First of December and I've not written here since September! What a shame that my knee injury distracted me from the routine of updating after a walk.
I've had some wonderful walks since then: a couple with a new charity client, a couple with an old charity client, many with my folks enjoying the absolutely beautiful, if short, autumn we experienced in 2010, a few good hills and stunning views and some wonderful miles on my boots. I've a general list somewhere of my walks, stripped from Facebook status updates and my sketchy memory, and I'll be sure to add the mileage and an indication of where the walks were when I get broadband sorted at home - hopefully tomorrow!
I really want to keep this log up-to-date because it's absolutely fulfilling to come back and read about past walks. The mental imagery floods straight back and gives me inspiration to keep on walking whenever I can.
Unfortunately as I experienced last year, the short days of winter at this latitude limit my walking to weekends only. I've fallen out somewhat with walking on my own, especially during the winter; people used to ask me if I got bored doing mile after mile on my own, and I'd always say "No!" I think if I were never asked that question I'd never have noticed, but particularly now I've done the majority of paths around this small town and between the local villages, treading the same paths can be a little tedious if I've not got someone to share it with. I may have been spoiled with the company of clients and my parents on various walks, so going back to solo walking seems a little empty. I'm sure that once spring comes around and I get a chance to do some longer solo walks from places I've not done before I'll get right back into it. The prospect fills me with glee, I must admit.
Finally, I've planned a group walk for my birthday this Saturday. There should be thirteen of us! That's considerably more than I'd hope for and if it comes off without a hitch I'll be incredibly proud of myself. The walk promises to be cold and damp with possible ice and snow, maybe a touch of rain, but a much more reasonable southerly breeze than the bitter easterly we've been having recently. Three kids, the rest adults, some seasoned walkers, a couple less so, many from town but a few from further afield, all gathering to help me celebrate my 35th birthday by walking six miles around the Chilterns in the wintery grip of early December. How exciting!
I'll post after that, hopefully with some photos and an account of the day. Until then, I'm determined to keep this up-to-date and log my walks after each trip, to keep this record of my adventures with walking.
01 December 2010
07 September 2010
I've only walked once since the cliff walk
- three weeks ago - as I fairly buggered-up my left knee. The pain came on the day after the big walk and was pretty heavy; it took more than a week to subside and the walk I'm about to blog was a tester to see if it'd healed properly. It looks like it has.
This has had a couple of effects. First, it's made me lazy and helped me slip back into old dietary habits, which is a pain in the arse. Well, I'm blaming that but I may have been looking for an excuse. The upshot of that is that I'm reasonably sure I've put on a bit of weight since our holiday, which is when things started to slide, diet-wise, and I've not brought them back to regimented order yet. This gives me fear - so much so I've not stood on the Wii scales since before the holiday. Maybe I should see I've put on weight to kick me in the arse and get back into big walks to burn off some calories and encourage me to stick to my healthier eating system.
Secondly, it put a spanner in the works in terms of my fitness-building plans for a 100-mile walk I'd planned to start next week. Next Wednesday I was supposed to be starting out for five days walking. I'm going to have to put that off until early spring now, which I'm gutted about but at least it'll give me ample time to plan and prepare for it. I wouldn't mind doing it later in October but there just won't be enough daylight to make the most of it, and I'm socially engaged until then.
Never mind, anyway. The plans are in place: kit lists drawn up, route planned, tent tested, mind set. All it needs now is to gather gear, set a date and physically prepare for the toil. In some ways I'm glad to give myself a bit more time to work up to consecutive twenty-mile days - the plan I had was workable but promised to take up an awful lot of time. This way I can almost leisurely work my way up towards it... I've inadvertantly given myself the gift of time, which makes it feel like much less of a failure and more of a reasoned delay.
I have a new client for the charity who's raring to go and increase her mileage so she can lose some weight. She has some admirable personal incentives and plenty to talk about, so I look forward to walking regularly with her. I'm also booked for a follow-up walk with my first client at the start of next week, which I'm looking forward to greatly. That, and regular weekend walks with my parents, has me covering a number of miles every week.
It doesn't feel like anywhere near enough.
This has had a couple of effects. First, it's made me lazy and helped me slip back into old dietary habits, which is a pain in the arse. Well, I'm blaming that but I may have been looking for an excuse. The upshot of that is that I'm reasonably sure I've put on a bit of weight since our holiday, which is when things started to slide, diet-wise, and I've not brought them back to regimented order yet. This gives me fear - so much so I've not stood on the Wii scales since before the holiday. Maybe I should see I've put on weight to kick me in the arse and get back into big walks to burn off some calories and encourage me to stick to my healthier eating system.
Secondly, it put a spanner in the works in terms of my fitness-building plans for a 100-mile walk I'd planned to start next week. Next Wednesday I was supposed to be starting out for five days walking. I'm going to have to put that off until early spring now, which I'm gutted about but at least it'll give me ample time to plan and prepare for it. I wouldn't mind doing it later in October but there just won't be enough daylight to make the most of it, and I'm socially engaged until then.
Never mind, anyway. The plans are in place: kit lists drawn up, route planned, tent tested, mind set. All it needs now is to gather gear, set a date and physically prepare for the toil. In some ways I'm glad to give myself a bit more time to work up to consecutive twenty-mile days - the plan I had was workable but promised to take up an awful lot of time. This way I can almost leisurely work my way up towards it... I've inadvertantly given myself the gift of time, which makes it feel like much less of a failure and more of a reasoned delay.
I have a new client for the charity who's raring to go and increase her mileage so she can lose some weight. She has some admirable personal incentives and plenty to talk about, so I look forward to walking regularly with her. I'm also booked for a follow-up walk with my first client at the start of next week, which I'm looking forward to greatly. That, and regular weekend walks with my parents, has me covering a number of miles every week.
It doesn't feel like anywhere near enough.
15 August 2010
Crackington Haven, Boscastle, Tintagel, 12.4 miles on the North Cornwall Coastal Path
I walked the first seven miles of this path at Easter and on returning to Tintagel I was looking forward to completing the whole stretch from Crackington Haven to Tintagel. The day was grey with a gusty wind and the promise of sunshine which never materialised. I disembarked the bus at the entrance to the bay at Crackington, wandered down to the sea, collected two interesting stones - one for my pot and one to throw into the water at Tintagel - reset my GPS and got underway.
The first climb 100m to Cambeak certainly wakes the legs and lungs up. Up, down then up again to the first peak where I stopped for five minutes to get my breath back and use my binoculars. From here I could see the headland of Tintagel far along the coast - probably less than eight or nine miles as the crow flies but much further thanks to the in-and-out, up-and-down nature of the cliffs. The next walk up to the nameless cliff at Trevigue past The Strangles beach is one of the toughest on the walk and had me puffing away once I finally got to the top. The view of the walk to High Cliff fills you with dread at just how long the path is but it's deceptive. Although it's long, the climb itself gets easier after the first two-thirds and you get to the top wondering what all the mental fuss was about.
I stopped again at High Cliff, which is almost in heaven for me. The highest cliff in Cornwall is very windy at 223m, or 734ft on the GPS, but a great spot for a refill and a moment to yourself.
The walk down off High Cliff is lovely, across a lower cliff then up, double-back and zig-zag your way up the steep cliff-side past Rusey Cliff. Coming down the other side, a cheery farmer was trying to encourage very resilient cows down the steep slopes to graze on better land. Around Buckator and up and around Beeny Cliff where I took the coastal path instead of the optional route. Last time I was here, the wind was so strong I opted for the optional track which kept away from perilous rocky edges and went across the fields towards Pentargon Falls. I was pleased to take the more difficult route this time as it kept faithfully to the edge of the cliff and seemed to make the walk more complete.
Up until the falls at Pentargon I'd not really felt any strain in my legs. The descent was fine - a couple stopping me to ask where I'd come from and where I was going. They said it was the best coastal path they'd ever done and they seemed experienced; when I told them that High Cliff was along the way they seemed elated that the best was yet to come. It was on the ascent from the waterfall towards Penally that my legs began to shout - a few dozen steep steps up the cliffside and me pushing on my thighs again to encourage them to work properly. I wandered along and sat on an outcrop overlooking Boscastle harbour for something to eat, a sociable blonde boy sat next to me waiting for his parents to come along and shared his experiences of the day.
After half an hour's rest I crossed the bridge over the outlet and walked along the quayside, past crabbing pots and small fishing boats and up the busy cliff past Willapark. This whole stretch to Tintagel is new path to me. It was considerably easier going than the first section but I was pleasantly surprised by a couple of particularly steep drops and climbs, the most memorable being the incredibly appropriately-named Rocky Valley which was, in a word, stunning. I'd like to come back at high tide to see the waves crashing along the rocks. After a brief stop, a steep climb past the headland at Bossiney and along the steady walking past Barras Nose. Finally, down to the beach at Tintagel Haven, heaving with visitors but with plenty of space on the beach to throw my Crackington stone into the sea and collect another one for my pot. I raced up the steep climb back into Tintagel town and up to treat myself to a diet cherry coke before heading home.
