Buckingham - Lenborough - Hillesden - Twyford - Poundon - Marsh Gibbon linear, 9.5 miles

An invite to a recently-repatriated friend's birthday celebration was the excuse for this lovely linear walk in the melting snow. The relentless sun warmed the land slightly and the wind dropped sufficiently to make it almost perfect conditions for winter walking.

Having taken a lift across town to save a mile and ensure I reached my destination before sunset, I set off from the very south side of Buckingham. I managed to put my right foot through the thin ice covering a puddle on my very first step into the wilderness, soaking my sock and encouraging me to stick to the grassy snow. I headed off towards the sun and through Lenborough - removing my medium fleece as I was already overheating - to Hillesden along paths I've walked a number of times. I checked my route and headed along the Cross Bucks Way towards Twyford.

I was impressed how well marked this footpath was. Other than a couple of minor deviations and some concern I was on the wrong side of a hedge, I ended up exactly where I planned to come out, behind the old Seven Stars at Three Bridges Mill. A short hop across the countryside took me past the pigs and toward the church into Twyford village.

Despite having walked from Twyford before and visited the church beforehand, I did a typical 'me' thing and totally ignored my innate sense of direction and knowledge and followed the first 'Public Footpath' sign I came across, which led me back out of the village to the road junction that heads to Charndon. This wasn't a particularly costly mistake in terms of time but it added just over a mile to my overall journey, and it reinforces the need to check my position and direction properly every time I'm on new territory.

The rest of the walk was on paths I walked with my good friend in the summer, which offered a striking contrast between seasons. At the height of the warm season, the route was vibrant and full of life and comment from the local wildlife. In the snow, barely a wood pigeon fled, a buzzard was the only bird of prey seen and robins were my only regular companions. I saw a couple of hares, obvious against the white backdrop, and evidence of other animals from their tracks, but on the whole it was a quiet walk.

My sense of direction appears reasonably acute, although often fortunate. On arriving at Marsh Gibbon, I had clues from the map of the general area of my friend's new house but no specifics. I took a marked path between houses and came out onto a road. I looked left and right, wondering which way I should head, when I spotted my friend's car peeking out from behind the very house I'd just walked past!

Nine and a half miles, just under four hours, no stop for lunch as planned and a maximum of fifteen minutes spent stationary. I'm definitely worn-into my boots now and I only had a couple of twinges once I'd taken them off and settled down. I felt my lower legs and the soles of my feet start to ache slightly in the last mile or so of the walk but that soon disappeared once I stopped.

This was a lovely walk with a great group of people and brilliant celebrations at the end. In time I hope to take it again in both directions - outward to visit my friends and home again the next day. That's a good challenge and when the weather improves I'll be raring to go!

Stonesfield and Coombe circular visiting North Leigh Roman villa - 6.6 miles

This was my first proper walk in some weeks owing to shorter days and rubbish weather, so I've been itching to get out for a while. I packed a good lunch, my medium fleece, gloves and hat and got picked up by my parents at 9.30am.

We made our way over to between Woodstock and Witney to Stonesfield and started on our way. Immediately we were greeted by a kite and a couple of buzzards which set the tone for much of the wildlife we'd see on the walk, along with a cold Scandanavian wind rushing toward us. The first section was a straight mile and a half of old Roman road heading east towards the outskirts of Blenheim Palace, then a muddy twist and turn in a southerly direction within Blenheim's walls and under cover of bare trees.

After the woods and hills and a brief stop for refreshments, we headed west on the road through the pretty and tightly-packed village of Coombe for a mile or so, then north back towards Stonesfield. As we descended out of another hilly copse, mum announced 'a surprise' approaching.

The surprise, although less of one since it was indicated, was a stop for lunch at the very visible remains of North Leigh Roman villa. Low walls encompass a large courtyard and a beautiful mosaic is covered with a modern building for preservation. We took a filling if chilly lunch and headed back the mile or so to the car.

