18 January 2014: Stratford upon Avon to Welcombe
| Walk descriptor | Test walk | Day | 00 | ||
| Date | Sat 18 Jan 2014 | Start to end time | 07h 34m | ||
| Start point | Stratford Parkway station | End point | Stratford Parkway (circuit) | ||
| Miles today | 14.10 | Cu miles | 0,000.00 | ||
| Ft today | 712 | Cu ft | 000,000 | ||
| Route miles left | 0,000 | Route ft left | 000,000 | ||
| Today’s weather | Very mild. Mostly cloudy but occasional glimpses of sunshine. Occasional showers later in afternoon. Light westerly breeze | ||||
 |
 |
||||
| Today’s location (the red cross in a circle shows where I am at the moment) |
GPX based track of today’s walk (click here to access to access downloadable file) |
||||
Commentary
Took advantage of a break in the weather to drive up to Stratford to meet up with friends for a day walking in Shakespeare’s country.
Although it was very wet and muddy everywhere, it didn’t actually rain much and the sun even shone from time to time. Really interesting walk along the canal bank at the start (the canal was drained in places for repair) and then across country to the Monarch’s Way.
Passed through Wilmcote (home of Shakespeare’s mother and charming in parts) and Bearley and then to Snitterfield. Grocer’s shop had the first Seville oranges of the season, just in, so I took opportunity to buy some for processing later in the week (though had to carry 2 kg of fruit the whole of the rest of the way round). Then went on to the Welcombe Hills Country park and the mysterious obelisk, before descending into Stratford.
By the time we got to Stratford it was nearly dark, but the Royal Shakespeare Company buildings were well lit and clearly doing good business. Stopped for coffee in Costa then walked back along to the canal bank to the brand new Stratford Parkway station (so new it’s not shown on Google Earth) where we had parked the cars. Drove to the Snitterfield Arms for excellent bar meal before returning home via the M40.
Today’s photos (click to enlarge)
 |
 |
| With Val in Welcombe Hills Country Park, with Obelisk in distance | Dramatic skies over saturated fields looking back towards Wilmcote |
 |
 |
| Cast iron bridge over Stratford upon Avon canal. The slit in the middle is not to allow the bridge to open, but to allow the horse’s towrope to run through it as the boat passed underneath | In the charming and historic village of Wilmcote – the birthplace of Mary Arden, Shakespeare’s mother |
 |
 |
| Seville oranges in grocers’ at Snitterfield – oranges today, marmalade tomorrow.. | At end of walk – Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford |
 |
|
| Lunch with frieds at junction with Monarchs Way, just beyond Bearley | |
