7th July An easy, early evening walk. Hannah joins us for this reprise of our visit to Ruislip Woods. This time we loop through Mad Bess (some interesting speculation about the origins of the name) and Bayhurst Woods before ending up crossing Newyears Green Lane. By the time we approach the outskirts of Ruislip the sun is dipping below the horizon and the warm sunset is some compensation for the previous unpleasant smell. An overall enjoyable, short 4.9 mile walk.
summer
Beaconsfield
1st July Today's walk starts in Beaconsfield, famous for its model village (warning, model train geeks only!) and not much more. By the time we reach Chalfont St Giles, and Milton's cottage, refreshments are badly needed. We stop off briefly for a ice cream. The return takes us by way of The River Misbourne, Jordans and Sear Green. At Sear Green we join Longbottom Lane back to Beaconsfield.
Ruislip Lido
29th June We've parked in Kings College Road, from where its a short walk into Ruislip Woods. They are clearly well used and well loved...and rightly so! In a congested part of suburban London, places like this are to be treasured. Memories of wide games and British bulldog come flooding back...as do autumn blackberry picking expeditions, planned like military operations. We used to return home with more blackberries than Mum could reasonably process and lived off jars of Bramble jelly and blackberry and apple pies well into the following winter.
Whipsnade
23rd June A long walk in a hot day...not much more to report. Some good views of the Gade Valley at Great Gaddesden and Hudnall. I think the Gade Valley above Hemel Hempstead is beautiful and, on a hot day like this, it's at its best.
Chalfont St Peter
17th June Not much to report here. A pleasant walk spoilt by diggers and dozers although all the building disturbance has meant that at this time of year the fields are filled with a profusion of poppies. The fleeting show is scant compensation but we enjoy the display while it lasts.
Cookham
16th June Leaving the car, we walk south across the fields to Cookham Rise before the long, gentle climb to Fultness and Quarry Woods, high above Bisham. Through the trees we glimpse Marlow but to tell the truth, for the most part the view is obscured by leaves and trees. The return takes in some views from Winter Hill, a gentle stroll along the Thames and a stop for an ice cream at The Bounty.
Speen
3rd June A 8.5 mile walk through the woods and fields around Great Hampden. An enjoyable walk with some nice views at North Dean and Bryant's Bottom and plenty of shade from the sun in the woods...typically Chilterns!
Great Offley
1st June This is a gentle stroll along deserted footpaths and quiet country lanes to the Delectable Mountains...well, Pegsdon Hills. By the time we reach The Pegsdon Hills Nature Reserve its lunchtime and, unusually of us, we pause for a quick lunch. To tell you the truth, lunch provides an excellent excuse for a break. The sun and lack of even a breath of fresh air has made the walking hard work...or we're just growing old! Certainly, there are fewer woods on this walk than others. The views from Deacon Hill today are worth the walk. Bedfordshire is stretched out like a map before us and we can see Milton Keynes, Flitwick and Shefford in the distance.
Woburn
Not many Bedfordshire walks in our list and this is certainly outside of our normal 'Chilterns' patch. Essentially, this is a 9 mile ramble through the grounds of Woburn Abbey. Plenty of opportunities for pictures of deer, some views of the Bedfordshire countryside and time to chat.
Old Amersham
One last walk in the Misbourne Valley, this time starting from Old Amersham. If last week's predominant colours were green and blue, this week yellow and red are starting to appear...a hint that Summer is reaching its height. We park up in Amersham Old Town car park and walk south to Coleshill, crossing the route of HS2 on the gentle climb up to the village. We'll cross its path again later in our walk (as we return to Amersham along the South Bucks Way). Enough has been said here and here about HS2 so I won't reopen that festering wound!
Where Angells Tread! 