This was a beautiful walk full of distant views, little streams, bridges and minor hills. It wasn't particularly challenging - despite pushing myself hard up a couple of hills - but I appreciated that after so long out of practice. It felt great getting home and I slept very well. This if definitely a walk to take daughter on sometime in the future.

Buckingham - Foscote - Akeley - Maids Moreton circular, 5 miles

After more than three weeks without a proper walk, I'd been itching for a good stomp for a while and finally got my arse out of the door for a quick five-miler. I left the house at 3.50pm and took my trusty loop; this was one of the very first walks I took when I first started walking properly and I know it like the back of my hand.

A good job too, as the sun set around half past four and it was properly dark for the last mile and a half after Akeley.

On getting toward Maids Moreton I stopped for a smoke and to check the sky in preparation for a meteor shower due later that night. The seeing wasn't great as there was plenty of moisture in the air and the sun hadn't long set but I could see the whole sky and stars were starting to become apparent. I happened to look to the west and spotted a bright brownish light which didn't appear to be moving but eventually swept overhead. It was very bright; I checked it with my binoculars. No flashing lights... It must have been the International Space Station reflecting the sun back at me. As it approached thirty degrees it dimmed and disappeared from view, making me think it dropped behind the shadow of the earth. As it faded, a shooting star passed it in the binocular view. Just amazing.

My right foot ached when I settled down but that's not purely down to the walk. It's been hurting in a particular place for a few days and is quite painful but it's only present occasionally. If it persists I'll go back to the physiotherapist.

To sum up, a lovely walk which was a challenge in the dark but I'm pleased I pushed myself to complete it and feel much better for the exercise.

Wearing-in

I'm pleased to say that my boots and feet seem to be happy with each other. After my strenuous hilly walk on Sunday, I had a small blister on my left little toe - smaller than the past two blisters - and a slightly sore patch on the heel of my right foot. There was no pain on the soles of my feet which is brilliant as that was starting to put me off using the boots altogether.

Another observation is that my legs didn't ache at all after that walk. I really expected at least some twinges or aches but nope, nothing. What a result.

Ellesborough, around Chequers up Beacon Hill, 7.2 mile circular

A cracking walk today. A good stomp up a steep hill got us underway, and we threaded and wound our way through woods and up and down hills for just over seven miles. We saw Red Kites and a few Buzzards, but hardly any other birds apart from Rooks.

The hills around Chequers provided suitable challenges til the last. Our final hike after lunch was a steady gentle uphill followed by the steepest, longest ascent I've done so far - I shot up Beacon Hill near the church in Ellesborough in less than three minutes. I pushed myself incredibly hard, using my pole to pull myself up. By the time I reached to top I was heaving for breath but so elated at having made the climb so quickly and without stopping. The sun came out and the view was simply astonishing. I had an overwhelming feeling of achievement and wonder at such an astounding sight. I could have spent ages up there just taking in the surroundings, but my parents were moving on so I had to follow down the side of the hill, dropping 75m to the car. I'd definitely do this walk again and I'd love to take others to see the view.

Buckingham - Maids Moreton - Chackmore - Stowe - Akeley - Maids Moreton circular, 8.25 miles

What a great walk! True to my post this morning about being gagging for a good walk, I said 'screw the weather!' and struck out for a good eight and a quarter miles from Buckingham to Stowe and back via Charmandean and Akeley. The clement weather broke at the outskirts of Stowe and I donned my new jacket to find it perfectly waterproof during the windy deluge which followed. I wore it for a few minutes after the rain abated until I climbed a hill and found my arms were sweating heavily in their sleeves, so I took it off and cooled down.

While at Stowe, I was buzzed by two very low Apache helicopters - low enough for me to see the pilot's face - as they hugged the terrain. I whooped and danced afterward; what a noise, what a buzz!

I also got a chance to look around my childhood home at Lamport as it is being refurbished for new occupants since Nat Thornton retired. It hasn't changed a bit since we moved out twenty-five years ago, and it even had an indescribable scent of nostalgia inside and out.

