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!
Chilterns Walks
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.
Frithsden
28th May The Gade Valley on a misty late May morning in Hertfordshire and we're up and out walking before the rest of the world is out of bed! For as far as Frithsden we're retracing our steps from various other walks and, to tell the truth, had we turned and headed back at Potten End, it would have been a good walk.
Letchmore Heath
27th May Letchmore Heath hides unseen between Watling Street and the M1, two great rivers of north-bound traffic a matter of a couple of fields away. Hiding in plain sight, the village seems quiet happy to let life rush by so long as no one bothers it too much. We've left the car in Aldenham … Continue reading Letchmore Heath
Coombe Hill
19th May So, tell the truth now, who avoided the Royal Wedding by going for a walk? Seven years ago David and I escaped whilst Kate and William took their vows. On that day we went for a walk near Parslow's Hillock, Princes Risborough. We tried again today... but once Sue's family get talking...as it was, we left during the sermon, which was the highlight, I hear. In the end, we did return to Princes Risborough, starting at Redland End this time. The unusually late start means we're walking during the heat of the day. The weather is glorious but almost all of this walk passes through the woods and shady tracks between Princes Risborough and Wendover. We discuss how much of the Chilterns is just woods, lanes and farm tracks...and on days like today, its a real blessing!
Gaddesden Row
18th May Another pub walk this evening. This time from the car park of the Crown and Sceptre in Briden's Camp. We were last here in September 2016..that does feel like an age away! There's not much to Briden's Camp...if the Romans did stop off here they didn't leave much behind...a couple of cottages clustered around the pub and a cricket club over the road...which, as if to disown its location, is named after Great Gaddesden...all very confusing!
Sarratt Bottom
17th May It's a open secret, amongst those who live in Watford...the best local walks are at Sarratt. So close to Watford, on the doorstep of the busiest section of the M25, and yet Sarratt inhabits its own tranquility bubble. An ideal destination on a warm spring evening, after work. We park in the car … Continue reading Sarratt Bottom
Edlesborough
12th May With this walk, we've walked the complete length of the Chilterns in circular walks of various distances, from Luton and Dunstable all the way to the River Thames at Goring..and this is the 101st walk we've recorded on this blog. Increasingly, it's feeling like we need a change, even if Edlesborough itself has steadfastly resisted. This was a really enjoyable 11.9m walk and, apart from a stiff climb up onto Dunstable Downs at the beginning, and a slightly easier climb onto Ashridge at about 8 miles, it's a relatively easy walk.
Berkhamsted Common
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.
Tewin
7th May It's May Day Bank Holiday...I always enjoy celebrating International Workers' Day and to do so this year we drive to a part of Hertfordshire where no worker can afford to buy a house. Around here a house will set you back a cool £1M. According to Rightmove- ...an overall average price of £955,534 … Continue reading Tewin
Where Angells Tread! 