13th October We're out early enough to catch the last of the sunrise over Codicote and the early morning light against the gathering gloom in the west makes for some special colours. This is a flat walk, not climbs, no views but some great skies and, this morning, a rainbow. I don't think our pictures do it justice but we enjoyed watching the weather slowly creep our way. We've walked as far as Crouch Green before the rain finally arrives.
Hertfordshire
King’s Walden
15th September According to Lemony Snicket “Morning is an important time of day, because how you spend your morning can often tell you what kind of day you are going to have.” Whether you believe such tosh or not, we're in Great Offley by 7-15am, mostly because we have a busy weekend and this is the only time for a walk. This will be the last of our walks in this part of Hertfordshire for the moment.
Kimpton
8th September A week later and we're back to Whitwell, parking in almost the same spot. The locals will be getting suspicious. Grabbing our stuff, we're off before anyone can challenge us. Compared to last week the weather is grey and overcast...and to tell the truth it sets the tone for our walk. There's nothing to dislike about this walk but we're learning that this part of Hertfordshire is just not very exciting...no good views or quaint villages, just countryside. That in itself is no bad thing but it doesn't make for much to write home about. This time we walk south from the village and follow tracks and paths as far as Ayot St Laurence.
Whitwell
1st September We've a series of walks in Hertfordshire planned for the next few weeks. It may only be the first day of meteorologic autumn but already you can feel the turning of the seasons . There's a thin mist in the Mimram Valley and the milky light evokes memories of walks last year...we spend a few minutes wishing we'd started out earlier...the dawn would have been great to see.
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
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
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...
Sandridge
17th February In spite of my general distrust of everything 'St Albans' we're back, less than 2 miles north of the city centre. Once again my hackles are raised! St Albans, a city?! A quick consultation of Wikipedia and I discover that between 1877 and 1888 any municipal borough in which an Anglican see was … Continue reading Sandridge