Coleshill to Little Faringdon - Friday 31 October 2014
This was one of those rare days when we couldn’t use public
transport very easily. The shortening hours and paucity of good bus connections
meant that T&P drove from home and rendezvoused with N at T’s Mum’s house. Everything went to plan and
we then got a lift, courtesy of T’s Mum, to Coleshill for a 10am departure from
Church Lane (Grid Ref: SU2357 9376). The
weather was just right for a walk - dry, sunny and mild. In fact later that day
it was confirmed to be the mildest Halloween day on record.
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| Leaving Coleshill |
We headed north from Coleshill, with the sun warming our
backs, across fields and then onto a minor road towards Buscot. Distant guns of
a shoot, presumably in Buscot Park, and dodging onto the verge to avoid fast
cars and the bus that we would catch later than day (pause for hollow laughter
– you will see why) were the only interruptions to a pleasant stroll.
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| Leaves have fallen |
The path
turned towards Broadleaze Farm and then
headed northwards to the small estate
village of Buscot. Before 1977 this was actually in Berkshire.
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| Buscot village hall |
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| Cotswold roof detail |
Most of the buildings were constructed from warm, sandy-yellow,
Cotswold stone. Research later revealed that most of the village is owned by
the National Trust. Passed a small tea room and onto the lock, the penultimate
one on the River Thames (going upstream).
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| Thames downstream of Buscot lock |
Crossed the river and back into
Gloucestershire (back to the first county “shire” of this walk). Had our
elevenses sitting on a bench by the lock (SU2304 9810) and then
headed east on the left bank of the river. Actually it was only generally east
as the river meanders quite a bit and the path follows every twist and turn of
the water course. We couldn’t take a short cut as the Thames path was fenced in
with electric fencing. Our discussion then turned to meanders, river
hydraulics, and regime theory and led to P giving a lecture on the Lacy
formula. The discussion then moved onto a discourse on consequent and
subsequent rivers from T. The upper
Thames and its tributaries is a prime example for the geographers among you.
It whiled away the time and before we knew it
we were able to turn away from the river and double back to reach the village
of Kelmscott. Our guide book takes this detour to see Kelmscott Manor
(SU25109889), home of William Morris - Arts and Craft movement and
friend of many of the pre-Raphaelite painters.
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| Kelmscott Manor |
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| William Morris - what a relief |
The manor house was closed so a picture of the front and of
a stone relief / representation of the man himself had to suffice, (Grid Ref:
SU2499 9902). We also saw the stone panel fence mentioned in the guide
book. A quick chat and photo opportunity
with a pony in a nearby field and then straight into The Plough for a couple of
lunchtime drinks, (Grid Ref: SU2491 9908).
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| Stone panel fence |
Nice pub, didn’t see much of the
inside as it was warm enough to sit outside, if you were in the sun. We decided
to rate it 7 out of 10.
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| The Plough, Kelmscott |
The path then headed west north west, across several arable
fields, mainly kale, probably winter feed for sheep. Then turned down Mill Lane
towards Lechlade Mill (which we never actually saw) on the River Leach, a left
bank tributary that we will follow later back into the Cotswolds. The path then
took a dog leg to follow the actual county boundary between Gloucestershire
and Oxfordshire and we eventually arrived
at another quiet lane leading to Little Faringdon. Time to finish off our
remaining sandwiches and snacks before heading along this quiet lane with grass
and moss growing in the middle of the road.
It didn’t remain quiet for long though as “Postman Pat” came bowling
down the road to make a delivery to Crossing Cottage, (SP2344 0053).
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| Intrigued pony |
Investigations later showed that this was the site of one of
the few level crossings on the East Gloucestershire Railway a branch line from
Oxford via Yarnton junction, Eynsham,
Witney and Lechlade to Fairford, closed in 1962. T somehow had a booklet about
the old railway at home.
A bit more road walking and we rocked up in Little
Faringdon. The village seemed to be dominated by the development of a house
(part renovations and part new construction).
Apparently Kate Moss (model) now
lives in Little Faringdon – was this her ten-bedroom house? Perhaps moss
growing in the middle of the road was appropriate? A large bonfire was under
construction in the paddock opposite the church – the phrase “bonfire of the vanities” springs to
mind. As there was plenty of time to wait for the bus we had a look around the
small church (SP2262 0141) one of a combined parish of about ten
other local church parishes.
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| Little Faringdon church |
Then a long wait on the side of the A361 (SP2229
0169) for the Pulham’s Coaches number 64 to Carterton that never turned up. After
half an hour we gave up and N phoned for a taxi from Carterton to come and pick
us up. Good planning as he had already loaded the taxi number. Fifteen minutes
later we were being whisked along in comfort to the said large village to meet
T’s Mum again. “Sorry, a bit late. B***** bus”.
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| Blasted oak near Little Faringdon |
Then the drama began. P realised that he must have left is
glasses in the taxi. Luckily were weren’t far away and a phone call to the taxi
driver and the use of the map app on a smart phone meant that T & P could
find the taxi driver’s house in Carterton and reunite P with his glasses. Quick
cuppa chez T’s Mum’s and eventually home.
Many thanks to T’s Mum who supplied apples and snacks and a
welcome cuppa and probably drove her last car journey as she is giving up the
car at the end of November.
In summary: Another pleasant
and mild day (is this climate change?) Managed a bit further than last time and
clocked up 8.8 miles. Dare we call this K day? - kind weather, Kelmscott, kale and
Kate who we never saw. (Didn’t see the bus either!)