12.4 miles across some of the most incredible, hilly landscape I've witnessed. It could have been less windy, I was only slightly disappointed with the stretch between Boscastle and Tintagel, and a spot of sunshine would have been welcome, but otherwise it was the perfect walk. Having the sea to one side for the whole journey is beautiful and I'll try the walk in the opposite direction next time I visit to experience the climbs and descents in reverse. This is definitely my favourite walk and it'll probably be a long time before that changes. I hope to travel around the country a little more in the future and get some new walking under my belt. Watch this space!
A quick note: having plotted this route in software the total ascent for this walk was 1248m, 160m more than Snowdon! That's utterly brilliant!
New flowers and insects found: Common toadflax, white and red campion, wild basil, and a Sexton beetle pretending to be a bee.
The first climb 100m to Cambeak certainly wakes the legs and lungs up. Up, down then up again to the first peak where I stopped for five minutes to get my breath back and use my binoculars. From here I could see the headland of Tintagel far along the coast - probably less than eight or nine miles as the crow flies but much further thanks to the in-and-out, up-and-down nature of the cliffs. The next walk up to the nameless cliff at Trevigue past The Strangles beach is one of the toughest on the walk and had me puffing away once I finally got to the top. The view of the walk to High Cliff fills you with dread at just how long the path is but it's deceptive. Although it's long, the climb itself gets easier after the first two-thirds and you get to the top wondering what all the mental fuss was about.
I stopped again at High Cliff, which is almost in heaven for me. The highest cliff in Cornwall is very windy at 223m, or 734ft on the GPS, but a great spot for a refill and a moment to yourself.
The walk down off High Cliff is lovely, across a lower cliff then up, double-back and zig-zag your way up the steep cliff-side past Rusey Cliff. Coming down the other side, a cheery farmer was trying to encourage very resilient cows down the steep slopes to graze on better land. Around Buckator and up and around Beeny Cliff where I took the coastal path instead of the optional route. Last time I was here, the wind was so strong I opted for the optional track which kept away from perilous rocky edges and went across the fields towards Pentargon Falls. I was pleased to take the more difficult route this time as it kept faithfully to the edge of the cliff and seemed to make the walk more complete.
Up until the falls at Pentargon I'd not really felt any strain in my legs. The descent was fine - a couple stopping me to ask where I'd come from and where I was going. They said it was the best coastal path they'd ever done and they seemed experienced; when I told them that High Cliff was along the way they seemed elated that the best was yet to come. It was on the ascent from the waterfall towards Penally that my legs began to shout - a few dozen steep steps up the cliffside and me pushing on my thighs again to encourage them to work properly. I wandered along and sat on an outcrop overlooking Boscastle harbour for something to eat, a sociable blonde boy sat next to me waiting for his parents to come along and shared his experiences of the day.
After half an hour's rest I crossed the bridge over the outlet and walked along the quayside, past crabbing pots and small fishing boats and up the busy cliff past Willapark. This whole stretch to Tintagel is new path to me. It was considerably easier going than the first section but I was pleasantly surprised by a couple of particularly steep drops and climbs, the most memorable being the incredibly appropriately-named Rocky Valley which was, in a word, stunning. I'd like to come back at high tide to see the waves crashing along the rocks. After a brief stop, a steep climb past the headland at Bossiney and along the steady walking past Barras Nose. Finally, down to the beach at Tintagel Haven, heaving with visitors but with plenty of space on the beach to throw my Crackington stone into the sea and collect another one for my pot. I raced up the steep climb back into Tintagel town and up to treat myself to a diet cherry coke before heading home.
12.4 miles across some of the most incredible, hilly landscape I've witnessed. It could have been less windy, I was only slightly disappointed with the stretch between Boscastle and Tintagel, and a spot of sunshine would have been welcome, but otherwise it was the perfect walk. Having the sea to one side for the whole journey is beautiful and I'll try the walk in the opposite direction next time I visit to experience the climbs and descents in reverse. This is definitely my favourite walk and it'll probably be a long time before that changes. I hope to travel around the country a little more in the future and get some new walking under my belt. Watch this space!
A quick note: having plotted this route in software the total ascent for this walk was 1248m, 160m more than Snowdon! That's utterly brilliant!
New flowers and insects found: Common toadflax, white and red campion, wild basil, and a Sexton beetle pretending to be a bee.
09 August 2010
Coombe Hill, Ridgeway circular, 8.6 miles
Another brilliantly hilly walk, the first with my folks in two and a half months. It was wonderfully pleasant to get in the car and be greeted with whoops and compliments about how much weight I've lost. Thanks guys!
The walk had plenty of lovely wood mixed with tall hills, deep valleys and big views. It ended with a climb up to the monument on Coombe Hill which was overrun with picnickers and opportunist visitors who park two hundred metres away and walk to the end, eager to enjoy the huge view. I don't mind saying it, but I feel I certainly earned my great big uplifting view: lugging my over-packed rucksack across eight hilly miles to get to this point makes it mean much more to me than simply parking up and getting it for free.
I packed my bag with three kilos of stuff - tins, a kilo of raisins, stuff. As I'm in training I wanted to push myself; I didn't really notice the weight on my back, but as soon as I took it off it felt quite heavy in my hands. That weight was probably three or four kilos less than I'll be taking to the coast with me, so I will add more weight over my next few walks. The pack itself was comfortable, with its shoulder-straps nicely placed, chest- and waist-straps taking the pressure of the back. The weight was packed too low - something I'll need to experiment with. I also need a bum-bag type job to keep my regular-access stuff in, and a strap of some kind for my map case. Lots to get!
Also: 26 miles this week. Getting there.
The walk had plenty of lovely wood mixed with tall hills, deep valleys and big views. It ended with a climb up to the monument on Coombe Hill which was overrun with picnickers and opportunist visitors who park two hundred metres away and walk to the end, eager to enjoy the huge view. I don't mind saying it, but I feel I certainly earned my great big uplifting view: lugging my over-packed rucksack across eight hilly miles to get to this point makes it mean much more to me than simply parking up and getting it for free.
I packed my bag with three kilos of stuff - tins, a kilo of raisins, stuff. As I'm in training I wanted to push myself; I didn't really notice the weight on my back, but as soon as I took it off it felt quite heavy in my hands. That weight was probably three or four kilos less than I'll be taking to the coast with me, so I will add more weight over my next few walks. The pack itself was comfortable, with its shoulder-straps nicely placed, chest- and waist-straps taking the pressure of the back. The weight was packed too low - something I'll need to experiment with. I also need a bum-bag type job to keep my regular-access stuff in, and a strap of some kind for my map case. Lots to get!
Also: 26 miles this week. Getting there.
05 August 2010
North Marston, Quainton, East Claydon, Verney Junction, Addington, Adstock, Coombes, Thornborough Bridge, Bourton, Buckingham linear, 14.7 miles
I caught the bus out to North Marston and, after it navigated its way past a stray shih-tzu puppy, I disembarked and started out along the Quainton Road, off St John's Lane and out into open countryside.
I had another "Why was there any doubt?" moment as I got my pace on. I put off walks for unfathomable reasons but as soon as I get out there it's no chore, but an exciting privilege. I'm enjoying the countryside and doing myself good in the process. Please, no more sofa-surfing and more walking!
The path across six fields and a road leads into an enormous field that holds half of Woad Hill. I climbed at a steady rate, remembering that I'm essentially in training for five consecutive twenty-mile days and I must remember to pace myself. There's a natural route up the hill, which certainly left me panting as I reached the top and took in the cracking view. Over the crest, approaching The Best Tree in the World and a large fox bounced out of the long grass and bounded toward the hedge, the white tip of his tail tracing his path.
Down and up and down past Denham into Quainton. I do love this village. I got some good photos of bees enjoying the lavendar but couldn't bring myself to take shots of a hundred wasps burrowing into windfall fruit. Next time I will. Through the village and turning to head north toward home, I climbed Simber Hill without tiring myself and with my legs only gently strained. I continued along the ridge toward the radio mast, right then left over locked gates and along the hedge on a precarious cow path, with a view of strip fields and possible terracing on the side of the slope. Down Conduit Hill - there are a few routes down and I appear to have chosen the easiest and most boring way to do it. Across open fields again spotting three hares by the hedge, who sauntered away as I approached and hit the turbo as I got closer. I'm always astounded how fast hares can run. Two or three crop fields, then horses, a bit of track then left onto a couple of hundred metres of tarmac.
I've often rued road-walking as being wearing and tedious, but today I found a renewed appreciation of flat, solid ground. The going across fields wasn't slightly difficult, but the majority of the five miles already covered was irregular, so to find even ground gave me a chance to work up a good pace and rhythm.
