Amy Walks: Great Comberton Circular, via Birlingham

‘Tis the season for Crocus, Daffodils, Cherry Blossom and all other wonderful winter/spring flowers. Being a sucker for photographing flora, I wanted to pay another visit to St. James’ the Great Church in Birlingham. So, why not throw in an 8 mile circular walk from Great Comberton as well!

Together with my adventure buddy, Jodie, we set off on our trek from Great Comberton and made our way towards the Deer Park. Despite the air being crisp and fresh, the sunshine was glorious.

Partly using this map, as well as directions taken from Google Maps, the walk was rather easy. The terrain was relatively flat, had only a few stiles and thankfully, there was minimal mud – unlike two weeks before at Pershore! One thing to note for anyone wanting to do this route, there are a few sections on the main road, so stay safe and be aware of traffic.

I grew up not far from Little Comberton – a stone’s throw away from Great Comberton – and used to spend a lot of my days, when not at school, exploring the surrounding area. Doing this walk was like taking a trip down memory lane. We soon passed the Deer Park – not spotting any deer, I might add! – and veered towards Nafford. The countryside glowed in the welcome sunlight and the sound of chirping birds was pretty much the soundtrack of the day.

Veering off towards the Nafford Lock, we took a few moments to overlook the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust’s Gwen Finch Wetland Reserve. Although it is inaccessible to the public – besides from one hide at the John Bennett Wetland – you can still see plenty on a clear day. After taking in the views, we made our descent and crossed over the lock.

The flowing water was mesmerising! It’s safe to say that Jodie and I could have stayed longer to watch it crashing over the sides! However, conscious of time, we dragged ourselves away and carried on walking.

We continued to follow the directions over a cute little bridge at the weir and on to Berwick Path Lane, aiming for the Church we could see in the distance. Shortly after and we were entering the quaint village of Birlingham.

If you haven’t visited the spring flower display at this Worcestershire churchyard, you definitely need to. It. Is. Stunning! There are so many beautiful bulbs sprouting up, it’s basically a sea of petals.

There were purple and white Crocuses. Dazzling, yellow Daffodils and Celandines. Innocent, white Snowdrops reaching the end of their bloom. Cotton-candy pink tree blossom. Then there were bees buzzing around in the warmth of the sun – especially in the blossom trees, which were practically humming from activity! We even spotted a butterfly! It’s certainly a spectacle that shouldn’t be missed!

We built up quite the appetite from all the walking, talking and photographing. So, after a quick search online, we found a thatched pub called The Swan Inn was down the road. Eager to make the most of the sunshine, we settled in to the benches outside and basked in the warmth. Jodie went for a BLT and I opted for a Haddock Fish Finger, both on a toasted ciabatta with a salad on the side. Feeling indulgent, we also ordered a bowl of cheesy chips to go with our sandwiches. It was all deeelicious! The dishes were also huge, giving good value for money and leaving us feeling stuffed.

Leaving the pub behind – and feeling rather full – we retraced our steps and crossed fields to get to Eckington. We simply couldn’t get over how beautiful the surrounding area looked!

At Eckington, we made our way back towards Nafford and then on to Great Comberton. We followed country lanes, skirted the edge of a field, passed through gates, hopped over a stile and crossed another bridge. It was all very peaceful and serene.

We found our way back to the centre of Great Comberton, with tired legs but happy hearts. It was also another adventure with one of my favourite ladies ticked off the list!

This walk was primarily to see the spring flowers at Birlingham, but I already know I’ll definitely re-do it with my Mum in the summertime, when the countryside is lush and green and we can have a proper reminisce from when we lived in the area. Perhaps we could even swap the add-on from Birlingham to Little Comberton. Whatever we do, I’ll keep you posted…