LETJOG PEAK No 24: Ebrington Hill, Warwickshire (261 metres)
Walk Date: Friday 2 June 2023
A new growth of ivy on the ironstone of a cottage in Shipston
Numerically at least, today’s ramble marks halfway in my LETJOG Peaks challenge. Ebrington Hill, in south Warwickshire is my 24th County Top, the mid-point of my attempt to conquer the summits of all of the 48 Ceremonial Counties of England during 2023. With the fine weather of last month continuing into early June I am taking full advantage of the perfect walking conditions to climb as many peaks as my diary (and my legs) will allow, before the heat of high summer arrives.
Ebrington Hill, the top point of Warwickshire is at the top left corner of my route map for today, depicted by the dark blue line – my start point was Shipston-on-Stour to the right of the map, then taking a clockwise route to the peak via the villages of Stretton-on-Fosse and Ebrington, before a more direct descent back along the paths, tracks and lanes to Shipston: the straight diagonal green road on the map is the Fosse Way (described below)
So today, what better than an early start for a fine walk in rural Warwickshire? Hailed as ‘Shakespeare’s County’ the shire also lays claim to being the ‘Heart of England’, and its fine buildings, villages and towns, set off against a backdrop of fine rolling countryside, certainly show off our land at its finest – at least so far as the ‘lowlands’ are concerned. I have been fortunate in the past to have had some work in Stratford-upon-Avon and to have stayed more recently in Chipping Campden just over the border into Gloucestershire, but I was not familiar hitherto with this immediate area around and to the west of Shipston. As I hope the photos show, a super day awaited me over these 14 miles of bucolic beauty.
My walk began in Shipston-on-Stour, revelling in past floricultural glories Crossing the River Stour on the road bridge at The Old MillA green lane out of the town . . .. . . leading into the ‘Highly Commended’ wheat-fields . . .. . . and past many acres of broad bean plantsAn inadvertent visit to North Cotswold Brewery that I happened upon at Ditchford Farm – and on brewing day too, with all the wonderful aromas of malt and hops!Wild roses in the hedgerowCrossing the Fosse – now adopted (over this section) as the A429 main road, the straight-as-a-die 230-mile Fosse Way was built originally by the Romans during the first two centuries AD to link Exeter and Lincoln, along a route that was for some decades the western frontier of the Roman Empire in BritainAlong green tracks through sylvan glades . . .. . . and over the grazing lands . . .. . . to the pleasant village of Stretton-on-Fosse, and a first view of far-off Ebrington HillBack into the fields, the view eastwards over to Brailes Hill, in the distance with a spinney on its topThe honey-toned ironstone and thatched roofs are characteristic of the charming cottages in these parts, as seen here in Ebrington villageAt last, approaching my destination peak for the day . . .. . . the summit of Shakespeare’s County, Ebrington Hill, at 261 metres of elevation: with a topographic prominence of 111 metres the mount falls a little short of achieving ‘Marilyn’ status, but nonetheless enjoys some fine views across the Vale of Evesham and as far as the Malvern Hills in the distant western hazeStarting my eastward descent, and not a bad spot for my sandwich lunch!Cows in the fields near Darlingscott . . .. . . and back in Shipston – on the market square and dating from the 18th Century, the White Bear is a traditional coaching inn: the bear and ragged staff on the signboard is a heraldic emblem that the shire adopted in recognition of Morvidus, a legendary Earl of Warwick who is said to have ‘slain a giant with a young ash tree torn up by its roots’
Of all of my LETJOG Peaks walks so far I really didn’t want this one to end. The charming oolitic limestone and ironstones that runthrough the Cotswolds, across the Heart of England and into the East Midlands produce some of our most charming villages, all set within a green backdrop of rolling hills, farmland and woodland. A rustic paradise indeed!
Fields of green, awaiting the summer sun
I have taken my Blog title for today from the song ‘Wonderful World’, co-written and performed by James Morrison, the second single off his 2006 debut album ‘Undiscovered’. Morrison was born in Rugby and spent his early years in Warwickshire; influenced by soul artists such as Stevie Wonder and Otis Redding, Morrison’s talents were first widely acknowledged at the 2007 Brit Awards where he was crowned Best British Male Artist. The heading sits well with today’s super walk, and also summarises aptly the springtime marvels of the first half of my quest to reach all of the County Tops of England.
Walking for Fun, Challenge and Charity! 