Eight of us joined the walk on Saturday 22nd June - a number diminished perhaps by the poor weather forecast. We were joined by two new people to our group, one travelled all the way from London and the other was the joint owner of the Fox Inn at Peasemore which had been advertised as a drink/meal stop after the walk.
We started the walk from the village of Peasemore by the village pond and so it was very appropriate with a heavy shower at the start of the walk that a duck and a gaggle of ducklings were spotted at our departure time.
We headed off along Hillgreen lane and passed The Fox Inn, the final destination of the day.
During the walk many of us learnt quite a bit about the recent history of The Fox Inn from the joint owner. It has now been re-opened for 3 months after an extensive make over and is doing very well which is nice to hear when so often country pubs are heard to be struggling.
We proceeded along Peasemore Hill Lane and into Eastley Copse which earlier in the year is a good place to see Bluebells. Exiting the copse we normally would have a good view point westerly to Chaddleworth but following the rain it was rather overcast, we headed down the hill and alongside a field boundary that proved quite a work out since the grass was now fairly long and very wet. During this part of the walk the rain turned fairly heavy and we looked quite a wet sight.
After crossing a road with care we next passed Cotswold Farm and continued heading west through a stable block towards Chaddleworth. By now the earlier rain had passed through much to the relief of those walking.
We walked along several fields before arriving at a road for a drink stop and then proceeded along a private driveway with path to Oak Ash farm. This drive way is a good place to view Daffodils when they are in season. Crossing a footbridge over a pond we then ventured through a large field being met by a playful small dog and arrived at the village of Chaddleworth.
In Chaddleworth we went down into the village passing the school and Ibex Inn which is now sadly closed before heading east at Nodmore on our return journey. Our return was along a wide track called Wick Lane and then over to Manor Farm.
Manor Farm can provide a very good point with views south facing as far as Walbury Hill and Combe Gibbet however on our walk as seen here the view was rather more lacking following the earlier rain.
Very conveniently there is a bench by the grass bank to rest and admire the scenary so we stopped briefly here for another drink stop.
We continued our eastwards track passing the church at Leckhamstead and up the one reasonable hill of the walk to Hillgreen where a very attractive cottage and well maintained hedge was seen.
From Hillgreen the leader decided to follow the Prince's Lane rather than cross what may have been a muddy field back to Peasemore.
After a change of footwear six of the eight went to The Fox Inn where we were joined by the owner for a well-deserved enjoyable drink and lunch together with Alison who could not joint lead the walk as originally planned.
Thank you to Mike for leading the walk, taking the photos and writing it up.
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