). Swinyard Hill is one of the 8 peaks along the  Three Choirs Way. I suspect it gets It's name because the Cathedrals of Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester can be seen from the highest points. Every direction you look the views are spectacular. Clutters Cave or Giants Cave is located next to Hangman's Hill on the Herefordshire side. It is an artificial cave and may once have been a Hermit's dwelling place. We are now in an area called 'Broad Down'. We are heading in the direction of 'Herefordshire Beacon' and 'British Camp'. The underlying rocks beneath the Hills play a huge role in making this dramatic landscape of flat vales and steep, abrupt hills. At about 700 million years old, the rocks of the Hills are some of the oldest rocks in the UK! 

British Camp & Herefordshire Beacon

British Camp is an Iron Age Hill Fort  which dates from 200 BC. With Motte and Bailey earthworks it takes up much of the Herefordshire Beacon ((1109ft). The second highest summit in the hills. From here there are fantastic views across to The Cotswolds. We stop for a much needed sit down and a drink. Just relaxing and taking in the surrounding scenery. Nothing could be better. We have reached our furthest point for today and will be completing a circular walk back to the starting point earlier.

Leaving British Camp we make a detour west from the planned route to see the 'Eastnor Obelisk'. This 90ft monument can be seen for miles around, and was erected in 1812. The same time as Eastnor Castle. The Obelisk is a monument to the 'Somers Cocks' family. It is currently a Grade 2 listed monument. I would have liked to have had a closer look at Eastnor castle and the Deer Park (used as a location for the wedding episode in the US Drama series 'Succession'). but time was against us. 

The Malvern Hills is one of the smaller Areas of Natural Beauty (AONB) comprising of approximately 105 sq.km extending some 20 km in length and about 9 km at It's widest point. 

The walk itself is only a shade over 7 miles. The elevation gain in total though is 1,724 ft.  

I t has been a tremendous walk and we can a similar one again tomorrow. As long as the knee holds up of course.. The elevation tomorrow will be even higher! But for now it is time to find somewhere that serves a decent pint , get something to eat. Not to mention finding somewhere to pitch our tents. 

Malvern Hills - Worcershire Beacon & Malvern ( Day 2)

Florence Nightingale Bench

Under normal circumstances, a half day walking in the hills, a few pints followed by a large curry would ensure a good night's sleep. Sadly this was not the case on this occasion. I find sleeping under canvas extremely difficult ... I always seem to be sited under a tree that is home to an anti-social Owl. It isn't just that though, my senses seem to be on full hyper alert mode and I can't switch off. furthermore my blow up pillow seemed to have a puncture and deflated quicker than I could blow it up. Hopefully that explains why I'm wide awake at 3 AM listening to the rain and engaging in some tent Yoga. Is that a thing? I can't see it catching on anyway. We make a quick getaway around 8 Am without anybody evening knowing we had been there.  

Malvern Clock Tower

 

Partaking of the water

We arrive in Malvern just as it is waking up. I am quite taken by the 'Florence Nightingale' bench close to the old Priory. It is one of 5 benches installed in the town centre with each one featuring a unique story or legend linked to Malvern’s history. This one has her beloved cat, old medicine bottles and writing implements, I also saw the 'Morgan car' with It's wheel design. We are starting off today from 'Tank Quarry. Very close to the 'Clock Tower' one of several sites where the famous Malvern healing waters can be collected. Unlike tap water, it has not been artificially filtered, has no additives and unlike other natural waters, it contains very little dissolved minerals.

Today we are walking the 'Northern Hills' and will be going to the highest point of the Malvern Hills, 'Worcester Beacon'. The early cloud has cleared and it is a beautiful day. Fueled by a 'Peppermint tea and yesterdays leftover pasta we are ready to go. 
We are climbing towards 'Sugarloaf Hill'. The summit of Sugarloaf Hill is 368 metres (1,207 ft) above sea level. It is usually climbed on the way to the Worcestershire Beacon.Once again the views are totally stunning in every direction. It really does take your breath away. 