Right onto a path new to me, a partly unmemorable stretch until reaching the hill. A good short climb to a track, tempted to take in a rare view of East Claydon Electricity Grid Sub-Station but without my binoculars it wouldn't have been much of a view, although the view back to Conduit more than made up for it. Past the church and into East Claydon for a brief visit before getting back onto known route. Across, down and into a field where muck-spreaders were loading their steamy payload and flicking it evenly over the rape stalks. Left onto the road through Verney Junction, past the pub and right, over the old railway taking care to slip right through the kissing gate and onto the footpath for a stop to rest. Eight and a quarter miles before stopping. Fantastic.
Recharged with an exotic sandwich and some chicken I continued across harvested fields, pleased to be walking over crunchy wheat stalks instead of wading through chest-high grass. Over Claydon Brook and skirting Addington before trekking across fields to cross the main road and head toward Adstock.
This next field has a name, in my head: "Friendly-Sheep Field". Thrice before I'd traversed this field and twice I'd been fortunate enough to fuss some of the friendliest sheep and lambs I've met. Today, only the mother sheep was interactive, her adolescent offspring less willing to approach now they were almost fully-grown. She snuffled my hand, nuzzled my leg and went all misty-eyed when I scratched her neck, head, ears and the side of her dark nose.
Off again to and through Adstock village. I've walked from here a number of times but never past the beautiful pub. There followed an unremarkable one and a quarter miles road-walking to the reserve at Coombes, where I took a standing break and made a happy stick figure near a bench - literally, out of sticks. Down past the pond, at the lowest level I've ever seen, over and down the hill to the road and along the brook. I took a sunset shot here, just after the sun'd gone down. Across Thornborough Bridge, past White House, Manor and Home Farms, along the path that follows the ring road and home.
On that final stretch, one final nature display. Three bats put on an incredible air show in the dusky night sky, literally right in front of my face. This was the icing on the cake of a lovely, long walk.
For the record, I massaged my feet and legs when I got in, moisturised my feet and slept well. I hardly ached the next day and apart from a couple of blisters in a new place on my little and next toes on my right foot, suffered no ill effects whatsoever. This is great progress in my preparation for a great big walk next month. Also, I've tagged 2.5 miles in this post for a quick walk out I did locally yesterday evening.
I had another "Why was there any doubt?" moment as I got my pace on. I put off walks for unfathomable reasons but as soon as I get out there it's no chore, but an exciting privilege. I'm enjoying the countryside and doing myself good in the process. Please, no more sofa-surfing and more walking!
The path across six fields and a road leads into an enormous field that holds half of Woad Hill. I climbed at a steady rate, remembering that I'm essentially in training for five consecutive twenty-mile days and I must remember to pace myself. There's a natural route up the hill, which certainly left me panting as I reached the top and took in the cracking view. Over the crest, approaching The Best Tree in the World and a large fox bounced out of the long grass and bounded toward the hedge, the white tip of his tail tracing his path.
Down and up and down past Denham into Quainton. I do love this village. I got some good photos of bees enjoying the lavendar but couldn't bring myself to take shots of a hundred wasps burrowing into windfall fruit. Next time I will. Through the village and turning to head north toward home, I climbed Simber Hill without tiring myself and with my legs only gently strained. I continued along the ridge toward the radio mast, right then left over locked gates and along the hedge on a precarious cow path, with a view of strip fields and possible terracing on the side of the slope. Down Conduit Hill - there are a few routes down and I appear to have chosen the easiest and most boring way to do it. Across open fields again spotting three hares by the hedge, who sauntered away as I approached and hit the turbo as I got closer. I'm always astounded how fast hares can run. Two or three crop fields, then horses, a bit of track then left onto a couple of hundred metres of tarmac.
I've often rued road-walking as being wearing and tedious, but today I found a renewed appreciation of flat, solid ground. The going across fields wasn't slightly difficult, but the majority of the five miles already covered was irregular, so to find even ground gave me a chance to work up a good pace and rhythm.
Right onto a path new to me, a partly unmemorable stretch until reaching the hill. A good short climb to a track, tempted to take in a rare view of East Claydon Electricity Grid Sub-Station but without my binoculars it wouldn't have been much of a view, although the view back to Conduit more than made up for it. Past the church and into East Claydon for a brief visit before getting back onto known route. Across, down and into a field where muck-spreaders were loading their steamy payload and flicking it evenly over the rape stalks. Left onto the road through Verney Junction, past the pub and right, over the old railway taking care to slip right through the kissing gate and onto the footpath for a stop to rest. Eight and a quarter miles before stopping. Fantastic.
Recharged with an exotic sandwich and some chicken I continued across harvested fields, pleased to be walking over crunchy wheat stalks instead of wading through chest-high grass. Over Claydon Brook and skirting Addington before trekking across fields to cross the main road and head toward Adstock.
This next field has a name, in my head: "Friendly-Sheep Field". Thrice before I'd traversed this field and twice I'd been fortunate enough to fuss some of the friendliest sheep and lambs I've met. Today, only the mother sheep was interactive, her adolescent offspring less willing to approach now they were almost fully-grown. She snuffled my hand, nuzzled my leg and went all misty-eyed when I scratched her neck, head, ears and the side of her dark nose.
Off again to and through Adstock village. I've walked from here a number of times but never past the beautiful pub. There followed an unremarkable one and a quarter miles road-walking to the reserve at Coombes, where I took a standing break and made a happy stick figure near a bench - literally, out of sticks. Down past the pond, at the lowest level I've ever seen, over and down the hill to the road and along the brook. I took a sunset shot here, just after the sun'd gone down. Across Thornborough Bridge, past White House, Manor and Home Farms, along the path that follows the ring road and home.
On that final stretch, one final nature display. Three bats put on an incredible air show in the dusky night sky, literally right in front of my face. This was the icing on the cake of a lovely, long walk.
For the record, I massaged my feet and legs when I got in, moisturised my feet and slept well. I hardly ached the next day and apart from a couple of blisters in a new place on my little and next toes on my right foot, suffered no ill effects whatsoever. This is great progress in my preparation for a great big walk next month. Also, I've tagged 2.5 miles in this post for a quick walk out I did locally yesterday evening.
26 July 2010
Robin Hood, Water Stratford, Westbury, Turweston, Wood Green linear, 9.8 miles
Starting out at the Robin Hood pub at Buffler's Holt, through a very overgrown stile into a very overgrown verge and a field with thick dry rape over a metre high, the margin thick with goose grass and tall thistles leading into a ditch. I tried the bottom and top of the field but was turned back by the vegetation. I tried one set of tractor lines but the rape was impassable. Walking back down the hill I spotted more tractor lines which were slightly less overgrown and pushed my way through to the bottom of the field and a fence. I hoofed it over the fence and down the hill, stopping twice to get my bearings and work out where the hell I was going. The first mile of this walk took me twenty minutes and I was thoroughly pissed-off, although once I got into my stride I was smiling... For a moment. I'd forgtten to bring any water out with me! This was to prove part of my undoing later on.
After the difficult start, the walk over to Water Stratford was pleasing; hilly, along a stream populated with swooping swallows, across farmland, past a vocal cockerel to talk to a twitchy, friendly farmer who was very interested in my route. Briefly through Water Stratford and along my previously-walked route to Westbury past the perpetually-busy Fields Barn and downhill to the church. Another brief village encounter past the new development at the mill in Westbury then out into instant countryside.
Over the brook, onto the old railway track and west. Having opened the map out to write this entry I see that the track I followed is connected to the old railway track in Buckingham, which I know like the back of my hand. It wasn't visually obvious that the path doesn't follow the abandoned railway, and a cordial man jogged past me and up the track, so I followed and really enjoyed the mile walk along towards Brackley. After a bridge and at the water, I turned north for 1.5 miles past Turweston, then east through the aerodrome and back onto the road to join the path east.
This stretch of wood is beautiful. Almost the whole walk from Turweston to Wood Green is under cover and would be ideal for a hot sunny day where shade is essential around midday. It was under cloudy skies with drizzle that I really started to regret not having water with me. Puddles started to look appetising, tiny pools of water on leaves became possible opportunities to quench my thirst. I imagined that would be how someone stranded in a desert might feel, only somewhat less nagging and imperative. I decided during the woods that I'd get to Dadford and call for a ride home as I was starting to feel decidedly pokey and the idea that I still had six or seven miles to cover wasn't filling me with the usual excitement.
When I came to the end of the track out onto the road I was somewhat surprised. In my visualisation of how far I had to go I'd spectacularly failed to remember almost two miles of walking between Wood Green and Dadford.
