The Three Dragons Walk

I led this walk for the group when Joyce was away in September (see here). She was sorry to have missed it suggested it might be nice to do again in the spring as there might be a some nice displays of bluebells in Argers Wood. 

So I led it again today. This was the invite.

"Wednesday April 27th.  A 13 mile walk visiting Arger Fen for bluebells, Assington Mill and some dragons. We will start from Bures Community Centre, Nayland Rd, Bures CO8 5BX at 9:30 am. Please bring refreshments and a packed lunch as there are no facilities along the route. We will stop for drinks by the lake at Assington Mill and lunch at Wissington church. Expect plenty of ups and downs and lovely views."

Our route was the same as that followed in September.

Here are a few of my photos.

We had a good turnout today of 10 walkers.

We stopped at  St. Stephen's Chapel, dedicated in 1218 and allegedly built on the site of the coronation of King Edmund in AD 876.

The dragon was looking good. This os the sign with the story....

Zooming in with my camera, I could see the blobs on the dragon were sheep.

At Tiger's Hill wood we came across a fantastic display of bluebells.

Here they are interspersed with stitchwort.

I wasn't the only one taking photgraphs.

We stopped at Assington Mill for drinks.

Passing through Spouse's Grove we found another fabulous display of bluebells.

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We had our lunch stop at St. Mary's church, Wissington (pronounced and often spelt Wiston), which dates from 1135 or even earlier.

Here we found our second dragon. Simon Knott's site describes the other paintings, which date from 1280, and that the dragon is a later addition. "Being a later addition of the 15th Century, he is quite out of scale with the other images, and in quite a different style."

I put the lights on so we could admire the interior properly.

I thought I'd lost some of the group, but here they are round the corner.

We crossed into Essex and climbed up from the river along the Stour Valley Path.

Our final stop was at St. Andrew's Church, Wormingford. You can read all about its history here.

Could Sarah find the third dragon? Yes she could. 

There is a framed document by it telling the story. I loved the bits "...swimming, crawling, ravaging it found its way to that small settlement on the banks of the Stour called Withermundford. The few natives were terrified at the new arrival and a rumour spread among them that it could only be pacified with human sacrifice and so long as the supply lasted they fed the creature with virgins. Doubtless the temporary prodigality of food kept the  cocodrille well and happy but the supply of food gave out and the natives, at their wits end sent to sir George Of layer de la Haye, son of Eustice Earl Of Boulogne telling the gallant knight that their was a fierce dragon which had settled with them and which they had tried, in vain to slay with arrows which bounce from its hide and then had pacified it with virgins but, alas, there were no more virgins in the hundred."

You can read the full story here.

After a final short climb we crested the hill and saw our path back to Bures.

Our final sight of interest was the picturesque Bures Mill.

What a cracking walk! Good idea to do it when the bluebells are out, Joyce. Thanks to all who joined me on it.

You can see more of my photos here on Flickr.