Paths No. 507 and 508 Old Path No. 5

Ripple Parish Footpaths

Paths N o. 507 and 508 Old Path N o. 5

These paths together with Upton Parish path 511 and Earls Croome Parish Path 533 make up a path running from the east end of Upton-upon-Severn bridge to the A 38 opposite to the entrance to Croome Court and just south of “The Yorkshire Grey” public house.

Distance approx. 1700 metres 1.7 Kms 1860 (yds), just over 1 ml

Route:- south west to north east

Starting at map ref. 853409 On the A 4104 at the eastern end of the river bridge at Upton.

Finishing at map ref. 864420 On the A 38 opposite the main gate of “Earl’s Croome Court” about 150 Metres south of

“The Yorkshire Grey” public house and restaurant.

First Published August 2010 Last Updated

Picture (1) shows a view from the northern end of the East bank walk from Tewksbury to Upton-upon-Severn Bridge. Picture (2) shows a stile leading from the public parkland onto the south side of the A 4104 at the east end of Upton bridge and a stile on the north side of the road leading to steep steps down to “Fish Meadow”, which is subject to flooding in wet weather. Descend the steps from the A 4104. Head north-north- east across the meadow to a steel field gate on Upton Parish Path 511. (Aim just to the left of an electricity pylon in the next field), see Pic (3).

Pic (1) Pic (2) Pic (3)

Cross the stile to the right of the gate. At this point we join Ripple Path 508 at the parish boundary. Walk in the direction of a tree in the middle of the field on the top of rising ground, Pic (4). Pass to the left of the tree and the pylon and head down the slope toward a point-to-point jump in the hedge. Passing through the gap to the right of the jump, Pic (5), veer slightly to the right and head for a ditch crossing in the middle of the field, marked by two white fence sections, Pic (6).

Pic (4) Pic (5) Pic (6)

Pass between the fences and head towards the northern corner of the field to a bridge with stiles at each end in the north east hedge, Pic (7). Cross the wooden bridge and head up the rise towards a temporary electric fence, Pic (8). Two fence posts with a bungi type rope allow access through the electric fence. Proceed up to the brow of the hill and head down the other side passing Ryall Court Farm on your left.

Note:- The path has been diverted from the original line that took the path nearer to the Pond and farm buildings.

Pic (7) Pic (8) Pic (9)

Again pass between two fence posts allowing access through an electric fence, Pic (9). Approaching a further two pairs of posts in temporary fences each side of the main track leading into the farm, Pic (10), cross the track and continue to head north-east passing a small clump of tree on your right and heading towards a hedge, Pic (11). Follow the hedge on your left up the field (rising ground). Pass through or round a kissing gate, which is in a poor state of repair, Pic (12).

Pic (10) Pic (11) Pic (12)

Continue up the rise with the tree line to your left, Pic (13). At the top of the rise bear to the left heading for a stile now visible in the corner of the field, Pic (14).

Note:- At this point the path meets the northern end of path 503, approaching from the right, which is a short path heading south-south-west across the field to the junction with paths 504 and 510 at the southern corner, Pic (15).

Pic (13) Pic (14) Pic (15)

Cross the stile.

Note:- At this point you will be in a narrow track, at the south end of Ripple Path 502, Pic (16,) which runs to the left, northwards, to connect with a bridle path running east-west from the A 38 to the River Severn.

Go straight ahead 15 metres to cross a further stile on the east side of the track, Pic (17).

Pic (16) Pic (17) Pic (18)

Note:- You have now crossed the Ripple parish boundary and are on path 533 of Earls Croome Parish.

Veering slightly to the left, proceed down the slope, heading for a stile to the left of the tree in the opposite field hedge, Pic (18). Cross the stile and go straight ahead along a gravel path, aiming for a stile to the right of the out-building ahead of you, Pics (19) and (20). Go over the stile and follow a narrow path alongside the outbuilding to rejoin the gravel path, Pic (21), which went round the other side of the building. Straight ahead is a field gate with a stile to the left Pic (22), go over the stile and straight ahead, down the driveway of “Hazeldene West”, to the A 38 where you will emerge almost opposite the main gate of Earl’s Croome Court, Pic (23) and about 150 metres south of The “Yorkshire Grey” public house and restaurant.

