Category: Local sights

Everyday life, Local sights, Travel

Holywell

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Holywell

One of Malvern’s great claims to fame is its abundance of natural springs and the ‘healing’ benefits that water apparently brings. It’s what saw Malvern grow from a sleepy hamlet to a thriving town in the 19th century.

As I’ve mentioned previously, there are wells scattered all over town and residents and visitors are free to go and fill bottles whenever they wish. One of the most famous  wells, is Holywell – what’s believed to be the world’s oldest water bottling plant in the world!

Holywell isn’t too far from where Adam and I live, so I decided to base one of my ‘summer wanderings’ on a visit to the well…

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Everyday life, Local sights, Travel

The old Ashchurch line

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The old Ashchurch line

My enthusiasm for walking/exploring was reignited last week after a visit to St Wulstan’s Nature Reserve, so much so that I’m trying to get out a few times a week while the weather’s warm for a wander and a nose around.

If you’ll allow me to indulge myself, I was thinking I might start up a bit of a series over the next few weeks detailing my roams across the countryside.

Today we’ll take a walk along a disused rail line…

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Everyday life, Local sights, Thoughts, Travel

St Wulstan’s

by wattleandash5 Comments on St Wulstan’s
St Wulstan’s

I love going for a walk but sometimes I forget how much I enjoy it, and days turn into weeks and suddenly it’s been far too long since I went for a proper solo ramble.

I love that exhilaration you get when you’re walking with no particular path in mind, the joy of discovering new sights, the sweetness of being alone with your own thoughts and that pink cheeked endorphin rush you get after a good paced, athletic walk.

The other day I was up early so decided to get outdoors and go for a walk rather than having a slow morning lazing/working in bed over multiple cups of coffee (a decadent treat  I’m too regularly giving myself on non ‘gotta get out the house’ mornings).

I found myself at St Wulstan’s Nature Reserve…

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Everyday life, Local sights, Travel

Almost Hogwarts

by wattleandash5 Comments on Almost Hogwarts
Almost Hogwarts

Adam and I had the pleasure of attending a wedding this weekend just past. It was for a lovely couple who are quite dear to Adam, and whom I’ve gotten to know well since moving to England.

The marriage ceremony was held at Malvern College, a prestigious local school. The school was established in 1865 when Malvern was at the height of its ‘spa town’ popularity, so its buildings reflect that .

To me, it almost felt like walking into Hogwarts, the fictional school from the Harry Potter series…

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Everyday life, Local sights, Travel

Golden Valley

by wattleandash2 Comments on Golden Valley
Golden Valley

Malvern may be famous for its hills but there are also a couple of lovely commons at the base of the slopes.

Commons are like huge open plan parks.  They often have livestock grazing on them and you’re allowed to walk, picnic and play on the land. In Australia, I think a reserve would be the closest equivalent.

Last weekend Adam and I found ourselves at Castlemorton Common, which is just south of the village of Welland. It’s famous for being the site of England’s biggest illegal rave, but these days is just a nice place for a Sunday walk!

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Food, Local sights, Travel

A special surprise

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A special surprise

Ever since we started seeing each other, Adam and I have been pretty good at planning and keeping regular ‘dates’ – meals out, days out or mini-breaks that allow us to spend quality time together as a couple, away from the regular routine of home.

Most of the time it’s something we’ve planned and will look forward to together, but the other week Adam organised a surprise date for me…

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Local sights, Travel

The flower farm

by wattleandash5 Comments on The flower farm
The flower farm

A large field in the English countryside, warm sun, blue sky and blooming flowers five foot tall, as far as the eye can see. That was my Sunday.

A few weeks ago I spotted a post on Facebook about a Worcestershire flower farm that opens its fields to visitors every July.

The owners of the farm harvest its flowers to produce floral ‘confetti’ for weddings and other events, but lets people visit its delphinium and cornflower field before the stems are stripped.

Adam and I made the short journey to Wick, a gorgeous little village just outside of Pershore, for a look…

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Local sights, Travel

Oxford 

by wattleandash4 Comments on Oxford 
Oxford 

Oxford is the sort of place where you spend most of your time looking up. The architecture in this city is breathtaking and I’m certain during my brief visit last weekend, I tripped over half a dozen times because I just couldn’t take my eyes off the magnificent buildings all around!

Christ Church Memorial Garden, Oxford, England.

The city is famous of course because of Oxford University, the oldest university in the English speaking world.  The first teachings in Oxford are believed to have occurred in 1096! Oxford has been on my ‘world wide bucket list’ for some time, so en route to meeting up with some friends in London, Adam and I dropped in for a wander.

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