Banburyshire Rambles Photo-Journal

Paul Mobbs’ photographic record of his walks around ‘Banburyshire’ and ‘The Irondowns’, and occasionally, as part of his work around Britain, the areas beyond.


‘Last Chance (HS)To See’ – Scene 41:

‘Manor Farm, Offchurch’

The view to Cubbington across the Leam Valley from near Offchurch

17th February 2019


On this dull, drab, late Winter day the scene is getting darker with the oncoming sleet; that doesn’t detract from the tranquility of a place that is visibly so near urban Leamington.

The fringe of South Cubbington Wood dominates the skyline opposite. Though from down here, in the terrace level of the Leam floodplain, it doesn’t give the expansive views across the valley that are possible from the higher gorund near Hunningham or Offchurch.

I have just passed through a small linear woody scrub, fringing the gully formed where the stream runs down over the soft ground towards the bottom of the valley – and which even on this grim day is remarkably alive with birdsong.

This small gully marks the edge of ‘the wall’ that will begin to rise from ground level at this point, ever higher as it crosses the valley until it disappears into the small gully in the landscape just below Cubbington woods; albeit there will be a 10-metre high (almost as high as the trees now) earth embankment to get this footpath over the top of the trackbed here.

The big tower block at Lillington is just peaking over the top of the hill. It’s a reminder that I am quite close to ‘civilisation’; and hence how many people who might otherwise have enjoyed this tranquil setting are going to be inconvenienced by a project that they're unlikely to use.