Away for a walk.

The day started dull and drizzly but the time we were ready for the off blue sky was beginning to show through. We didn't go very far at all, just a couple of miles before mooring up again in the wild.

Our new moorings, clear of bends and fairly wide for passing with sun possible on all sides (except north of course).

 We had a bit of an early lunch and fiddled about a bit before setting off on another walk in to the hinterlands.

This dappled copse was absolutely full of all sorts of butterflies. The undergrowth must be full of food plants for the various species.

We soon crossed the canal after cutting out several large sweeping bends and saw ahead this farm house. I think it is Hollow Meadow Farm. The farm buildings to the left remind me of some of the very old long houses on the North Yorkshire Moors that have been. The windows look old too.

The Butcher's Arms is not a pub but a restaurant. It appears the place was bought by a Portuguese family in 1973. The menu looks very british though and a two course set menu lunch is £18-95. It must be good as there were plenty of cars out side. The building dates from 1375 and the flowers and baskets looked lovely.

There is a small green at Lower End in the village. The cottage opposite is beautiful Hornton stone that gives it a lovely warm tone. The War Memorial is a quite unusual sort. Even more unusual are the number of one name on the memorial. I think I counted at least ten Haynes that served and two Haynes brothers were killed in WWI. In  WWII and a further couple of Haynes brothers were killed plus another of that name. Also unusually more were killed in WWII than WWI, 4 against 3.

St Mary's church, Priors Hardwick has 13th Century parts . It is quite plain inside and there are few memorials. They local WI have done a survey of the graveyard and the earliest plots are from early 1600. I hadn't realised that the oldest burials are to the south of the Church always in old ones as they didn't like to be buried in the shadow of the church as the devil hid in the shadows. That would be another way you could find north/south naturally, by looking at an old graveyard.

There was an old strong box or vestments chest still in the church.

From the ridge above the village there was a good view across to Rugby.

Another lost village was at Stoneton below the village. All that is left now are a few troughs and hollows in the fields but the manor house is still in existance as it the moat that surrounded it. The house is well hidden so I couldn't see how old the current building is.

Once back at the canal we walked back along the tow path back to the boat and put our feet up with a cup of tea. It has been a lovely evening and a nice day.