 

 

 

 

 

The 'Beacon' looks very intimidating as we approach. The hills are mostly igneous and metamorphic rocks from the late pre-Cambrian, around 600 million years old. Hundreds of millions of years of erosion and glacial passage have given the Beacon and its neighbouring peaks their characteristic smoothly rounded features. The Worcestershire Beacon has historically been used as a location for signalling beacons. In 1588 it formed part of a chain of warning fires which were lit when the Spanish Armada attempted to invade England.

On the summit is one of my favourite things a 'Toposcope' or viewfinder. Identifying all the other points of interest that can be seen from the location. I did take a picture but it didn't turn out too well unfortunately. It was erected to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

Not a bad view at all !

The last climb of this circular walk is 'Summer Hill'. It is a great place to look back from to the Worcestershire Beacon. Its eastern flank is scarred by an abandoned quarry. We will now start to wind our way back towards Malvern. There is still a central area that we haven't covered on this trip. I notice that the next peak is called 'Perseverance Hill'. Very appropriate really considering what would have gone before. They will have to keep for another day though.

The Beacon from Summer Hill

 

It has been another fantastic day of walking . We finish with a tour  in the foothills of the Victorian Town of Malvern. In total 7.6 miles covered with an elevation of 1801 ft.

Dereham - Trains, Wells & Windmills

St Withburga's Well

I always thought that Dereham and East Dereham were two separate places? Apparently not, they are one and the same. There is however a West Dereham some 25 miles away.

I had high expectations of this visit to the Breckland Market Town (That doesn't bode well does it...) It's a Sunday morning and is something of a Ghost Town. Nothing is happening, there is little of any interest. Just the usual offering of Charity shops, Vape stores and Turkish Barbers if you want your hair setting on fire.It must have some redeeming features? After all Stephen Fry got married here.There is also a Windmill here somewhere. Just as we are about to give up I spot a sign pointing to St Withburga's Well, that might be quite  interesting? (To quote Mr Fry). St Withburga's Well is a holy spring located in the churchyard of St Nicholas in the centre of Dereham. The water sprang from the grave of St Withburga when her bones were removed.A plaque records that “The ruins of a tomb which contained the remains of Withburga, youngest daughter of Anna, King of East Angles, who died AD 654. The ambience is slightly spoiled by the presence of an old wheelbarrow if I'm being picky. 

As we walked backed to the car we passed the Signal Box for Dereham North Station. The Mid Norfolk heritage railway.  At 17+1⁄2 miles (28.2 km) preserved standard gauge one of the longest in the UK. Regular steam and diesel services run 11+1⁄2 miles (18.5 km) through the centre of Norfolk down to Wymondham via Yaxham and Thuxton. 

Class 47 Diesel 'County of Essex

After some gentle persuasion I purchased two tickets for a halcyon railway trip from yesteryear. Sadly there were no steam locomotives to pull us along today  Instead we are in the safe hands of the 'County of Essex' Diesel loco also know as Brush Type 4. A class of diesel-electric locomotive that was built between 1962 -1968 at the Crewe works. A total of 512 were produced. 

All change, apparently we aren't going to Wymondham now. Thuxton and back is all we are getting. No idea why? Wrong type of leaves? A cow on the line ? They can't be arsed ? Information is not forthcoming. Not even the offer of a Bus Replacement service. We set off at a snails pace , which gradually increases to a slugs pace as we crawl past Yaxham Station. I'm guessing they are having to pad the ride out a bit now. We get to Thuxton and stop. Nothing is happening, I ask a fresh faced youth in a Stationmasters outfit what the idea is? A 20 minute wait to enjoy the platform while the Diesel Loco turns around to take us back. A 'Runaround' I believe he called it. Not sure if that is official railway terminology?  

If truth be told keeping occupied for twenty minutes on a near deserted rural platform is easier said than done. Pose for the odd photo, that whiled away a few seconds. Checked out the Signal Box, strolled along the Platform, crikey It's nearly time to depart! 'Time flies by when you're the driver of a train' the song goes. Not quite so much for the passenger.

Determined to make up for the £12 per person fare we dive into the 1st Class Compartments. We will be travelling back to Dereham in style. 

