Aston-on-Clun to Newcastle-on-clun

Day 5 Aston-on-Clun to Newcastle-on-clun    14.5 miles (was supposed to be 12.5!)  Not too many stiles today just about 6 I think, the rest were gates :)

Another lovely day, the sun was beautifully warm with just a cool breeze every now and then; the countryside looked stunning.  The boys had their legs on show again and the girls took their jumpers off and even rolled the trouser legs up!!

One of the other things we are noticing with our walk is that the distances given in the book are not quite always correct.  Today, we had no navigational errors - hurray!  and pretty much kept on track, but we did 2 miles more than the book says.  So we have taken to saying to ourselves that if the walk is supposed to be 12 miles, then we will be doing 14 - it’s all psychological really; it was mentioned as we passed the 12.5 mile mark that we all stopped and stamped our feet saying we weren't going on, but we were in the middle of no-where and the bus was not nearby! so we plodded on in the heat - are you feeling sorry for us yet?

We started off from Aston-on-Clun and walked through fields and woods; following the Shropshire Way for some of it, until we came to the village of Kempton.  From there we carried on towards the ‘Bury Ditches’ hill fort.  Apparently this was not visible until 1976 when a storm blew most of the trees on top of it down, and the fort was found.  It has since been cleared and attracts a few visitors, especially to see the views from the top.

Looking at the toposcope, on top of the fort

 It was then a long path down and into the village of Clun.

Metal man - on the way to Clun.

 About half way down we met up with Carol and Phil who were walking up to the fort from Clun - it was probably about 3 or 4 miles each way for them to walk so they had a good walk too.
After walking through Clun and earmarking a tea shop for later to visit on our way back; we walked up and up steadily towards Offa’s Dyke.  We stopped for lunch in a field on the way up.  Once we reached the dyke, most of us remembered the location from 2 years ago when we walked the trail.  It was a small wooded area where we sheltered from the rain and had lunch before walking down a long way following the dyke towards Newcastle-on-clun.  Today’s weather of course was so much better, so we were able to appreciate the scenery.

Stabiliser cows!

Before the fort we met a farmer who was rounding up some unusual cows - he told us they were ‘stabilisers’ a cross between Aberdeen; hereford and simantile ; the breed was produced in America.   Also at the top near to Offa’s Dyke we saw a yellow hammer, a little bird with a bright yellow head.  We have seen kites too.

Once at the bottom we walked the short distance on the road to Newcastle-on-Clun to find the bus.  We then drove to Clun and found that tea shop we had spotted earlier.  Very good reasonably priced tea (£1 a mug), and lovely cakes; a selection of lemon; coffee and walnut; chocolate brownies and scones, jam and cream.... Lyn puts the cream on first and then the jam, Stuey puts butter, jam and then cream!

Clun bridge - look closely and you'll see Carol and John 

Back at the house - no we didn't have any more tea and cake today!   Pat and Stuey are on cooking duty and we are having salmon in breadcrumbs.
Just done another small Sainsburys order and the blog's going out early!  Don't know what games are in store for later, I'll let you know tomorrow.