Pic (19) Pic (20) Pic (21)

Pic (22) Pic (23) Route:- :- north east to south west

Starting at map ref. 864420 On the A 38 opposite the main gate of “Earl’s Croome Court” about 150 Metres south of

“The Yorkshire Grey” public house and restaurant.

Finishing at map ref. 853409 On the A 4104 at the eastern end of the river bridge at Upton.

Leaving the A 38 on the western side, opposite the main entrance to Earl’s Croome Court, proceed up the drive of Hazeldene West, Pic (24), to a field gate with a stile on the right, Pic (25). Over the stile go straight ahead, leave the gravel path and take a narrow path to the left of the outbuilding ahead of you. At the end of the building cross the stile to rejoin the gravel path Pic (26), which went round the other side of the building. Continue to follow the gravel path and the line of small trees on your left to a stile low down in the hedge at a right hand bend Pics (27) and (28).

Pic (24) Pic (25) Pic (26)

Proceed over the stile and head up the rise veering slightly to the left, heading towards the far left hand corner of the field Pic (29) where you will find a stile, Pic (30).

Pic (27) Pic (28) Pic (29)

Cross the Stile into the south end of a narrow track with a further stile opposite, Pic (31).

Note:- Path 502 goes off to the right in the narrow track between the two stiles heading in a northerly direction, Pic (16); it connects at its north end with a bridle path which runs east-west from the A 38 to the River Severn.

Proceed for 15 metres and cross that further stile.

Note:- In the field beyond this stile our route meets the northern end of path 507; another path 503, veers off to the left heading south-south-west to the junction with paths 504 and 510 at the southern most corner of the field, Pic (15).

Pic (30) Pic (31) Pic (32)

For path 507 follow the line of trees on your right down the hill Pic (32). Pass through a kissing gate, Pic (33) and proceed down the hill keeping the field hedge on your right. On reaching the end of the hedge turn slightly to the left to pass to the right of a clump of trees. A pair of wooden stakes can be seen ahead allowing access through an electric fence and onto Ryall Court Farm access road, Pic (34). Cross the road and again pass between two stakes allowing access through an electric fence.

Pic (33) Pic (34) Pic (35)

Note:- At this point the path has been diverted from its original route which ran closer to the farm buildings and the pond beyond.

Bear slightly to the left and head for the top of the slope ahead of you, passing Ryall Court farm on your right. Proceed over the brow and head down towards a wooden bridge again passing through an electric fence between two fence posts, Pics (35) and (36). Cross over the bridge, there are stiles at each end, then bear to the left, across a meadow, heading towards two white fences that mark the crossing of a ditch, Pic (37). Cross the ditch between the white fences and proceed towards a Point to Point jump on the field boundary. Pass to it left and head for a large tree in the middle of the next meadow, the ground is slightly rising, pass to the right a further tree. A Church steeple can be seen ahead in the distance, aim just to its left, Pic (38) and continue across the meadow to the south-western boundary. Cross a stile to the left of a steel Field Gate, Pic (39). This is the end of Path 507; the walk finishes on Upton Parish Path 511. Head towards the domed tower of the old Upton church, known locally as the “Pepper Pot”, on reaching the south-west corner of the meadow climb up the steps and over a stile onto the north side of the A 4104, Pic (40). Across the road you will see a stile which gives access to a small area of public parkland, Pic (41).

A walk along the east bank of the Severn, from Upton to Tewkesbury, using designated footpaths of Upton Parish, Ripple Parish and Gloucestershire, starts from here.

Pic (36) Pic (37) Pic (38)

Pic (39) Pic (40) Pic (41)