7th October

A really enjoyable stroll on a glorious Autumnal afternoon. We picked this walk to explore the woods around Checkendon and, given that we’d started to notice the change of the seasons over the last few weeks, we had hoped for some rich browns, yellows and oranges. As it happens, the leaves are still holding on and deep inside the woods the predominant colour is still green.

The highlight of the walk…getting lost in Wyfold Woods, not far from Gallowstree Common. Not that getting lost in itself is a highlight and when it does happen it’s always accompanied by mutterings such as ‘Great!’ and ‘Why can’t we just go back?’…but in this case our aimless blundering and barely audible muttering were interrupted by a ‘Oh! Look over here!’. ..our first fly agaric mushroom, a home for your average gnome…and Big Ears in particular from my childhood memory…his name would no longer pass the ‘Equality and Diversity’ police at work.

A lovely 10.3 mile walk on a balmy Sunday afternoon in the woods at the southern end of the Chilterns.

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Checkendon picture gallery (more pictures on Flickr):

Ispden Wood, Checkendon

Summer still clinging on

Shepherd’s Green, Buckinghamshire

Where’s Big Ears?

Woodland management near Hook End, Checkendon

Autumn colours and Quiet Lanes, Checkendon

Checkendon in the late afternoon sun

Distance: 10.3 miles ; Difficulty: Easy

Coordinates for Satnav: RG8 0SS

Checkendon walk profile