I'd had it. I was resigned, thirsty, annoyed with myself for forgetting water and overwhelmed with how far I still had to go. I called for a cab and went home. I'm disappointed to abandon a big walk only two-thirds along, although I'd done five hilly miles the day before. However, I woke up the next morning with a raging cold; sniffles, sore throat, headache, the lot. On reflection, it's hardly surprising I wasn't up to the challenge and I'm giving myself a break because of that. I hope to do another 10-15 miles this week to keep myself in rhythm and try to get two good distances done next week, in training for a big one in September.
After the difficult start, the walk over to Water Stratford was pleasing; hilly, along a stream populated with swooping swallows, across farmland, past a vocal cockerel to talk to a twitchy, friendly farmer who was very interested in my route. Briefly through Water Stratford and along my previously-walked route to Westbury past the perpetually-busy Fields Barn and downhill to the church. Another brief village encounter past the new development at the mill in Westbury then out into instant countryside.
Over the brook, onto the old railway track and west. Having opened the map out to write this entry I see that the track I followed is connected to the old railway track in Buckingham, which I know like the back of my hand. It wasn't visually obvious that the path doesn't follow the abandoned railway, and a cordial man jogged past me and up the track, so I followed and really enjoyed the mile walk along towards Brackley. After a bridge and at the water, I turned north for 1.5 miles past Turweston, then east through the aerodrome and back onto the road to join the path east.
This stretch of wood is beautiful. Almost the whole walk from Turweston to Wood Green is under cover and would be ideal for a hot sunny day where shade is essential around midday. It was under cloudy skies with drizzle that I really started to regret not having water with me. Puddles started to look appetising, tiny pools of water on leaves became possible opportunities to quench my thirst. I imagined that would be how someone stranded in a desert might feel, only somewhat less nagging and imperative. I decided during the woods that I'd get to Dadford and call for a ride home as I was starting to feel decidedly pokey and the idea that I still had six or seven miles to cover wasn't filling me with the usual excitement.
When I came to the end of the track out onto the road I was somewhat surprised. In my visualisation of how far I had to go I'd spectacularly failed to remember almost two miles of walking between Wood Green and Dadford.
I'd had it. I was resigned, thirsty, annoyed with myself for forgetting water and overwhelmed with how far I still had to go. I called for a cab and went home. I'm disappointed to abandon a big walk only two-thirds along, although I'd done five hilly miles the day before. However, I woke up the next morning with a raging cold; sniffles, sore throat, headache, the lot. On reflection, it's hardly surprising I wasn't up to the challenge and I'm giving myself a break because of that. I hope to do another 10-15 miles this week to keep myself in rhythm and try to get two good distances done next week, in training for a big one in September.
25 July 2010
North Marston, Quainton circular, 5 miles approx
With it being nineteen days since my last walk I'd been looking forward to this. My last visit to the hills around Quainton was glorious and I was excited to be getting up the hills.
My friend and I set off from a side road in North Marston, walking clockwise on a slightly shorter route this time to get a different view of the hills and put the exciting hills during the latter half of the walk. The first mile was unremarkable, then we passed a barn, crossed the road and came to our first ascent. Stomping to the top and turning round to appreciate the view was enjoyable - I love the panting, the tight chest and aching calves at the top of a hill, coupled with the huge view and enormous sky.
We carried on across the hill to our favourite tree ever, the ash with the outer shell. We both climbed it this time to have a look down into the hollow trunk and see the younger tree growing up out of the hollow. It was very satisfying in the tree and I'll be looking out for others to climb now that I'm starting to feel more lithe and more likely to bounce than splat.
Down the other side of the hill and into Quainton. What a pretty village. We stopped to take photos of some huge thistles populated by industrious bees, then shot uphill and along the ridge to enjoy our dinner in the shelter of the radio mast, with Buckinghamshire stretching out before us. I got to stroke a cow - properly scratch-scratch-stroke a cow - before heading off down the other side of the hill, to the earthworks marking a medieval village we so categorically failed to see last time. There's not much there - a few ditches and a couple of minor mounds - but I always get a deep sense of humanity stood in these spaces, of communal living, open fires, huts and children and animals. It's incredibly nostalgic every time I immerse myself in it and I definitely enjoy seeking out these simple remains.
Once done, our route moved east instead of following our previous path north, to cut a mile or so from the walk. Across flat, open fields, under some power lines and uphill to the road which lead down to the start point.
Another stunning walk with wonderful company. I will bring people here again.
My friend and I set off from a side road in North Marston, walking clockwise on a slightly shorter route this time to get a different view of the hills and put the exciting hills during the latter half of the walk. The first mile was unremarkable, then we passed a barn, crossed the road and came to our first ascent. Stomping to the top and turning round to appreciate the view was enjoyable - I love the panting, the tight chest and aching calves at the top of a hill, coupled with the huge view and enormous sky.
We carried on across the hill to our favourite tree ever, the ash with the outer shell. We both climbed it this time to have a look down into the hollow trunk and see the younger tree growing up out of the hollow. It was very satisfying in the tree and I'll be looking out for others to climb now that I'm starting to feel more lithe and more likely to bounce than splat.
Down the other side of the hill and into Quainton. What a pretty village. We stopped to take photos of some huge thistles populated by industrious bees, then shot uphill and along the ridge to enjoy our dinner in the shelter of the radio mast, with Buckinghamshire stretching out before us. I got to stroke a cow - properly scratch-scratch-stroke a cow - before heading off down the other side of the hill, to the earthworks marking a medieval village we so categorically failed to see last time. There's not much there - a few ditches and a couple of minor mounds - but I always get a deep sense of humanity stood in these spaces, of communal living, open fires, huts and children and animals. It's incredibly nostalgic every time I immerse myself in it and I definitely enjoy seeking out these simple remains.
Once done, our route moved east instead of following our previous path north, to cut a mile or so from the walk. Across flat, open fields, under some power lines and uphill to the road which lead down to the start point.
Another stunning walk with wonderful company. I will bring people here again.
08 July 2010
07 July 2010
Water Stratford, Westbury, aerodrome circuit, Wood Green, Dadford, Stowe Woods, Stowe, Akeley Wood, Akeley, Maids Moreton, Buckingham linear, 15.8 miles
After a week's relative rest - only 7.8 miles in the week instead of the 20-30 miles per week I'd been doing for the previous three weeks - my legs and mind were itching to get out so I found a linear route on the map and caught a taxi to Water Stratford. After tightening my boots and checking the GPS I set out across the fields.
Once again I'd sat in the office indecisive about whether I should go out or not, on the brink of saying "Ah, screw it!" and sitting on my backside for the evening. By the time I was half-way to Water Stratford in the car I was excited; by the end of the first field I was elated and beaming. There should never be any doubt as to whether it's a good idea to go for a walk.
Field turned to track turned to cut-grass bridleway. The track ran out in the direction I wanted to go so I diverted to the road and walked a couple of hundred metres to a right turn toward Fields Barn. Passing this industrious farm and some lovely little houses, I crossed a minor road and headed down then uphill to the church at Westbury, with its small tower and picturesque graves.
Westbury is a pretty village in parts. Low thatched eaves jut into the path next to the main road, the village hall and Reindeer pub seem welcoming and if it wasn't for a busy main road running past, it would be lovely. However, it was only 200m of my route so I crossed the road and traversed more corn fields past the grass dryer which offered a smell of moist, warm grass to drift on the wind.
After struggling with a couple of overgrown paths I came to a minor road and a sign for Westbury circular ride which pointed into some woods. It was here I decided to tag-on a small circuit to increase the length of the walk and I'm pleased I did/aching because of it. The extra 2.8 miles brought the total for this walk to 15.8 miles which is a new record, although my tendons are tight and the soles of my feet ache somewhat today. I had to push myself to complete the walk and I'm glad it ended when it did, although I think I probably could have gone another mile or two after a short rest. One thing to note about these recent longer walks is thay they've mostly been non-stop, or at least only five-minute breaks to check position or take the weight off briefly. I'm convinced this is the reason for my dramatic weight loss, the constant relentless exercise not giving my body a chance to wind down and back up again between bouts of activity. I don't know if this is good for me or not but I feel fantastic while I'm doing it and afterwards, I sleep very well and it seems to balance my appetite, which is a bonus.
I recognised the spot on the road as the starting point for a walk with my parents, which I appear to have missed from my blog. The woods were peaceful and transformed into an enclosed path that continued for a kilometre and opened up to a view of an aerodrome I'd categorically failed to spot on the map! I was looking only for a suitable circuit to add to my walk and didn't even notice the bloody big airstrip it went through! There's a lesson here.
The path crosses the edge of the aerodrome and heads about 200m past some industrial units, then cuts back across a field toward the hangars. Light aircraft were parked outside and cars and vans were regularly on the move. A yellow stunt plane roared into the sky and scattered birds. I passed the buildings and crossed some tarmac to the track which skirted the edge of the airfield. I watched the stunt plane do tumbles and twists way up in the sky then come down to land and taxi to the hangars, before turning off and heading back along the bridleway to the road and my starting point.
