11th May A short evening walk. In spite of the dull weather, this walk is a pleasant mixture of Hertfordshire woods and fields and takes in Berkhamsted and Northchurch Commons which overlook the Bulborne Valley. We catch fleeting views of the valley through the branches of some of the most gnarly oaks we've seen for a while. The last of the bluebells brighten the darker corners of the woods...by next week the display will be over for another year.
Woods
Cowleaze Woods
5th May It's probably the last 'Bluebell weekend' of the season...and the best! From Christmas Common the route follows a long, gentle descent through Queen Wood, Fire Wood and Longhill Hanging Wood and there are bluebells aplenty. We have the paths to ourselves and, by the time we reach the bottom of the valley, the air is thick with the scent of bluebells and the sunlight and shadows swirl through the heady mix.
Whippendell Woods & The Grand Union Canal
4th May Discovery of the week! If you get home early from work, at the moment there's enough daylight for an evening walk! From Cassiobury Park we cross the Grand Union Canal at Iron Bridge Lock (#77) and head up through Whippendell Woods, Lees Wood and Harrocks Wood...
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!
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!
Bucklers Hard
4th March Hampshire has some special memories, even if it's over 30 years since I lived around here. I'm sure I didn't really appreciate this part of Hampshire back then. Having said all that, last time I was at Bucklers Hard I'm sure it didn't cost to get in.
Stonor
25th February A Sunday afternoon walk in one of the most beautiful parts of the Chilterns. We love Hambleden and the surrounding woods.
Where Angells Tread! 