Winter seems like it is starting to approach as me and Tom headed out to Ratley. I think it is in Oxfordshire but may straddle the Oxfordshire Warwickshire border. Anyway it was a little frosty, but the going was good to firm and the views were amazing. We came across this obelisk not too far into the stomp, but no real idea what it commemorates. A little gallery of the views before we hit the pub. Blast through them why don't ya?! Entered the village, and pub not too far now! It's the pub!...

I have been meaning to explore this stretch of river, that enters the Tone river just at the back of our house, for a good while. I recently met a new neighbour running a little guesthouse up the road, and her and her workaway guy fancied it, so off we went. It starts just up a track (which used to be a drivable lane) but very quickly the road and the valley walls rise high above the river floor. Some lovely views and great stretches of river, but all seem very inaccessible. It turns out that...

I first discovered this great urban walk one Sunday afternoon a while back when I had to entertain myself while my brother and the lads competed for the "Ryder Cup - Coventry junior rugby clubs version" on a Sunday afternoon. I have repeated it a few time since and is a great way to work up a thirst for the Red Lion (where the beer is half decent albeit extortionately priced). I am trying to catch up on posting stuff from ages ago that I didn't get round to yet, so all I will do here is add a...