For newcomers

At the bottom of each post there is the word "comments". If you click on it you will see comments made by followers, and if you follow the instructions you may also comment and I always welcome that. I have found many people overlook this part of the blog which is often more interesting than the original post!

My blog nick-name is SIR HUGH. I'm not from the aristocracy - my middle name is Hugh which relates to the list of 282 hills in Scotland compiled by Sir Hugh Munro in 1891. I climbed my last one (Sgurr Mor) on 28th June 2009

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Sunday 24 May 2015

Manton to Medbourne


Day 5. Sunday 24th May

Last night I ate with my hosts and a couple who have visited the attached caravan site for many years. Good farmhouse home cooking included Dead Shepherd (lamb sort of cottage pie - excellent), and a luscious fruit crumble with oats, and some fine Ruddles bottled beer. Conversation was lively to say the least. My stay at Pheasant's Roost was enjoyable and entertaining.

The scenery has now changed into rolling hills with many varied crop fields. Macmillan Way markers are sparse, but the route is easy to follow. Generally paths have been cleared and generous margins left on crop field edges, and where the path goes through the middle a ten foot wide roadway has been left, so the many moans I have made before about "farmers' fields" have rarely applied so far.

I have the official guide which is badly written: narrative history etc. mixed in with the walking instructions, and often no mention of distance between points. One time we are asked to keep the hedge on our left then, later, keep to the left of the hedge, and then keep to the hedge's left. I think if you visited all the churches they recommend this would take a year. Lessons could be learned from Cicerone Press who specialise in walking guides and have perfected and standardised the best format.

I knew this walk was going to be expensive without any tenting and walking through some of the poshest country in England. Last night I booked ahead to the Nevill Arms here in Medbourne and was told a room for single occupancy would be £99. As I walked today I wondered if they had made a mistake quoting me as for two people. On arrival they had made a mistake and the revised price is now £79, but it is good and worth it for the soak in a large bath, and a menu with some originality even though I did go for fish and chips, but prefaced by a yummy plate of mixed slightly toasted breads and olive oil dip.

I am eating in the bar and there are two blonde females aged perhaps in their thirties conversing with a seventy year old white grizzle bearded, short sleeve shirted male and the three of them are becoming progressively more drunk and making monstrous noise, the man shouting his conversation and the females shrieking back. I cannot guess what the relationship is between them.




Pheasant's Roost


A welcome bench in the middle of nowhere


In Hallaton



The Nevill Arms, Medbourne



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

6 comments:

  1. potentially pecuniary, one might surmise

    near where you are staying is a hill-top 'village' that looks as though it has remained that way since the last Nevill(e) rode out from the crenellated enciente of the vast rambling manor-citadel to his death - but ultra-high 'tech' inside: subterranean cinema and full-sized pool, automated lighting in and out doors, helipad - as you say, you are entering some of the plushest parts of the realm, of both ancient and modern wealth.
    So it may be hard work ahead, to keep your budget under control !

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  2. The trip is beginning to take on a deserved character and I feel [hope] you are getting to grips with the area and the physical exertion needed. Enjoy - I am. "toasted breads and olive oil drip" - a far cry from 'smash' in the tent.
    I originally read the post as "Manton to Melbourne" that would have been interesting, any possibility for a future adventure.

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  3. The sheer anonymity of all these village names one has never heard of. Sorry - it's Hay Festival at the moment and I'm short of time.

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  4. Gimmer - one of your college contemporaries eh?

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    Bowland climber - yes John, I think it may get labelled as Conrad Walks Visa.

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    RR - it is all reminiscent of Agatha Christie novels. I may yet end up in a room with all the other suspects whilst the clever amateur detective reveals all.

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  5. Your image of Hallaton buildings reminds me of illustrated story books from my (much!) younger days.

    Sounds like another fine adventure you're having, Conrad. Hope it continues so.

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  6. The Crow. I think there will be more of that further on. It's the sort of thing Americsn tourists come to see.

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