I followed the bridleway toward Wood Green, which wound up and down through lovely woods for some distance then bisected Evershaw and New Copses to the road. The tarmac led to Wood Green and I took a five-minute break to rearrange my map and have a banana. I decided to head to Stowe Woods and return through Akeley Wood instead of my original intention to head straight through Stowe and Chackmore to get home. Fifty metres past the houses and my only real frustration of the walk, where a choice of paths should have been available but only the southern path could be seen. This turned to my advantage as the path was pretty and it meant I had an opportunity to pass the playground in Dadford where I used to play as a child, almost thirty years ago. It feels odd putting local memories into context by referring to them as three decades ago; I still don't feel old but I think references like this will start the process!
Along High Street and up the hill to the footpath, through a large field of tall reeds I've seen before but not in such numbers. The reeds eventually opened out into a big, sweeping, hilly field and after a few hundred metres I began to feel like I'd missed a path and was lost. I stood and got a grid reference - I was about 200m off so I followed the verge of a corn field, spotting from afar the path cutting through the crop. Instead of trying to take up the path I hopped a barbed-wire fence at a convenient point and followed the hedge to a gate and to the entrance to Stowe Woods.
The path headed down and east past two horses - the grey was certain I had an apple in my bag and wouldn't let me save half for the other horse - uphill and a wave from a rider, then south-south-east along an apparently perfectly straight path which wound its way along and through the outskirts of the Stowe grounds. I passed a lady with three charismatic border-collies and a jack russel before reaching the track which took me to the road to Akeley Wood.
At this point I was starting to regret taking the longer route home. My legs and the soles of my feet were starting to ache and my right knee was telling me it was too much, but I pushed on through the 'private' road and along the tarmac into Akeley. As I approached my intended rest spot the clouds broke and made my ten-minute break most enjoyable in the late evening sunshine. I notice my GPS had run out of battery but estimated my distance by this point at 14 miles, which is a great distance to do before any real break to rest my feet.
The final stomp home along regular paths between Akeley and Maids Moreton was considerably eased by the break; I think if I'd have carried on without stopping I'd be in considerable pain today. I'm really pleased with the progress I've made over the past month or two, as to have attempted this distance three months ago would probably have broken me. I'm aiming for twenty miles non-stop - something daughter challenged me to last year. It's been at the back of my mind through all these miles across the local area and I'll be very pleased with myself when I can do twenty miles in a day. The non-stop part is my own personal goal which I think is totally achieveable. The next target is to do fifteen to twenty miles on two consecutive days, then three, then more, in an aim to walk to the coast at Canvey Island later in the year.
Once again I'd sat in the office indecisive about whether I should go out or not, on the brink of saying "Ah, screw it!" and sitting on my backside for the evening. By the time I was half-way to Water Stratford in the car I was excited; by the end of the first field I was elated and beaming. There should never be any doubt as to whether it's a good idea to go for a walk.
Field turned to track turned to cut-grass bridleway. The track ran out in the direction I wanted to go so I diverted to the road and walked a couple of hundred metres to a right turn toward Fields Barn. Passing this industrious farm and some lovely little houses, I crossed a minor road and headed down then uphill to the church at Westbury, with its small tower and picturesque graves.
Westbury is a pretty village in parts. Low thatched eaves jut into the path next to the main road, the village hall and Reindeer pub seem welcoming and if it wasn't for a busy main road running past, it would be lovely. However, it was only 200m of my route so I crossed the road and traversed more corn fields past the grass dryer which offered a smell of moist, warm grass to drift on the wind.
After struggling with a couple of overgrown paths I came to a minor road and a sign for Westbury circular ride which pointed into some woods. It was here I decided to tag-on a small circuit to increase the length of the walk and I'm pleased I did/aching because of it. The extra 2.8 miles brought the total for this walk to 15.8 miles which is a new record, although my tendons are tight and the soles of my feet ache somewhat today. I had to push myself to complete the walk and I'm glad it ended when it did, although I think I probably could have gone another mile or two after a short rest. One thing to note about these recent longer walks is thay they've mostly been non-stop, or at least only five-minute breaks to check position or take the weight off briefly. I'm convinced this is the reason for my dramatic weight loss, the constant relentless exercise not giving my body a chance to wind down and back up again between bouts of activity. I don't know if this is good for me or not but I feel fantastic while I'm doing it and afterwards, I sleep very well and it seems to balance my appetite, which is a bonus.
I recognised the spot on the road as the starting point for a walk with my parents, which I appear to have missed from my blog. The woods were peaceful and transformed into an enclosed path that continued for a kilometre and opened up to a view of an aerodrome I'd categorically failed to spot on the map! I was looking only for a suitable circuit to add to my walk and didn't even notice the bloody big airstrip it went through! There's a lesson here.
The path crosses the edge of the aerodrome and heads about 200m past some industrial units, then cuts back across a field toward the hangars. Light aircraft were parked outside and cars and vans were regularly on the move. A yellow stunt plane roared into the sky and scattered birds. I passed the buildings and crossed some tarmac to the track which skirted the edge of the airfield. I watched the stunt plane do tumbles and twists way up in the sky then come down to land and taxi to the hangars, before turning off and heading back along the bridleway to the road and my starting point.
I followed the bridleway toward Wood Green, which wound up and down through lovely woods for some distance then bisected Evershaw and New Copses to the road. The tarmac led to Wood Green and I took a five-minute break to rearrange my map and have a banana. I decided to head to Stowe Woods and return through Akeley Wood instead of my original intention to head straight through Stowe and Chackmore to get home. Fifty metres past the houses and my only real frustration of the walk, where a choice of paths should have been available but only the southern path could be seen. This turned to my advantage as the path was pretty and it meant I had an opportunity to pass the playground in Dadford where I used to play as a child, almost thirty years ago. It feels odd putting local memories into context by referring to them as three decades ago; I still don't feel old but I think references like this will start the process!
Along High Street and up the hill to the footpath, through a large field of tall reeds I've seen before but not in such numbers. The reeds eventually opened out into a big, sweeping, hilly field and after a few hundred metres I began to feel like I'd missed a path and was lost. I stood and got a grid reference - I was about 200m off so I followed the verge of a corn field, spotting from afar the path cutting through the crop. Instead of trying to take up the path I hopped a barbed-wire fence at a convenient point and followed the hedge to a gate and to the entrance to Stowe Woods.
The path headed down and east past two horses - the grey was certain I had an apple in my bag and wouldn't let me save half for the other horse - uphill and a wave from a rider, then south-south-east along an apparently perfectly straight path which wound its way along and through the outskirts of the Stowe grounds. I passed a lady with three charismatic border-collies and a jack russel before reaching the track which took me to the road to Akeley Wood.
At this point I was starting to regret taking the longer route home. My legs and the soles of my feet were starting to ache and my right knee was telling me it was too much, but I pushed on through the 'private' road and along the tarmac into Akeley. As I approached my intended rest spot the clouds broke and made my ten-minute break most enjoyable in the late evening sunshine. I notice my GPS had run out of battery but estimated my distance by this point at 14 miles, which is a great distance to do before any real break to rest my feet.
The final stomp home along regular paths between Akeley and Maids Moreton was considerably eased by the break; I think if I'd have carried on without stopping I'd be in considerable pain today. I'm really pleased with the progress I've made over the past month or two, as to have attempted this distance three months ago would probably have broken me. I'm aiming for twenty miles non-stop - something daughter challenged me to last year. It's been at the back of my mind through all these miles across the local area and I'll be very pleased with myself when I can do twenty miles in a day. The non-stop part is my own personal goal which I think is totally achieveable. The next target is to do fifteen to twenty miles on two consecutive days, then three, then more, in an aim to walk to the coast at Canvey Island later in the year.
01 July 2010
Buckingham, Maids Moreton, Foscote, Leckhampstead, Akeley circular, 7.8 miles
The final walk with the first client for Walking for Wellbeing, this was the reverse of a walk I did at the end of May, and the walk which turned daughter off walking because it was closer to eight miles than the promised four-or-five.
We headed up Page Hill at a good pace to get our legs warmed-up, then through Maids Moreton rec and across the fields to the oak on the bend. Across more fields toward Foscote Manor where I spotted a Lesser Stag Beetle crossing the road – the first time I've ever seen one and an impressive little beast it was.
We stopped for a smoke on the tree stump where the grass had been recently cut and bailed for silage. The sun was particularly warm at this point although it got cooler as the breeze picked up and the evening wore on. We headed across lovely quiet fields towards Leckhampstead and past the point where I met Mrs Pheasant a few weeks ago then down the hill to the ford.
