This year, me and the team walked Britain’s newest long distance footpath, the GeoPark Way. We did a training walk before and you can see a slideshow of this by clicking here.

This goes from Bridgnorth in Shropshire to Gloucester Cathedral, a distance of 112 miles. The Guide Book for this is so good I have not gone into detail, you can get it by clicking on link opposite.

This is our camp at Bridgnorth. I slept in one of the tepees.

This is me at the start in Bridgnorth.

My new Delta buggy is bigger than the Ranger but still as light and they all said it was easier to push and lift up over stiles and narrow foot bridges.

The first day we went down to Highley, through a bit of the SevernValleyCountryPark and then caught the train back to Bridgnorth where we had a nice bbq followed by a ginger beer in the pub.

                         Over a stream and stepping stones

    On the train

Day 2 - We went back to Highley and set off across some interesting countryside, finding a nice tea room with cake and milkshake.

Martin also had a bacon sandwich as well and ignored the local cat trying to share it with him.

 We went over a few hills in warm sunshine before finding a pub to top up our liquid levels.

Then onto Bewdley where our driver, Mary met us with the bus for the return journey and the lovely salad with chicken, cold meats which she had prepared. We then retired to the pub for a nightcap.

Day 3 – this was a moving camp day and everyone had to be up and get their gear packed together with tents. The walkers were dropped off at Bewdley and continued on the path with Abberley as the objective. On the way we passed through Stourport and the hermitage caves at Redstone. A steep climb up the stairs quickly followed.

We were camped at Malvern, the Marlbank Inn, where we had dinner that night. I had mussels followed by chocolate orange puddle pudding.

Day 4 – Back to Abberley in the morning and after a days walk, the promise of a dinner at the famous Talbt Inn at Knightwick at the end.

On the way, we saw some deer.

 And a trip down or sometimes up some wooded paths.

Before reaching the Talbot for pork, pigeon and pheasant pie.

Day 5 – Back to Knightwick before heading to the Malverns and the walk over the top.

Enroute, we found this enormous fungus – if you look carefully, we put a £2 coin on it to show how big it was.

                    A carry over a narrow bridge

Then up,  

And up

             To the top and the Worcester Beacon

Where we had a bit of rain!!!

And then down

To be picked up at Colwall Station and a return to camp to enjoy a trout cooked on the bbq.

Day 6 – Another moving day today, so everyone packing up and then me and Dad helped Mary and Emily move all the gear to our final camp site at Drybrook (possibly the best camp site in the world!)

We put up all the tents and Mary and Dad went shopping for the evening dinner – ploughmans with local cheese and Broome Farm cider and perry (5 litres of each!). The walkers meanwile made their way via Ledbury to Hollybush.

Needless to say everyone enjoyed the evening.

Day 7 – Full English breakfast at the café, then on the bus which Burton Phab let us use, to

Hollybush and a long hot day to Newent.

                                   Up onto Rough Stone Hill

A black swan at Bromsberrow

Picked up in Newent, and back to camp for a buffet dinner from the café of chicken with red wine, pizza, fried potatoes followed by peach and almond crumble with custard washed down with replenished supplies of cider and perry.

Day 8 – Another hard start, full breakfast, then back to Newent and a wander to the Yew Tree Inn to prepare ourselves for the push up May Hill.

 May madness and a run to the summit.

On the top, having a laugh with Steve.

                      While Victor crashes out.

Then onto Minsterworth, returning to camp and a Caribbean buffet with more cider and perry.

Day 9 – the last Up early, breakfast as usual, pack up the tents, load the bus and back to Minsterworth for the final leg to Gloucester along the banks of the Severn.

 The tall ships are in at Gloucester Docks

 Now the final push to the Cathedral and the end of the GeoPark Way

 Thanks lads and girls

See you next year