Walking Faringdon's gems; the road (not quite) to Coleshill

Above: One of the magical scenes on Puddleduck Lane beckons travellers on the path to Coleshill. 

​No matter how often one traverses the rural part of this route, as long as the environment is respected (and it is) it never ceases to give. We've walked it, cycled it, and no doubt many have ridden it on horseback, and always emerge feeling reinvigorated.

Of course, Coleshill being​ an approximately four-and-a-half mile walk from Faringdon, it is always good to know that the Carpenters Canteen is at the other end (or half-way mark if you intend to walk back afterwards). This lively café serves delicious wholesome food, coffee and sundry other soft drinks (and don't forget the cake)[1]. Just be sure, before setting off, that you've checked the web entry (and perhaps also phoned) to ensure the café is open. It can be busy at popular times, too, so be prepared to wait. Or, if you're the impatient sort, nip across to the Radnor Arms[2].

Deciding on your route

There are probably infinite options for getting there but there are essentially three basic ones. As I favour Active Travel[3], I'll allow myself a mild rant while laying out the options:

1. The shortest route, and the one that Google suggests if you choose any one of the walking, cycling or driving options, is to follow the B4019. This route has been there for more than 150 years so should be the primary choice. But no. Drivers of cars, vans and lorries have put paid to that in more recent years. The fastest means of transport also gets to take the shortest route. Road cyclists wouldn't have much option other than via Buscot, adding another 3.6 miles one way. One might like to argue that intrepid road cyclists would see this as a bonus to get a few extra miles in but that ignores the scores of more ordinary travellers who would prefer the healthier option that has now been usurped. The B4019 is a particularly daunting road for non-motorists.
2. Perhaps the obvious route for walking only would be to follow the footpaths to the North of the B4019 and take in a bit of Badbury Clumps en route. This option is particularly heavy-going in late autumn through early spring due to its bogginess. Also, one or two of the land "owners"[4] along the way do little to make things easier for walkers who are fully entitled to use the rights of way, which have existed for centuries (much like the B4019).
3. There is nothing particularly wrong with this option. Actually there is a hell of a lot that is wonderful about it as you will see from the remainder of this blog. I will, though, make one last digression in favour of those active travellers who have to, or wish to, use wheels. So a quick pause of the brain for walkers while I describe a few alternatives.To be honest, these are probably only feasible for non-roadie cyclists unless you are a particularly intrepid buggy pusher. Cyclists can follow Coxwell Road out of Faringdon and continue past the turnoff for the B4019 and carry on to Great Coxwell. They can then follow Puddleduck Lane to Colleymore Farm (more of this below) where the only real option is to rejoin the B4019 for the last stretch. Happily this bit of the "main" road has reasonable sight-lines and is the least daunting segment for cycling.

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We chose #3

On this day Shelley-ann (Shan) and I set out to walk from Faringdon to Coleshill for lunch. The weather was sublime. Honestly, this route gives; even blizzards add their own dimension.

Above, l to r: going the long way around; where seasonal snowdrops abound; a tyhe barn with brooding looks; and tractors play host to rooks.

Our route took us South of the B4019 and as walkers we had a footpath along the road to Great Coxwell. We are always struck by the soft light at this time of year  Everywhere should have a Puddleduck Lane.

Above, l to r: Shan viewing the road ahead; through the tunnels the way led; this last needing a light tread.

The Puddleduck section of this route has recently been acquired by Andy Cato, Wildfarmed[5] co-founder, who is "an award-winning mixed arable and livestock farmer. Once a successful Grammy nominated musician, Andy gave that up after reading about the dire state of modern food production. He went on to spend over a decade trying to find a more restorative and sustainable way of growing food."
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It would be good to think that, one day, we could bump into him and hear more of that vision and plans for the future of the area. Local myth has it that a massive tree planting operation is under way. We'd love to hear more about this having always admired the woods surrounding the Coleshill Parkland. There is certainly substantial evidence of recent tree "husbandry" along this route.

Trees

Above; Don't'cha just love them? The first one is an icon of Puddleduck and the others are landmarks of the Coleshill Parkland, always needing attention.

Long may it continue.

​Landscape

There is a kind of lumpy ridge that connects Faringdon with Coleshill so that most of the time, whether one walks to the North or the South of the B4019, there are magnificent views to be had. To the North there are the Cotswolds and to the South the Berkshire Downs. For most of our walk on the Southern side we could enjoy these stately views. Some might (or indeed do) argue that the wind turbines on a smaller ridge between our walking path and the Downs are an eyesore. I completely disagree. They are simply elegant. They are part of Westmill Farm which had recent connections to Colleymore. Maybe they still have ...

Looking further towards the ridge in the background, the lifting haze and deployment of my monster zoom in a small package reveal the prehistoric Uffington White Horse that gives its name to the Vale in between us and to a hearty ale produced in Stanford (in-the-Vale). 

Above: (top row) the turbines appear closer and closer in all their grandeur; (bottom row) and there is a white horse beyond.

Old ways

After a sumptuous sandwich each from the Coleshill Canteen, Shan wisely hitched a ride back to Faringdon with friends. I felt the need to drag my aging body back to Faringdon for the exercise. I won't say I regretted it but there was a pair of happy legs that were finally rested with a little over 9 miles under my belt.

One of the aspects of farming that has intrigued me in recent years has been hedge laying. A brilliant, if labour intensive, solution to keeping larger animals in their fields with all the green credentials in the world. Most hedges have long since been slashed over winter by tractor-mounted trimmers, removing their potential for restraining the odd bull, sheep or even donkey. There seems to have been a bit of a laying revival in recent years but the uptake is slow - maybe someone will find a labour-saving way to do it. It will surely be welcome by cyclists. The slashings of hawthorn strewn across country roads are a menace to tyres.

Above l to r: low-lying branches are evidence of early laying; barbed wire now to keep donkeys staying and braying.
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Coming next

More routes, perhaps? 

Endnotes:

1. Find contact details at carpenters canteen coleshill
2. I haven't been there for a while but check it out 
3. Walking, wheeling, pushing a pram, cycling ...
4. The land along all of these routes is almost entirely owned by the National Trust and leased from that spending organisation by tenants who use it for farming and a small amount of recreation.
5. A bit more about Wildfarmed ​