The client had asked if we could find somewhere to paddle and the spot where I stopped for a recharge, under the pylons next to the stream, seemed like a perfect place. When we arrived it was overgrown with thick green weed, making it a much less-attractive prospect so we stopped for a break and a chat and continued on. I knew there was another chance for a paddle past the farm and when we arrived it was perfect. We kicked off our boots and socks and took to the cool, refreshing water. We spotted Water Forget-me-nots with their blue and yellow flowers, and Brooklime with their similar purple-to-yellow petals. After a paddle we stopped for dinner and more conversation then carried on to Akeley.
As we got into the village it was announced that my companion's grandparents were buried in the graveyard so we paid them a visit, wandering around the graves until we found their headstone. I cut three seed heads from a rose bush that was growing on their grave so she could plant them in her garden and after a moment's contemplation we walked on. We charged down the long hill and up the other side and into Maids Moreton to complete the walk.
This was lovely. Not only is it a nice and varied route with lots to see and some good variety in terrain but there was good company and nice outcomes to our conversations.
We headed up Page Hill at a good pace to get our legs warmed-up, then through Maids Moreton rec and across the fields to the oak on the bend. Across more fields toward Foscote Manor where I spotted a Lesser Stag Beetle crossing the road – the first time I've ever seen one and an impressive little beast it was.
We stopped for a smoke on the tree stump where the grass had been recently cut and bailed for silage. The sun was particularly warm at this point although it got cooler as the breeze picked up and the evening wore on. We headed across lovely quiet fields towards Leckhampstead and past the point where I met Mrs Pheasant a few weeks ago then down the hill to the ford.
The client had asked if we could find somewhere to paddle and the spot where I stopped for a recharge, under the pylons next to the stream, seemed like a perfect place. When we arrived it was overgrown with thick green weed, making it a much less-attractive prospect so we stopped for a break and a chat and continued on. I knew there was another chance for a paddle past the farm and when we arrived it was perfect. We kicked off our boots and socks and took to the cool, refreshing water. We spotted Water Forget-me-nots with their blue and yellow flowers, and Brooklime with their similar purple-to-yellow petals. After a paddle we stopped for dinner and more conversation then carried on to Akeley.
As we got into the village it was announced that my companion's grandparents were buried in the graveyard so we paid them a visit, wandering around the graves until we found their headstone. I cut three seed heads from a rose bush that was growing on their grave so she could plant them in her garden and after a moment's contemplation we walked on. We charged down the long hill and up the other side and into Maids Moreton to complete the walk.
This was lovely. Not only is it a nice and varied route with lots to see and some good variety in terrain but there was good company and nice outcomes to our conversations.
27 June 2010
Todmorden to Hebden Bridge, linear canal walk, 5.15 miles
Waking early after the party and finding the whole house strewn with drunken snoring bodies, I donned my trainers and decided to take a wander around the park opposite the house. Instead, I looked around a graveyard then walked toward town, investigating the train station to see what time trains returned to Todmorden. It crossed my mind to carry on walking as far as I could and get back by bus or train. "As far as I could" turned out to be to Hebden Bridge station as when I arrived there I checked the time of the next train - 100 minutes to wait - and considered walking to the next station, but on inspecting a slight tickle on my right foot it turned out I'd given myself some impressive blisters.
If I'd had my boots I'd have walked to Stoodley Pike again. After a mile or two a sign told me it was eight miles - I could have walked there and got back to the house at a similar time, but my feet told me sensibly to have a rest.
Three herons, only four other people, an incredibly friendly cat and a nice, simple plod along the towpath, I estimate this at about four miles although without the GPS it's hard to say for sure.
If I'd had my boots I'd have walked to Stoodley Pike again. After a mile or two a sign told me it was eight miles - I could have walked there and got back to the house at a similar time, but my feet told me sensibly to have a rest.
Three herons, only four other people, an incredibly friendly cat and a nice, simple plod along the towpath, I estimate this at about four miles although without the GPS it's hard to say for sure.
26 June 2010
Hebden Bridge, Stoodley Pike, Mankinholes linear, 5.5 miles
On the Saturday of a party weekend, four new friends and I had arranged to go up a big hill near the town we stayed in: Stoodley Pike. At just over 400 metres elevation with a tower monument on top it was a good target and we set off from Hebden Bridge train station around midday.
The first stretch was up a hillside diagonally, then toward the first shelf for around 150m climb. I'd gone ahead and was wonderfully surprised by the view at this first peak, the monument sitting on the edge of a hill a couple of miles distant. I wandered back down to find my companions resting thirty seconds down the hill, unaware of the distance we still faced.
A good stretch of trackway lead us toward the next climb where we stopped for a brief break before an approaching column of sheep drove us onward. We let them pass on the corner and followed them up the hill watching the sheepdog work its instinctive magic, rounding-up stragglers and moving the group forward.
A two-stage stomp up the final ascent followed, laid gravel up the steeper section and well-walked mud and dust to the top. When we arrived at the monument marking the peak we only had half a minute to appreciate its splendour before I noticed a helicopter heading toward us at much the same altitude. As it flew directly toward us I put my hands in the air and waved. The huge machine throbbed directly at us, banked, encircled us and the monument almost within touching distance and flew off into the hazy sunshine. This whole event gave me such a rush I bounced around the peak with a massive grin on my face!
We climbed the monument tentatively and sat taking in the view for a fair while. Instead of following the route we'd found online we spotted a simple descent into a nearby village and went down to find a pub. We took directions from two very pretty girls on horses who directed us with the sexiest Yorkshire accents I've ever heard. It was a good mile or two's trek along very rural roads to a pub called the Top Brink which was nice enough, although I overdosed on Red Bull.
This walk was incredible. Lovely people, great route, awesome weather, nice quirks and a real feeling of achievement.
22 June 2010
Finmere, Shellswell, Newton Purcell, Chetwode, Preston Bissett, Hillesden, Lenborough, Buckingham linear, 13 miles
Brilliant early-summer sunshine gave reason to get out and enjoy new paths and challenging distances today. A cab took me to the old Banbury road in Finmere and I started out over the main road past a landfill I never knew was there. It appears to use the holes left by continuing quarry works, digging machinery clanging and clattering over the fence. New bridleway markers pointed along a field-side and past a farm building onto an established track which went in a different direction to that on the map. After wandering past yet more machinery - what power shredding logs into sawdust! - I took a punt on a turn in the right direction near some buildings. Somewhat disoriented I was grateful for the Landrover that came bouncing down the track and told me I was going the wrong way. Pointed to the right track I got into my stride through musical woods, then out into the open for some beautiful field-margin walking.
The way joined a track and a turn east put the afternoon sun on my back as I passed a wonderful lake. A buzzard shot out of a tree not ten metres distant, its huge wings propelling it over the water to be harried and hassled away by a multitude of rooks. This two-kilometre gravel track past lake, medieval village, farm and woods seemed never-ending but once I rounded the trees a field of asparagus led the way to the main road. It's not often you get to stand next to huge lorries doing 50mph and that makes the hundred-metre stretch of A4421 pretty scary.
Across some pretty meadows and over a bridged ford into a rape field. It started clear and gradually became overgrown not only with fruiting rape but bloody huge thistles. Fortunately the spines couldn't penetrate my jeans but it was hard going and, combined with the heat, I was sweating and puffing by the time I got to Chetwode.
I continued past some lovely houses and a sign warning "HONEY BEES" near a buzzing throng on the wall of a barn, an industrious sight to behold. Past the large manor of Chetwode and a hearty "Hello!" from a resident of Courtfield Farm, the fields dipped down then rose to Preston Bissett. I've always had a soft spot for this quaint village although my route didn't allow me to see much more than thirty metres of road and a confused-looking old man whose stares I deflected with a "Good evening!" and a wave of my handerchief. A kind gardener helped me choose from three paths to take across the rolling playing field, the only cricket pitch I've seen dotted with sheep and associated droppings.
Long grass led the way to the road, severely overgrown hedgerows making tough work of the crossing on both sides. The path then followed four fields all the way up to the church at Hillesden where it was time to rest my feet and replace some salt with a packet of McCoys.
The Cross Bucks Way heads past Hillesden House here, a mile-long stretch of perfectly straight track where I seemed to estimate how far to the end every two minutes. I took a good pace along here trying to wake my legs up and keep my average speed healthy, and quickly came to the end of the track and towards Kingsbridge and more familiar paths.
I followed the Padbury Brook for a mile, up to the road for a hundred metres then northwest to Lenborough and across the industrial estate to the Esso on Buckingham ring road. I'd been considering saving my legs and catching a cab from the garage to relieve my feet of the extra mile home, and I'm glad I did. Thirteen miles - if you'll excuse the pun, another great milestone. Cracking weather, billions of bugs, clear air and excellent countryside made this a great if tiring walk.
