WILLIAM from Penarth and District Ramblers and his group of six companions ventured over the water and made their way to the village Hall in Awre, pronounced ‘oar’ at the start of their 13-mile trek in the Gloucestershire countryside and along the River Severn.
They set off in glorious sunshine past the 13th Century Church of St Andrew in the lovely village which is mentioned in the Domesday Book. They soon joined part of the Severn Way.
The freshly cut meadows beside the river led them on past The Priory, which once served as an inn before pausing for their mid-morning break on the edge of woodland at Box Grove. Refreshed, they moved on to Bullo Pill where boat building took place before a dock was established with locks and gates where cargo was loaded onto the Severn Trows, which were flat bottomed, sturdily built sailing ships that carried coal, timber, grain and vegetables.
After crossing the A48 and climbing past farms to reach Haie Grove Wood, they passed through fields beside the Forge Brook before stopping for lunch on its banks.
Then it was on to the town of Blakeney and they re-crossed the A48 for the steep climb to reach Old Hill and two glorious meadows at Clarke’s Pool Nature Reserve, where the land is completely devoid of pesticides and fertilizers so wildlife can flourish. More fields led to Etloe which overlooks the Purton Hulks that line the Sharpness Canal and were scuppered deliberately to prevent the banks eroding.
Paths beside the river led to Gatcombe, renowned in days gone by for its ‘Stop-Net’ fishing, where larger boats built with timber from the Forest of Dean, battled against the treacherous conditions in the Bristol Channel and lowered their large nets, which were held in place with a prop until a fish was caught and the prop was kicked away so the fish was netted. Then crossing the main Chepstow to Gloucester railway line and pushing their way through overgrown path,s they returned to their start point.
River Wye walk
Monmouth and over the border into Herefordshire was the setting for the 11 walkers who joined Joy on a lovely sunny morning as they tramped from Monmouth beside the glorious River Wye to Dixton, where unfortunately the visit to the Church of St Peter didn’t take place as it was firmly locked. They carefully crossed the busy A40 and began the long gradual climb, first by quiet lane passing the impressive Newton Court, now private apartments, with its fabulous views over Monmouth town, then into woodland at Hayes Coppice.
The overgrown muddy track festooned with tall foxgloves led them uphill to Goldsmith’s Wood where morning break was enjoyed below tall ancient beech trees and, after passing the time of day with a group from Bristol, they moved on.
Avoiding the waterlogged dips in the uneven pathway and exiting from woodland near St Wulstan’s Farm, with grand views to the eastern horizon and the undulating Malvern Hills, a country lane led them through the sleepy village of Welsh Newton and into fields, with almost breathtaking views stretching to the Black Mountains, Blorenge and Sugar Loaf Mountain. Then a series of awkward stiles brought them downhill to the pretty Church of St Mary the Virgin for their lunch stop and, visiting its peaceful and cool interior, they viewed the stained glass and rood screen.
Its churchyard also contains the grave of St John Kemble, who although completely innocent was sadly hanged, allegedly for treason, and moving on by road they re-entered fields cropped with wheat for the short climb to Manson Lane. Passing sheep and lambs sheltering under trees for their Sunday afternoon nap, they crossed open fields at Great Manson Farm heading downhill to walk beside and through cropped fields, to finally reach the banks of the River Monnow, which join the River Wye at Monmouth and, passing through a field where the hay had been baled, they made their way back via pavements.
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Joy Strangward
- Penarth ramblers enjoy their weekend in Sussex
- Ramblers explore Sully Island
- Ramblers celebrate with a picnic in the park
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