A cold but dry morning at Temple Guiting as our party of twelve set out on the first walk of the year.
After passing the church we crossed the river Windrush and soon turned north to follow the valley towards its source. Crossing a number of fields we arrived at the village of Ford and the adjacent horse training tracks.
From there the route takes us across a boardwalk towards Cutsdean where the churchyard provided shelter from the north wind for a refreshment stop.
Above the hamlet of Taddington we passed along the edge of Guiting Quarry, one of numerous extraction sites in this area. Then heading south along Campden Lane, a well used bridleway with views across to the Malvern Hills we reached a disused quarry which provided shelter for a lunch break.
Our return route took us past the lost village of Pinnock (only Pinnock Farm exists there now) and in a woodland above Temple Guiting we noted the stone carved animals of some one time temporary residents of this secluded spot.
On the boardwalk towards Cutsdean
St James Church, Cutsdean
Leaving Cutsdean
Views across to the Malvern Hills
Stone carved animals in Guiting Wood