After another week of house reorganisation, I was getting a little stir crazy and had to get out. My last walk explored to the south of the A4112. So this time I would explore the other side. The aim was to visit the next door villages of Almeley (to the North) and Eardisley to the West. Picking a route that would avoid the major roads in the area.
Following bit of the walks in the local book again.
The start of the walk was across the next door field (unfortunately I had to walk up the road to the opposite side then down to the stream.
The Barley field was soaking wet from the overnoght rain, so I chose to leave the narrow path and follow the tractor tracks around the edge.
I had chosen to go the long way around rather than the back road so followed the field boundary to the next one.
Around the following field to one with a wide boundary. I followed this to some woods - the marked path went into these woods.
Out the far side and down to a stream - still on a wide boundary. On the far side the path kind of disintegrated, so I followed the edge to a break in the fence.
An overgrown path - I knew it was correct because of the dogs on lead sign.
It came out beside a horse yard, and down its driveway.
I crossed over to the driveway to Logaston, and took the farm track heading west.
The farm track ended at a field (and no sign of the path) so along the edge.
Across a stream and through sheep fields heading towards a farmyard.
Just before the farmyard the path turned up through a couple of cow fields to the edge of Almeley
The path came out opposite the cricket pitch. through the common area and a path that went from the pavilion to the pub.
Through the pub car park and out to the other side.
Through the housing estate, and out the path leading to the fields. Along these hay fields keeping above a steep descent.
However I had to drop down to a bridge, to cross over to a farm driveway.
A little way along this then a path climbed up the other side.
Across a stock field to come out on a back road beside Lower Wootton farm.
Around the farm and down a house driveway with a path beside it. Following it through the scrub until a sign lead off to the right.
Now following the field edges climbing up a slight slope.
Looking over to the black mountains, before arriving at Highmoor cottages.
Down the drive to Nieuport house - a large country house with an impressive walled kitchen garden.
Out through the far side and along a farm track through fields to the parks gateway.
Along the back road to reach the A4111. Quickly turnign off the main road down a driveway to Quebb Cottages.
The drive passed a nature reserve, but I continued down to the farm.
Just past the cottages, a very overgrown path lead down to what should have been a byway. This came out to a farm track - vey churned up by cattle that had recently been let loose down it.
Fighting through the milk cows as they wandered between three fields. At the end I turned left down to a fence and very small bridge.
The by-way became even more overgrown and even disappeared into a pond, before emerging onto a drive way for Upper Welson. This is where I joined the Herefordshire trail.
Over a back road beside Dukes farm and through a sheep field, with an interesting escape into the stock field beyond.
Along a field, before dropping down to a back road fr a short section.
Around the back of Field beside a ploughed field.
Into a couple of sheep fields, before reaching the back road that would lead into Eardisley.
Into the village beside the pub.
Down the main street to a path beside a bridge. Along this past a new housing estate before coming out into fields again.
Around a rapeseed field - the path should have cut through it but was long gone. Then into newly ploughed fields - again no paths and a very difficult struggle along the edges.
A slip sliding climb up the rise before reaching a grass field beside Upper Newton farm.
Across stock field to Lower Newton farm. Here I was back on the same route as last time out.
Through the apple orchard and a newly mown path - I wonder if they did this after they saw me last week!
Back aroudn the chicken farms to the A4112.
I decided to see if I could keep off the main road with a dog leg of paths, but after walking down a driveway to a house then the path petered out and I forced my way out beside the next set of cottages. The path was supposed to go down the field edge but was not obvious from this end. I gave in and followed the road home.