There was plenty of muddy ground and wet grass which gave my boots their best workout yet. Despite the soles at the front of my feet aching somewhat, they stood me in good stead and I'm really enjoying using them.

Finally, I fed my remaining apple to a horse in a field outside Akeley. She acknowledged the feed by dipping her head and tapping her hoof on the grass, which I thought was rather sweet.

All in all, a great walk. I faced the rain and won, I got myself off the bloody sofa and back into the great outdoors and blew out the cobwebs, which I've needed to do for a few days now. I'm proud of myself.

I'm seriously itching for a good walk now. It's been too long since I tired myself out with a good long stomp and I've been lazy in motivating myself to get out of the house. I notice this is having the effect of letting me close up and go back to some of my old ways, which is something I want to avoid.

The weather currently is rubbish, with wind and rain, although neither should be an excuse considering I bought what seems like a reasonable waterproof jacket last week. Maybe I should take the plunge and test-drive it - it's great weather for ducks, after all.

Buckingham - Coombes - Padbury, 5 miles

Daughter and I walked out for a pub lunch and taxi home today. I wanted to take her out and thought lunch in a pub was a good incentive. She seemed to enjoy herself and was on cracking form. It was five somewhat hilly miles on a warm and eventually sunny early-autumn day where tops and sleeves were discarded before the first mile was behind us. The New Inn in Padbury provided a lovely setting for our ham, egg and chips and burger shared over a pint and J20. It'll be a day remembered for a long time to come.

Walking for Wellbeing

I've been working on starting a charity called Walking for Wellbeing which helps sufferers of depression by taking them out for walks in the countryside. It's been great getting my head back around HTML and stylesheets and writing all the copy, and I'm really happy with the result. You can see the site at Walking for Wellbeing

Buckingham - Foscote - Leckhampstead - Thornton - Buckingham Canal, 7.5 miles

This was a three-hour steady walk with a couple of medium hills, occasional lovely views and some woodland. I started after work at 4.50pm and got home at 7.50pm. It was almost dark when I got in!

This was the second walk in as many days and the second in my new boots. My feet held up pretty well but I've now got painful blisters on the bottom of each of my little toes. My feet ache somewhat but that's to be expected.

This walk was very windy - it's the first time since Spring where I've felt the need to wear sleeves from the start of the walk. It's definitely starting to feel autumnal out there.

There wasn't much of note on the walk other than a couple of beautifully friendly horses and a rabbit - possibly blind - which I managed to get within a couple of metres of. It was a nice walk but I'll probably have to rest my feet for a couple of days now.

Sibford Ferris, Little Cotswolds, 9.25 miles

A nice Sunday walk with my parents which was pretty hilly with some wonderful views. We passed through both Sibford Ferris and Sibford Gower. This was the first walk with my new boots - I was a little worried I'd be full of blisters by the end but I only had a small amount of 'impact' pain at the front of my feet which soon disappeared when I took them off and stretched my toes. I saw and heard spring pumps, ate plums from the tree and sat on a hillside with a great view for lunch. A good walk.

Edit: eight months later and I have no idea what 'spring pumps' are. How odd!

My walk log

I've been meaning to do this for ages, and eventually hope to run a custom walk log on my web site, but for the time being blogspot will have to do. I want to keep a record of my walks - where they take place, how far they are and interesting things seen, so the memories don't just disappear. I'm also passionate about trying to keep a log of all the miles I've walked. I'd love to be able to look back in a few years time and say I've done more than a thousand miles, or whatever.

A quick total of miles I've recorded elsewhere lists 185 miles of walks since 21st February 2009, and doesn't include a six-week period in June/July where I wasn't keeping track. I don't think I walked too far over that period. I may have done a few miles before February too, so I'll tentatively put my total at 215 on starting this blog and keep track from there.

I'd like to think that eventually this blog will give an overall picture of walks I've taken, notes on weather and wildlife, and include photos and maps, or at least routes on Google Maps/Earth to keep a good record of the miles I've covered.