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
winter
Wendover Canal
15th February We've walked around here so much now that our walks just link up sections we're already explored, at least for the first 5 miles of this walk. This generates much conversation about what happened when we were here last and what time of year it was. Who'd have thought our lives were so … Continue reading Wendover Canal
Hudnell
You can over-think life and it's always good to get out and blow away the cobwebs. This walk is an easy stroll, the sort of walk where talking and thinking comfortably accompany walking but there are enough views to prevent self-absorption.
Lee Common
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
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...
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.
Where Angells Tread! 