Clipsham
When I planned this walk back in early September I thought November would be bare trees not the full-on Autumn colour spectacular we enjoyed yesterday at Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue in Rutland. Of course the Yew topiaries are all evergreen, but I was expecting the mature woodland that forms the backdrop to this unique 500 foot long avenue to be entirely bare. Instead the beeches were an incredible distraction to the ‘main event’. (I have a ‘thing’ for beech trees, especially Copper Beech.)
Situated between the picturesque villages of Castle Bytham and Clipsham on the edge of Rutland and adjacent to Lincolnshire this charming place https://yewtreeavenue.co.uk/ is worth visiting for the 150 yews planted over 200 years ago and kept in top topiary shape today by The Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue Trust (CYTAT). This unque avenue was once the carriage driveway to Clipsham Hall, it is now owned by The Forestry Commission and is free to park, picnic and walk there.
Many of the trees are over 200 years old and have been trimmed since 1870 into various shapes depicting birds and animals on the tops and designs in relief on the sides. Being there I feel like I have walked among some surreal film set for Alice In Wonderland as many of the yews tower above like enormous chess pieces.
St Medardus & St Gildardus
It is not a long walk, so afterwards we drove to Little Bytham to explore the unusually dedicated St Medardus and St Gildardus parish church – I admit to being interested in the Norman and especially the Late Saxon architecture inside this church. However, it is worth mentioning that this is the only parish church in England dedicated to these two French Saints. Possibly they were brothers back in the 6th century.
The Spinney
We drove on a mile to walk through the community woodland on the far side of Little Bytham. It is known as The Spinney. Free to use 365 days a year, with parking and picnic tables, this is a wonderful family friendly woodland adventure space with accessible footpaths and equipment.
Rassel’s Café
No Wednesday walk is complete without a coffee stop. Rassel’s Plant Nursery café was the obvious choice https://www.rasells.co.uk/ in Little Bytham itself. Worth visiting for their plants too.