The way joined a track and a turn east put the afternoon sun on my back as I passed a wonderful lake. A buzzard shot out of a tree not ten metres distant, its huge wings propelling it over the water to be harried and hassled away by a multitude of rooks. This two-kilometre gravel track past lake, medieval village, farm and woods seemed never-ending but once I rounded the trees a field of asparagus led the way to the main road. It's not often you get to stand next to huge lorries doing 50mph and that makes the hundred-metre stretch of A4421 pretty scary.
Across some pretty meadows and over a bridged ford into a rape field. It started clear and gradually became overgrown not only with fruiting rape but bloody huge thistles. Fortunately the spines couldn't penetrate my jeans but it was hard going and, combined with the heat, I was sweating and puffing by the time I got to Chetwode.
I continued past some lovely houses and a sign warning "HONEY BEES" near a buzzing throng on the wall of a barn, an industrious sight to behold. Past the large manor of Chetwode and a hearty "Hello!" from a resident of Courtfield Farm, the fields dipped down then rose to Preston Bissett. I've always had a soft spot for this quaint village although my route didn't allow me to see much more than thirty metres of road and a confused-looking old man whose stares I deflected with a "Good evening!" and a wave of my handerchief. A kind gardener helped me choose from three paths to take across the rolling playing field, the only cricket pitch I've seen dotted with sheep and associated droppings.
Long grass led the way to the road, severely overgrown hedgerows making tough work of the crossing on both sides. The path then followed four fields all the way up to the church at Hillesden where it was time to rest my feet and replace some salt with a packet of McCoys.
The Cross Bucks Way heads past Hillesden House here, a mile-long stretch of perfectly straight track where I seemed to estimate how far to the end every two minutes. I took a good pace along here trying to wake my legs up and keep my average speed healthy, and quickly came to the end of the track and towards Kingsbridge and more familiar paths.
I followed the Padbury Brook for a mile, up to the road for a hundred metres then northwest to Lenborough and across the industrial estate to the Esso on Buckingham ring road. I'd been considering saving my legs and catching a cab from the garage to relieve my feet of the extra mile home, and I'm glad I did. Thirteen miles - if you'll excuse the pun, another great milestone. Cracking weather, billions of bugs, clear air and excellent countryside made this a great if tiring walk.
18 June 2010
Adstock, Thornborough, Nash, Thornton, Buckingham linear, 11.5 miles
Another individual walk with Walking for Wellbeing on a beautiful if cool late spring day. Much of the walk approaching Thornborough through Nash to Thornton was on new paths and most of it was lovely. I managed to leave my walking pole against a gatepost - the first time I've carried it collapsed and the first time I've left anything behind while walking other than a fleece which fell off my pack during my Cornish cliff walk.
I blame this lack of pole somewhat on my falling off a ditch plank into nettles and thorns, stinging my right arm, cheek and ear. While I wouldn't admit it to my companion the stings really hurt and it took a few minutes to find a dock leaf to sooth them. Even now, almost twelve hours later, there's a dull tickle where the stings were.
Dinner was taken by the old canal at Thornton, followed by a dusky walk back past Hyde Lane and Lock Meadow. The early crescent moon looked amazing through binoculars and Venus was present as more than a pinprick in the sky.
I blame this lack of pole somewhat on my falling off a ditch plank into nettles and thorns, stinging my right arm, cheek and ear. While I wouldn't admit it to my companion the stings really hurt and it took a few minutes to find a dock leaf to sooth them. Even now, almost twelve hours later, there's a dull tickle where the stings were.
Dinner was taken by the old canal at Thornton, followed by a dusky walk back past Hyde Lane and Lock Meadow. The early crescent moon looked amazing through binoculars and Venus was present as more than a pinprick in the sky.
16 June 2010
Buckingham, Thornton, Beachampton, Calverton, Two Mile Ash, Loughton, Milton Keynes Central linear, 11.5 miles
This is the furthest I've walked since I was in my teens and I did the local twenty-mile sponsored walk two years running. It broke me back then because I went straight into it without any practice and my legs ached for days afterward. Thankfully, this journey has given me nothing more than my regular tight hamstring on my right leg - something I do need to get checked out if it persists for much longer. My feet ached afterward but after a shower, a good moisturising massage and a night's sleep they're back to normal.
Less than half of this route was on paths I know. The walk out past Lockmeadow Farm, past Hyde Lane and alongside the old canal was familiar if overgrown, a couple of fallen trees making progress difficult in places. Once I got to Thornton college I was in virgin territory and pushed through fields of rape and beautiful Small Tortoiseshell butterflies who were polite enough to pose for the camera. A couple of cow fields and tough-going rarely-walked rape fields lead to Beachampton for a short while until long grass cleared into driven track all the way to Calverton. It's a pretty village but there's only 100m of it before getting onto the bridleway. A lady and her huge, enthusiastic labrador both expressed surprise and curiousity at another person out walking and they were the only people I saw on paths for the whole journey. After passing them and a stile with footpath markers pointing the way, the path itself ran out and I was left to improvise to get to the main road near Kiln Farm.
Almost a kilometre along the redway next to the busy road, then almost a mile through Two Mile Ash, a nice enough estate with a small local centre, a couple of schools and two churches of differing denominations. I followed the footpaths under the road and up to the small lakes at Loughton which was populated by walkers, fishermen, cyclists and joggers alike. It was a nice walk through the park, the highway noise blocked out by my earphones. The route through Loughton wasn't particularly clear but a quick look at Google Maps on my phone showed me the way and I made it to the central train station within 3 hours 40 minutes, averaging around 3.3mph which I think is pretty quick. A work colleague says he could do it in two and a half hours; he's well known for taking the piss but I'm tempted to challenge him to a 'race'.
This is a lovely walk with some quiet moments, but its proximity to the road isn't in its favour. Finishing the walk with two or three miles of tarmac and concrete isn't the smartest thing for your feet, so I'd be tempted to do it in reverse in future.
Less than half of this route was on paths I know. The walk out past Lockmeadow Farm, past Hyde Lane and alongside the old canal was familiar if overgrown, a couple of fallen trees making progress difficult in places. Once I got to Thornton college I was in virgin territory and pushed through fields of rape and beautiful Small Tortoiseshell butterflies who were polite enough to pose for the camera. A couple of cow fields and tough-going rarely-walked rape fields lead to Beachampton for a short while until long grass cleared into driven track all the way to Calverton. It's a pretty village but there's only 100m of it before getting onto the bridleway. A lady and her huge, enthusiastic labrador both expressed surprise and curiousity at another person out walking and they were the only people I saw on paths for the whole journey. After passing them and a stile with footpath markers pointing the way, the path itself ran out and I was left to improvise to get to the main road near Kiln Farm.
Almost a kilometre along the redway next to the busy road, then almost a mile through Two Mile Ash, a nice enough estate with a small local centre, a couple of schools and two churches of differing denominations. I followed the footpaths under the road and up to the small lakes at Loughton which was populated by walkers, fishermen, cyclists and joggers alike. It was a nice walk through the park, the highway noise blocked out by my earphones. The route through Loughton wasn't particularly clear but a quick look at Google Maps on my phone showed me the way and I made it to the central train station within 3 hours 40 minutes, averaging around 3.3mph which I think is pretty quick. A work colleague says he could do it in two and a half hours; he's well known for taking the piss but I'm tempted to challenge him to a 'race'.
This is a lovely walk with some quiet moments, but its proximity to the road isn't in its favour. Finishing the walk with two or three miles of tarmac and concrete isn't the smartest thing for your feet, so I'd be tempted to do it in reverse in future.
13 June 2010
Akeley circular, Walking for Wellbeing 'group' walk, 5.5 miles
A nice walk, slightly disappointed by the fact only one person out of six actually turned up for the first group walk under Walking for Wellbeing. It was a nice jaunt nonetheless and quick walking.
I feel bad for only having done six miles this week, considering I did almost twenty five last week, so my next walk should be something big on Tuesday to make up for it. Another long client walk on Thursday will be good too, then doing a footpath audit with the town council on Friday and Saturday which is likely to add to my total next week.
I feel bad for only having done six miles this week, considering I did almost twenty five last week, so my next walk should be something big on Tuesday to make up for it. Another long client walk on Thursday will be good too, then doing a footpath audit with the town council on Friday and Saturday which is likely to add to my total next week.
07 June 2010
Buckingham, Lenborough, Hillesden, Twyford, Poundon, Marsh Gibbon linear, 9 miles
A repeat of this walk I did back in December as the snow melted a few days before Christmas, this time without a short diversion around Twyford due to bad navigation.
I'd woken naturally at 4.30am after getting an early night. By half six I was raring to go but the friends at my destination weren't expecting me until 1pm so I dossed around until half past eight before finally giving in and heading out. A taxi up to the industrial estate to save a mile on my feet - I won't do this next time - and off across the fields to Lenborough. The weather was beautiful, gentle clouds crawling across a brightly-lit blue sky. Even at half past eight the temperature was very comfortable and the miles started disappearing under my feet.
