Chipping Camden

 What a great town Chipping Camden is! Bigger than all of the villages I've been visiting with many more opportunities for SHOPPING!  And being just down the road from Stratford upon Avon there were bus loads and bus loads of people strolling the streets. Not like the quiet little villages I've gotten used to!

Sheep Street: as with most villages and towns in this area the streets radiated out from High St. so that the mighty sheep could be herded to market.

Ummmm, dropped some cash here...jewelry (say no more say no more!!)

 A trio of private school girls walking home from a tough day at school :)... (note the bus)...

There's my hotel - The Noel Arms!

 And through here was a nice outdoor patio where I read the newspaper, had a coffee and lemon tart while I waited for my luxurious room to be ready.

More of the hotel...

 Nary a parking spot to be had!

 I bought a book of maps and routes here...for...you know...my next trip!!

This shop was full of funny signs plus they had a huge selection of scarves and jewelry - I bought myself a scarf covered in owls so I could remember my "tawny owl" encounter and also a pair of earrings that had little gold skeleton keys dangling on them to remind me of all of my B&Bs!

There were a couple of vintage stores here too and I bought a set of hand woven placemats. All easily packable items for the trip home!

A very old town dating back to the time of knights and chivalry...

 Yes, this crest is dated 1487...

I love this photo...it's like a glimpse back in time...

 Do you suppose those guys have sore necks?

 Hi puppy!

 Anyone know what a wool stapler does?

 ME!

 Again! I need a haircut!

 How the hotel staff knew I needed a bottle of champagne...

All the mod cons!

 I met up with my fellow walkers to eat in the dining room of the Noel Arms. The chef is known for his curries and it was spectacular! Lots of wine, lots of good conversation and we made plans for a final dinner tomorrow night at the White Hart Hotel in Moreton in Marsh. We're feeling a little sad that tomorrow is our last walking day!!

And now that I've found my room for the last time I'm off to bed. Tomorrow I walk full circle as I end up back in Moreton in Marsh and stay at the Redesdale Arms once more. And then I meet Annie!!

But one last thing. When I was walking today I found a bush with these berries on it - I'm certain this was the berry in my seasonal salad the other night!!

Off to Chipping Camden

It was uphill all the way to Broadway Tower. There had been a wee bit of rain in the night and some dark clouds were still lurking about...but not for long...

Part way up and the sun is already peeking out...

 ...and what do I always say?? Don't forget to look BACK!!  Good-bye Broadway!

 By the time I got to the top of the hill, an elevation of around 900ft I had removed a couple of layers and needed a drink of water. How thoughtful of someone to put a bench right where I needed it!! And what a view!!

I can't believe I just climbed all the way up from Broadway!

 The view from the bench - incredible!

I am feeling very fortunate at this moment :) Little ol' me - on top of the world!

 I had a bit further to climb before catching my first glimpse of Broadway Tower through the trees.

 Looks rather foreboding in this light and behind a fence - more like the Tower of London than a dwelling place.

 A gargoyle or two here - not too friendly looking either!

 In its 200+ years of existence Broadway Tower, built 1794, has been the site of a beacon, then a hardscrabble farm, later it housed a printing press and had many illustrious visitors, mostly those of Pre-Raphaelite fame - William Morris & Edward Burne Jones, then was the location of a nuclear bunker during WWII and beyond and finally became a museum of its fascinating history.

 

 After exploring the museum I went outside on the uppermost level to get some photos...

(hah! my foot blends right in with the step!)

...where I was able to see 16 counties thanks to a clearing sky, plus the path I was to take next...

 ...and as an added bonus I could see all the way to the Black Mountains of Wales!!

 I would LOVE to go to Wales!

Back down on the ground and with a blue sky the tower doesn't look quite so scary now...

...almost homey?

 ...and now off to Chipping Camden and leaving Broadway Tower behind...

...or perhaps I should go to Wales??

...a moment of indecision...I know darn well I could walk there!!

...no, better keep on my designated path...after all my suitcase will be in Chipping Camden!

 ...okay, all silliness aside! :) ...here are just a few of the paths I took on today's journey - I loved them all!  Through forests...

and fields...

...through farms...

...and I took a longer route so that I could experience the views from the top of Dover's Hill...WOW!!

 It was an extra 2-3km but well worth it!!

 ...and back to the path...

...catching a glimpse of Chipping Camden...

...still so much beauty in bloom...

...and now it's time to descend into the village...

...and a lovely village it is...

Here I am at my hotel - The Noel Arms!

Easily my favourite spot to stay...quaint but with all the mod cons...

...the only problem was it was so large and rambling that I kept getting lost!! Yes, I can find my way through the English countryside, forests and fields but I had trouble finding my hotel room, not once but several times...I ended up in the laundry room on one adventure!

 MY FIRST BATH TUB!!!!! I HAD THE MOST GLORIOUS SOAK!!

 Looking for the way out!

 Next up - exploring Chipping Camden...