28th April Our annual Bluebell-fest (see here and here). We're at Dockey Wood by 6-45am and we have the place to ourselves, except for two hard-core photographers. It may be my imagination, but I think the display is marginally less spectacular this year. Perhaps the recent hot weather or yesterday's heavy rain and high winds have taken their toll....nevertheless, the colours are still breath-taking. As is traditional, we wander around looking like rank amateurs, taking a few snaps, before leaving the Wood for The Coombe via Ward's Hurst Farm. The smell of the wild garlic is strong as we walk through The Coombe and we have the place to ourselves.
April
walks in April
Ipsden Heath
20th April Easter Saturday and we're out before most of the world is awake. As we wander through Park Wood, behind Nuffield Place, the milky light through the trees combined with the lilac carpet of bluebells is a magical experience. It's worth getting up early for this! We turn south and head for Ipsden Heath. It's hard to find paths around here that we've not walked but it's no less agreeable for that. The sun is warm and the early morning peace is thoroughly enjoyable. This is better than working, any day!
Stoney Green
18th April Sun's out, go for a walk...easy decision! But where? There's not much of the Chilterns that we've missed. We opt for Great Missenden and a walk that takes in the Chiltern woods. You'd hardly notice it as you walk through but Angling Spring Wood has quite a following. Roald Dahl used to live close by, at Gipsy Cottage, and for all you aficionados, this is where Danny's dad gets trapped trying to poach pheasants belonging to Mr Hazell. No sign of Danny or his dad this morning but the bluebells are starting to appear.
Ipsden
13th April It sits at the top of the Ipsden valley, hidden from most of the world...but up here, amongst the tranquility of this gentle Chiltern valley, it raises two fingers to the everyone else. It is a matter of record that, when Rowan Atkinson applied for permission to build his dream house, it wasn't popular with the locals. As the planning application was disputed, it was variously described as 'inappropriate', 'a sore thumb', and a 'space age petrol station'. Stumbling upon it during our walk today, we had to agree, they were right! Because you have lots of money it doesn't guarantee good taste. The building jars with the surrounding countryside...at least it is hidden enough not to spoil the view for too many people.
Heartwood Forest
6th April And so the encirclement of Luton is complete! As I type this it occurs to me, that sentence has probably never been used before. To be honest, I'd hoped that last week we'd achieved this but, as I examined our routes, it became clear there was a tiny section across the East Coast railway line that broke my chain of walks. So we're back to finish what we've started. I have planned a walk from Heartwood Forest. It's the start of the bluebell season...at least that's how I explain the walk to Sue.
Crawley Woods & The Coombe
29th April It's 7-30am on Sunday morning and we're blundering around Crawley Wood, trying to capture the early morning mist and the magical colours. We walk through The Coombe and out of the woods towards Gallows Hill. We said it yesterday but it bears repeating, on a good day the view would be great. A loop back across Ivinghoe Beacon, through the woods and we're back at the car before we know it, a short 3.4 mile walk.
Chinnor Hill
28th April This is a walk of two halves. The first through a succession of Buckinghamshire Chiltern woods, Crowell Wood, Venus Woods, Sunley Wood and Chinnor Hill. The second part returns via Lodge Hill, the Bledlow Ridge valley and Radnage. On a better day the views would be great but alas, not today!
Crocker End
21st April We're back to Bix again...and the sump-busting, pot-holed, crawl along the lane to park at the Warburg Nature Reserve. We are determined to make the most of the sunny weather and this time, the walk doesn't disappoint. It's probably the shortest walk we've completed in quite some time but nevertheless really enjoyable! Walking … Continue reading Crocker End
Symonds Yat
3rd April We find a quiet road in English Bicknor (not hard, the whole village is a quiet as the grave) and set out across the fields towards Symonds Yat. The view from The Rock is spectacular and, if the weather was a touch better, we'd have been able to miles!
Lye Green
7th April Some walks don't live long in the memory and this will be one of those. They are enjoyable but most probably because getting out on a Saturday morning is always good and the conversation is enjoyable. Spring this year has been dull and today was no exception.
Where Angells Tread! 