The Shakespeare's Avon Way - Defford & Strensham (22)

 

The last two legs of The Shakespeare's Avon Way lie ahead of us. We are completing them on consecutive days. With a night of 'wild camping' under the stars in between the walks. 

The first walk is starting from the village of Defford in Worcestershire.To be more precise we outside of the Church of St James. The church is around 400 years old with Norman origins, and underwent a major restoration in the 19th century.  A man appears to wind up the church clock. Something of a mystery really. The clock face doesn't ever move, stuck on one time. However the clock chime is always accurate to within 5 seconds at any time. We are going to be walking in a clockwise direction today. Crossing Eckington Bridge once again, picking up 'The Shakespeare's Avon Way' from where we left it last time. We drop down on to the riverside footpath for what will be one of the longest river stretches of the entire walk so far. 

St James Church Defford

The conditions are very good for walking. A bit overcast but at least it is dry and fairly warm. We continue following the River Avon , always in the shadow of the Bredon Hills.  

We arrive at a Lock,  safely negotiating the climb over the water to rejoin the footpath.This takes us along to a weir which again we have to cross. The 'Strensham weir' footpath links the villages of Strensham and Eckington.There are a few Paddle Boarders and Canoeists on the water. There is also a lot of debris stacked on the banks of the river. A legacy of the recent flooding.  

Strensham Weir

We continue onwards moving inland away from the river. We are still on The Shakespeares Avon way though. Lots of fields of crops, in particular 'French Beans'. Vert tempting to pick a few to take home. I settle for just eating a couple raw, just to check the quality of course. Plenty of lovely ripe Blackberries too. Seems to have been an excellent year for them as well as other soft fruit. The path continues along the side of the M5 motorway. We eventually pass underneath the motorway and head towards Showborough House. A former old people’s home that has been turned into a one-and-a-half acres art and sculpture garden.  

'Leisure Poem'

The gardens are closed at the moment. A large white rabbit looks out over the fence. It reminds me of the film 'Donnie Darko'. An extract from the 1911 poem 'Leisure' is quoted on a board. “What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare.". Written by the Welsh poet William Henry Davies. An observation that many of life's simple riches are overlooked due to the pace of modern life.

Close by is possibly the largest 'Bug Hotel' that I have ever seen! 'The King Charles Bug Hotel' .Open to residents all year round. We continue to wards Upper Strensham, crossing over the M50. We can see the Motorway service Station 'Strensham' in the distance. We then pass over the M5 bridge as we move towards 'Lower Strensham. I always find it a strange  and slightly uncomfortable looking down on the fast moving vehicles below. We move away from the noise of the motorway too the peace of the Church of St John the Baptist. In the churchyard is the Grade II listed base of a medieval cross. The door was locked , but a sign directed us to the Old Rectory, beside the church, where a key hung conveniently on a nail set in the wall. 

 

St John The Baptist Church Strensham

 Leaving the rear of the church proves something of a challenge. Firstly it is the field of cows. They showed some interest but generally were well behaved. The Sheep however were full of bravado. Thankfully they lacked the minerals for that final push to attack. We are well on the way now to our starting point at Defford. We are close to the small village of 'Woodmancote'. Only last week a man died when the small plane he was pilot of crashed nearby. We walk right past the Airfield at Defford Croft Farm where it would have taken off from.

No aircraft activity today though, or any sign of the crash. I would imagine there will have to be an inquiry and investigation. Very sad for all concerned, my condolences to the family of the man. The sight of the church comes into view as we walk uphill to Defford. One more walk to go and that will be tomorrow. Now we need to find somewhere to camp and pitch our tents.

 A total distance today of 12 miles exactly.