Emma's Safaris

As it turns out, a mile from our home there is a footpath that takes you quite usefully into the beautiful countryside. While you do have to cross a motorway via a footbridge it is not long before you are surrounded by beauty.

I had checked this route out with a couple of locals and studied a couple of maps and was pretty sure the walk would be fields and a gentle meander by a stream, and it was….mostly.

Phil and I were walking together today which was lovely. Although I love my solo safaris it is lovely to have his company on any opportunity so this was really nice.

There was a field filled with Spring lambs and nursing ewes and the backdrop was absolutely gorgeous. There is an abundance of woodland and endless fields practically on our doorstep and quite honestly with a pack of water and some snacks I am more than content exploring the network of footpaths that fill the Worcestershire countryside.

We reached a point in the walk where we had to navigate down this really steep slope and it was really really muddy and slippery. At first it didn’t seem too bad but before too long I had slipped and fallen directly onto the floor and Phil was sliding down the bank like Bambi. Maintaining a firm grip on the ground was impossible and staying upright was even harder!

I don’t think my consistent cackles that could be heard far and wide were particularly helpful. It was however quite comical and certainly made for an interesting adventure!

Luckily the path eventually reached a stream where I could clean my boots (and arms) and gather our nerve to ascend the parallel slope which in hindsight would have been a much easier route! This trail had steps and was also lined with layers upon layers of wild garlic which when at its prime smells amazing and tastes delicious in a casserole.

As we ascended back onto firmer ground we walked back along part of the Monarchs way. This pathway runs from Worcester to Bristol and is 625 miles long. It is apparently the approximate escape route of King Charles II in 1651 after his defeat in the Battle Of Worcester. We certainly were not planning on walking the whole thing today but what an adventure that would be!

Along the way we had seen signs of small birds in the trees and even a solitary Muntjac deer eyed is with great suspicion in the trees. His footprints in the soft silty ground had been a map too him and we observed him from a distance as he grazed and bounced off into the fields beyond.

Tiny white flowers lined the path and appeared to withstand the swathes of mud surrounding them. Splashes of yellow and purple could be seen almost everywhere.

The final part of our walk boasted a huge cathedral like line of fir trees, two lines ran parallel to each other and stretched upwards to the sky forming almost an arch or cavern. It is quite a spectacular natural structure and would certainly provide refuge in a rainy day

The walk was spectacular. I have plans to go out again in the not too distant future with my big camera and see what I can see.

For now this is goodbye from me. Thank you for reading. Have a beautiful day everyone x