Honeystreet Horse

Went on a round trip this afternoon, not knowing quite where to when we set out, but found ourselves first in West Woods near Clatford to see how the bluebells were doing - coming along nicely but not yet fully out. On the Clatford road a fox with a rabbit between its jaws ran across the road in front of the car. From there it was via Oare and Huish to Alton Barnes and Honeystreet, which has the Kennet and Avon canal running through it. We were lucky with the rain, avoiding most of the heavy showers, and had a short stroll along the towpath, stalked by a friendly black cat, before diving into the newly renovated Barge Inn for coffee.

The inn featured in a BBC documentary last year after winning a Big Lottery Fund grant of £273,840 enabling the villagers to purchase the Barge Inn's lease and operate it as a social enterprise. It is known to be favoured by aliens from outer space who need a pint or two after creating their splendid crop circles in the surrounding fields. These are all carefully marked on a map on the wall in the bar billiard room adjacent to the new bar.

As we drove up, we'd seen two lovely cart horses in a field up the road, and returned to them after we left the Barge to photograph for Blip. This one was bribed with some grass, but preferred to munch on his harness gear.

The return leg of the trip involved a brief stop at the canal near the Bridge Inn at Horton before driving through Bishops Cannings and back to Calne.

Blip #687
Consecutive Blip #002
Day #756

Alternatives:
Bluebell Woods
Kennet And Avon At Honeystreet
The Barge Inn
Crop Circle Centre

Lens: Pentax 17-70mm

Barge Inn Community Project : Village SOS winner (You Tube clip)

Horses series

One year ago: Maple Leaves #2