Tuesday, January 6, 2009

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Rambling - September 2004 Report

September. Blustery weather and the expectation of rain later did not put off a better than average complement of ramblers as we headed out of the village along Fieldside onto the path to South Moreton. We were treated to a distant sighting of a pair of Red Kites riding the wind without effort. Entering South Moreton on the right bank of Mill Brook opposite the church and ancient mound, we made a brief inspection of the ruins of the old mill before progressing into the village via the rather insalubrious Halls Barns. Crossing the Astons road we walked up Papermill Lane (so Hagbourne's obviously wasn't the only paper mill on the stream) and a short link leading to an old moat. The group speculated on what South Moreton needed a moat for: one of our number said he hadn't the "remoatest"! Here we turned right to pass under the main line in a tunnel rather reminiscent, albeit scaled down, of Brunel's famous crossing of the Thames at Goring. Passing South Moreton's far from fragrant Sewage Works we continued east on the path signposted Wallingford, leaving it at a sharp left turn along Kibble Ditch - considerably prettier than its name implies - and into North Moreton at St Peter's nursery.

We circumnavigated the village on the east via the recreation ground, through the churchyard, and then a northern and western "by pass" behind the gardens allowing us to avoid distraction by any of North Moreton's pretty bits. A new permissive path, thanks to an enlightened local farmer, allowed us to cross to the railway accommodation bridge on the path that leads from Fulscot to Haddon Hill. As well as offering splendid 360 degree views, this route is a major plus: North Moreton is no longer the no-go area it had been due to best-avoided trafficked sections.

It had been getting steadily more overcast, indeed quite portentous as we re-entered East Hagbourne via the Shortlands farm track. But the rain held off until the final yards of the 7 mile walk shortly before 5pm. The weather might have been a bit iffy but there was no missing the mellow fruitfulness of the season offering almost continuous grazing possibilities of blackberries, apples, damsons and hazelnuts.

Next Village Ramble:

Sunday, October 10th - 2:00pm - Meet at East Hagbourne Upper Cross