10th February It's been a month since we last walked. The weather has conspired to reserve all the good stuff for the week (what use is that?) and the rain for the weekends. We're up early and, although we miss the sunrise, we do catch the first few hours of daylight. We've parked in the … Continue reading Lee Common
winter
Turville
This was a dull Sunday afternoon walk and would be so much better on a warm summer's afternoon. I love this part of the Chilterns and although the 'stripped back' appeal of the Winter months makes a change, even now I'm looking forward to Spring. Highlights of this walk? The sleepy villages of Fingest and Skirmett, the view back over Fingest from Fingest Wood ( a classic Chiltern view) and tea at The Barn, Turville Heath.
Flaunden
We've been walking our way through Hertfordshire countryside towards Chesham over the last few weeks and today we plan to fill in the space between Bovingdon and the Chess Valley. We park on the green at Ley Hill and walk across fields and down the lanes as far as Latimer. It's still early and most people are in bed as we skirt the village green and walk north along Flaunden Bottom.
Bovingdon
An end of year, early morning, walk. We park up in the car park on Chipperfield Common. It's grey today as we set out and doesn't get any better during the walk. Nevertheless, it's been a while since we were last walking and it's good to get out
Bulbourne
It's 8am as we pull into the car park at Startop's End, squeezed between the reservoir and the canal. We are squeezing things in this weekend, ourselves. David is due back at lunchtime to watch the Spurs game and this is our only chance for a walk. It has to be short and local. In no time we reach the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union. A narrow and also straight canal, the original intention was to connect up with the Thames but money ran out and railways arrived...
Brill…and another windmill
OK...so windmills are becoming a bit of a weird obsession...Cholesbury, Pistone (twice), Clayton, Rottingdean, Turville (twice) and now Brill. It'll be trainspotting next! The walking is easy. There are no difficult climbs and sleepy Buckinghamshire villages are well spaced and make interesting diversions from crossing muddy fields. We walk through Chearsley, Chilton, Brill (the overcast skies make for some moody pictures of the windmill), Dorton, Ashendon, Nether Winchendon and back to Cuddington.
Ringmoor Down, Devon
The steep climb up onto Ringmoor Down leaves us our of breath and besides, the roads are surprisingly busy. Lots of people are out for a half-term drive over the Moors, taking advantage of the fact the skies have cleared and the sun is now shining.
Ringmore, Devon
Memory is a funny thing. It's been forty years since I was here last and parts of Challaborough haven't changed a bit. The view of Burgh Island from the beach, the caravan park, the stream across the beach that we used to dam...and yet this walk is much longer in my imagination.
Barn Hill, Devon
A windy walk on Dartmoor near Tavistock. We're staying in Tavistock and our walk today is a short drive up onto the moor at Whitchurch Down. Getting out of the car the wind tugs at the doors, as if to encourage us to get walking.
Ewelme
Ewelme 7 mile walk, snow and snowdrops at Swyncombe. The English language is perverse...I've no idea why Leicester, Edinburgh and Alnwick are pronounced as they are. Similarly, I'm at a loss to know how to pronounce Ewelme...e-Whelm or You-lm?
Where Angells Tread! 