JAN and John from Penarth and District Ramblers hosted a delightful trip across the original Severn crossing to south Gloucestershire and a lovely walk beginning from Aust which is situated on the east bank of the River Severn very close to Old Passage, where a ferry ran from Aust to Beachley on the west side of the river prior to the building of the Severn Bridge which opened in 1966.

The village is dominated by the Church of St John built on a mound with its tall clock tower where volunteer parishioners take it in turn to wind the clock once a week and where a very active wasp’s nest was spotted in a gap underneath the roof.

Tramping past the old red telephone kiosk which instead of a telephone has a defibrillator installed, then the old post office and two redundant petrol pumps, a picturesque row of stone cottages with delightful gardens led to the old church school, now the village hall.

Moving on through a more modern part of the village and passing through a tunnel underneath the M48 the open farmyard of Manor Farm with its two welcoming cows gazing over a stone wall led into fields.

With lovely views over agricultural land and with fields and a barn containing sturdy young calves, a rough path led on through Cote Farm into a narrow tall grassed path beside a field of wheat, past a beautiful field of green barley onto a rutted path and into an overgrown lane.

Following a quiet lane past lovely houses and a row of stunning cottages, plus the White Hart pub at Littleton-upon-Severn, the village green with its copper beech tree made a perfect stop for morning refreshments.

A delightful chat with a resident who had been removing earwigs from the church font in readiness for a christening the following day, revealed the village did not have an electricity or mains water supply until the 1960s.

Continuing along the road and passing a closed business park at Whale Wharf to join part of the long distance Severn Way, the flat river bank led south westwards beside the River Severn, past quietly grazing cattle towards the Severn Bridge and Aust Cliff as the low clouds above produced a shower of rain.

A short steep climb past a sewage works led into a small wood and a stop for lunch in the dry utilising fallen branches to sit on with the loud call of a green woodpecker overhead.

Refreshed and with brightening skies, the route led on towards the original services for the Severn Bridge now offices for an insurance company and then a viewing point with a memorial stone commemorating the bridge opening by the Queen on September 8, 1966.

Following a concrete road past hedges festooned with blackberry blossom and past the new services, a footbridge above the tollbooths on the M48 led across the entrance road to the bridge.

Continuing past the old schoolhouse now a private dwelling and joining Passage Road, the stunning 18th century Old Parsonage set behind St Augustine’s Vineyard, with its neatly trimmed vines led on down past the Dower House.

Then a deviation beside tall cordgrass beds on the salts flats of the River Severn to view the old Aust ferry crossing, which disappointingly was closed for repair work to the jetty and platform supporting the overhead electricity pylon.

After enjoying views to the second Severn Bridge and with blood red poppies and willowherb adorning the verges, the road led them past meadows sporting round hay bales and back to Aust, named after St Augustine with its pretty welcome sign containing etchings of the Severn Bridge and St John’s Church prior to the homeward journey.

On July 21, meet 7pm at Lidl, off the Barry Docks Link Road (please use roadside parking) for a four-mile moderate urban and country walk taking in St Andrews; contact Joy on 01446 737131.

On July 23, a change to the planned programme, meet 9am at Cogan Leisure Centre for a 10-mile moderate walk at Llangorse; contact Clive on 029 2065 4156.

Wear suitable clothing, preferably boots and carry waterproofs, food and drinks. Some degree of fitness is required and if you are in any doubt, then please contact the walk leader for advice.

To follow the group please log onto penarthramblers.wordpress.com or Facebook. Programmes and membership advice can be obtained from Pam on 029 2025 5102.