The Three Shires

A and I decided to ditch our travel plans to Italy - we didn't fancy the airports, queues and stress. Instead we hired a car, threw a rucksack in it and headed out on the Westway and A40 ...to the Wild West. Out west towards three Shires - Herefordshire, Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire - the border of England and Wales.

 

We arrived at our destination. A campsite deep in the countryside...

 

with a small gathering of Sioux Indian tipis... all locally made in the traditional style, alongside Mongolian yurts (Hobbit houses). They inhabit a little 11 acre ancient woodland and grassland valley with views across the Malvern Hills. Silence and acres of woodland, meadows, farmland and the all important Rights of Way through farmland and fields. 

   

and a kitchen with a fridge (0ne per tipi) and ovens, and a clay oven for pizza baking too...and hot showers!

 

The stunningly beautiful River Wye carves a 25 mile stretch through a valley nestled between those shires. We admired a tiny section from the 16th century Inn, watching a man pull groups of hikers across the river from east to west using a wire and a wooden pont.
 

 

The Saracens Head from which we admired the view above. Henry V who fought off the Saracens at Agincourt was born in Monmouth, a small town on the border of England and Wales about 10 miles up the road

 

We took a canoe down a 9 mile stretch of the calm river in between sunshine and clouds reflecting in the water.  I wish we could have taken more pics to truly show it's beauty but being new to canoes we were focused on staying afloat and keeping the camera dry.
  

With only the sheep to see us get tangled up in the willow tree boughs at the water's edge when we bumped over the shallow "rapids". Bit tricky actually!

 

The next day we followed the instructions nailed to a tree in the woodland. Ready made tracks originally built for the previous owners huskies sledging practice loop the woodland floor. We followed one round to the Oak tree and out into the top field. 

 

The Oak Tree

   

The public Right of Way across the farmland. You could hear the seeds on the newly harvested fields "popping" in the warm September sunshine. Not something we hear every day in London.

 

Hedgerows packed with blackberries, haws, rosehips and overhung with elderberries lined the tiny country lane at the bottom of the fields.
 

 

The New Harp Inn under a Horse Chestnut tree, served over 80 different kinds of beers, ciders and a delicious local rose wine. Yes England and Wales make fine white and rose wines these days.

   

It was lovely trecking back to our Tipi, cosily laid out with sheepskin rugs, a raised mattress and a wood burning stove inside with kettle and mini camping stove for a morning cuppa. 

 

The campsite has a few tables under canvas, with old jam jars with fresh wild flowers, tealights and lanterns. So quiet and peaceful.

Outside we had a firepit and a BBQ and a view into the woodland at sunset.

 

We took long walks in the countryside and hired bikes to take in the beauty of the magnificent Royal Forest of Dean. Miles and miles of forest and tracks for mountain bikes or a casual ride through. We opted for the latter.
 
   

Robin!

 

Miles of tall and green. Ancient woodland and tall pines

 

Fluffy mushrooms and flat wet chestnut coloured ones..

 

I foraged for berries and collected handfuls of these ....

 

We parked our bikes up and slurped on some local cider in our picnic cooler

 

In the evening we walked to the local hamlet for dinner..

 

The pretty hamlet

 

with pear trees along the road
 

and pretty horses in meadowland
  
         

The candlelit interior, stone floors and chatty locals

 

A wonderful dinner, all local produce

 

Back to watch the sunset in the meadow caught between the trees, picking up firewood as we went.
  
    

Watching A build another fire. He loved building them and I loved watching. Listening to it crackle in the silence around us. An English fairyland meets Sioux Indian living. It was all very perfect really.

Comments

[Erik]

Lovely pics! Looks like you both had a great time. I bet that in a month, the trees will have started to change color.

As I said before, one day I plan to make it out to Gloucestershire, and visit the arboretum.

Thank you for sharing these.

[Andy]

You just calmed me down this morning. I could take a nap already. Might be a step up from how much work I usually get done.

Downright lovely.

[Laura]

HOW COOL! It looks like a fantastic vacation. Thank you for posting them all!

[Buck]

"The New Harp Inn under a Horse Chestnut tree, served over 80 different kinds of beers, ciders and a delicious local rose wine."

OK, Alison. You just made me **homesick** in the worst sorta way. Or as homesick as one can be for our second most favorite country on this earth, I suppose. I could go on about camping adventures The Second Mrs. Pennington and I had in your fair land but I'll spare you.

Such lovely pics and narrative!

[Fay]

How lovely. Your photographs are beautiful. Makes me very homesick.

[Nicole]

Sounds like a lovely trip! I don't even like camping, but this seems wonderful!

[alison]

That was equal in fravouriteness to the time I spent camping my way down the West Coast from Seattle to LA. Sooo lovely.

Don't spare me Buck - fire away!

[Old Iron]

Beautiful Alison, simply beautiful. I would also like to say from both KC and I... welcome back.

[Gordon]

What a wonderful getaway. If you have any pictures of the inside of the tipis, I'd love to see them. The campground sounds really nice.

[David Vance]

Superb pics.