Romantic images of bygone days are conjured up of when rail travel ruled the roost. We trundle back into Dereham Station very much as we departed. I can't help feeling rather short changed. 

Oh well onwards and upwards we have a Windmill to find . There is a cafe too and all this high speed travel has pepped up my appetite.  

First impressions aren't great..... Have I said that earlier? We appear to be in the middle of a new housing estate. (Viewings by appointment only). Several wrong turns later we spot the Windmill! Norwich Road Mill was built in 1836,  recently restored and reopened to visitors in 2013. Like many of the houses it looked like it was built last week. There is very little information available about the history. No sign of Windy Miller either. 

 Just to round things off perfectly the flipping Cafe was all shut up too.... I was tempted to name this post 'Disappointing Dereham' It would definitely have been more apt.

 

Norfolk - Burnham Deepdale & Brancaster Staithe Walk

Great to be back in Norfolk again, albeit a short weekend break. A new area to explore today after the old favourite of Wells Next the Sea yesterday. The guidebook promises a delightful contrast between coast and sea. 

The walk starts off from Burnham Deepdale Church. The little Church of St Marys has three claims to fame. The Saxon Round Tower, The Norman font and the medieval glass. The tower dates back some 950 years. The church sits on the busy Wells to Hunstanton Road. We pop over the road to the garage which is a also a shop for a few supplies. During which time I manage to lose the guidebook and have a painful collision with a large bollard in the most sensitive of areas. I don't mean the garage forecourt either...Aloud expletive rang out.. Once composed we set off at the junction down a long 'metalled lane' whatever that is? But that's what it said in the book that I am now re-united with after returning back to the garage. Its not been the best of starts. 

St Marys Church Burnham Deepdale

After some extensive research (Google) I have found out what a 'metalled lane' is! 'Those constructed with cement, concrete or bitumen of coal'. They are also known as 'all weather roads. 'Unmetalled' roads are made up of soil. I think that is enough for the time being.    

We are in the heart of 'Nelson Country' with plenty of references to our most famous Seaman 'Horatio Nelson'. Born in Burnham Thorpe in 1758. His naval career began on 1 January 1771. Nearby pubs include; 'The Trafalgar', 'The Nelson', 'The Victory' and 'The Hero'. 

A 'Metalled' Road'

It is said that there were once seven Burnham villages, only five properly survive. (Deepdale, Norton, Market, Overy and Thorpe). We follow the road to Barrow Common, thick with bracken and gorse bushes. Plenty of wild meadow flowers too.

We actually went a bit wrong, and stayed on the road missing the footpath. After a bit of back tracking we got to the right point on the Common.From our elevated position we got a glimpse of the sea in the distance. 

The walking is downhill now back to the main coastal road again. To our right is the site of the old Roman Fort 'Branodunum'.(Fort of the Raven) . Nothing to see there nowadays though sadly. The closet we got were an street of houses that had been named 'Brandodunum'.

 We are now walking along the narrow streets of Brancaster, gently winding our way down towards the coastal marshes.

Yellow Toadflax

Harebell

After a few spots of rain, the sun has now come out and it is rather warm. We have reach the Coast Path Boardwalk which will take us back to Brancaster Staithe. We cant actually see the sea from the Boardwalk which is beyond the reed beds and marshes in the distance.There is still quite a busy fishing community in Brancaster Staithe'. One or two old abandoned boats too which always make a good photograph. We are now on part of the The Peddars Way, and Norfolk Coast Path. One of England’s most gentle National Trails. The Peddars Way meets the Norfolk Coast Path at Holme-next-the-Sea as it runs from Hunstanton to Hopton-on-Sea. The Trail provides 129.5 miles (208 Km) of walking. Talking of which we have covered some 6.5 miles today. Over a mile more than planned due to missing the footpath earlier. It has been enjoyable though and not too strenuous. Our next port of call is a drive along the coast to Burton Overy Staithe.

Burton Overy Staithe is very reminiscent of Blakeney. The beach at BOS is said to be stunning. But it is about a mile walk over the dunes to get to and best saved for another day. If you are looking for seclusion as we often are then it is the place to go.

Burnham Overy Staithe