The rape has gone over now and is producing long seed pods as the flowers fall away. Wheat is knee-high and already showing good heads of seed, the wild flowers are everywhere with daisies, buttercups, clover, cow parsley and nettles all gaining ground.
I saw three buzzards circling and another fly out of a hedge about five metres away. I heard three cuckoos and saw one - the first I've seen - flying around the perimeter of a field I was in, calling away. I saw an orange rump shooting into the undergrowth a few metres away, probably a deer. One hare, plenty of blue demoiselle and a couple of larger dark green dragonflies, hundreds of other insects.
This was a lovely walk and one I hope to repeat in good time. It took me almost exactly three hours of walking with very few short stops and ten minutes outside the shop in Twyford enjoying a cold drink. Despite my expectation that I'd ache like hell afterward - 24 miles in 4 days - my feet didn't hurt a bit, no new blisters and my calves aren't tight at all. Result, as I'd been on the phone to physiotherapy to make an appointment to get my right calve looked at, but after this strenuous week it's absolutely fine. I've also decided to crack out the Wii Fit to improve my balance; it's such fun, daughter loves it too and it's a good way to track my weight loss.
I'm really pleased with the walks I carried out this week. Hopefully I'll get another one or two in this week before the first Walking for Wellbeing group walk on Sunday. Fingers crossed the weather's good for us!
Oh! One last thing. Nettles. Fucking things. There's the tall ones which are obvious and go down with a good thrashing, and there's ones which hide in ankle-length grass and take you by surprise. The first time ever I wore shorts on a walk and I stung myself four times. Fortunately, dock leaves work brilliantly at relieving the stings and it was only a slight irritation. Also, cheap aluminium walking poles aren't great for thwacking undergrowth down, if you like them nice and straight.
I'd woken naturally at 4.30am after getting an early night. By half six I was raring to go but the friends at my destination weren't expecting me until 1pm so I dossed around until half past eight before finally giving in and heading out. A taxi up to the industrial estate to save a mile on my feet - I won't do this next time - and off across the fields to Lenborough. The weather was beautiful, gentle clouds crawling across a brightly-lit blue sky. Even at half past eight the temperature was very comfortable and the miles started disappearing under my feet.
The rape has gone over now and is producing long seed pods as the flowers fall away. Wheat is knee-high and already showing good heads of seed, the wild flowers are everywhere with daisies, buttercups, clover, cow parsley and nettles all gaining ground.
I saw three buzzards circling and another fly out of a hedge about five metres away. I heard three cuckoos and saw one - the first I've seen - flying around the perimeter of a field I was in, calling away. I saw an orange rump shooting into the undergrowth a few metres away, probably a deer. One hare, plenty of blue demoiselle and a couple of larger dark green dragonflies, hundreds of other insects.
This was a lovely walk and one I hope to repeat in good time. It took me almost exactly three hours of walking with very few short stops and ten minutes outside the shop in Twyford enjoying a cold drink. Despite my expectation that I'd ache like hell afterward - 24 miles in 4 days - my feet didn't hurt a bit, no new blisters and my calves aren't tight at all. Result, as I'd been on the phone to physiotherapy to make an appointment to get my right calve looked at, but after this strenuous week it's absolutely fine. I've also decided to crack out the Wii Fit to improve my balance; it's such fun, daughter loves it too and it's a good way to track my weight loss.
I'm really pleased with the walks I carried out this week. Hopefully I'll get another one or two in this week before the first Walking for Wellbeing group walk on Sunday. Fingers crossed the weather's good for us!
Oh! One last thing. Nettles. Fucking things. There's the tall ones which are obvious and go down with a good thrashing, and there's ones which hide in ankle-length grass and take you by surprise. The first time ever I wore shorts on a walk and I stung myself four times. Fortunately, dock leaves work brilliantly at relieving the stings and it was only a slight irritation. Also, cheap aluminium walking poles aren't great for thwacking undergrowth down, if you like them nice and straight.
04 June 2010
Adstock, Claydon Hill, Claydon House, East Claydon, Verney Junction, Addington circular, 9.6 miles
Noting that my basic GPS unit seems to count 5-10% less distant than my dad's new-fangled pocket-PC, so it could be approaching ten miles.
Another walk with Walking for Wellbeing, the weather was simply stunning with clear blue skies and a good cool breeze to keep our temperatures in check.
We walked out of Adstock and through the field where we stroked sheep a fortnight ago. This time there were tens of sheep and juvenile lambs around and we didn't get any lanolin action, so we headed over the road and back through two fields we already knew, being surprised by a heron not ten metres away near the bridge. The rest of the walk would be new terrain, and we traversed long grass to the peak of a hill before skirting the verge of a crop field to come to a bound gate and no footpath markers to guide us. A tractor started at the nearby farm and headed toward us, kindly stopping to show us our way: across more long grass to a footbridge.
We stopped at the bridge to watch the wildlife - banded demoiselle, a small brown/green damselfly which was harassed incessantly by the former, and mayflies among other bugs and insects. We carried on to Claydon Hill through a field of alpacas, where we stopped to watch one bathing in a dust pit. I remember Rory McGrath saying that these animals are a cross between a sheep and a goose, which will stay with me forever.
A further plod over the railway track and, whoops! Back over again to follow the footpath in the right direction toward Rookery Farm, distracted momentarily by a skylark hovering in a field and chirruping away. We found some shade where we stopped for a nice long chat, disturbed once by a pack of sweaty slobbery labradors.
Onward across a few fields to the Claydon House estate which is simply beautiful. We took the liberty of wandering down to the lake for quiche, celery and good old ready-salted hula hoops while the fish flashed their orange fins and the crows stealthily collected feed pellets discarded by fishermen. Soon, we walked back past the lovely old house and through a few fields to Middle Claydon via a couple of squirrels. Around the bend and across the graveyard to a long, straight path across to East Claydon via a fox, then up to Verney Junction. Along the road past the pub then right back over the old railway - correctly this time - and across a couple of fields for another short break.
As the sun dipped in the sky we walked back up past Addington to join the path we'd come out on. Walking back through the field of formerly friendly sheep we spotted one adult female trotting towards us for attention, swiftly followed by three or four lambs who's ears I tickled. I really enjoyed this walk thanks to the company, the weather, the wildlife and the beautiful countryside in this area. I hope to exploit more paths around here in the future.
It's interesting to note that I only have two small blisters from this walk, my feet only ache slightly and my calves are only a little tense. I may contact physiotherapy for some attention on my right calf or hamstring because even after short walks that feels tighter than the left side and doesn't go away for a couple of days.
Another walk with Walking for Wellbeing, the weather was simply stunning with clear blue skies and a good cool breeze to keep our temperatures in check.
We walked out of Adstock and through the field where we stroked sheep a fortnight ago. This time there were tens of sheep and juvenile lambs around and we didn't get any lanolin action, so we headed over the road and back through two fields we already knew, being surprised by a heron not ten metres away near the bridge. The rest of the walk would be new terrain, and we traversed long grass to the peak of a hill before skirting the verge of a crop field to come to a bound gate and no footpath markers to guide us. A tractor started at the nearby farm and headed toward us, kindly stopping to show us our way: across more long grass to a footbridge.
We stopped at the bridge to watch the wildlife - banded demoiselle, a small brown/green damselfly which was harassed incessantly by the former, and mayflies among other bugs and insects. We carried on to Claydon Hill through a field of alpacas, where we stopped to watch one bathing in a dust pit. I remember Rory McGrath saying that these animals are a cross between a sheep and a goose, which will stay with me forever.
A further plod over the railway track and, whoops! Back over again to follow the footpath in the right direction toward Rookery Farm, distracted momentarily by a skylark hovering in a field and chirruping away. We found some shade where we stopped for a nice long chat, disturbed once by a pack of sweaty slobbery labradors.
Onward across a few fields to the Claydon House estate which is simply beautiful. We took the liberty of wandering down to the lake for quiche, celery and good old ready-salted hula hoops while the fish flashed their orange fins and the crows stealthily collected feed pellets discarded by fishermen. Soon, we walked back past the lovely old house and through a few fields to Middle Claydon via a couple of squirrels. Around the bend and across the graveyard to a long, straight path across to East Claydon via a fox, then up to Verney Junction. Along the road past the pub then right back over the old railway - correctly this time - and across a couple of fields for another short break.
As the sun dipped in the sky we walked back up past Addington to join the path we'd come out on. Walking back through the field of formerly friendly sheep we spotted one adult female trotting towards us for attention, swiftly followed by three or four lambs who's ears I tickled. I really enjoyed this walk thanks to the company, the weather, the wildlife and the beautiful countryside in this area. I hope to exploit more paths around here in the future.
It's interesting to note that I only have two small blisters from this walk, my feet only ache slightly and my calves are only a little tense. I may contact physiotherapy for some attention on my right calf or hamstring because even after short walks that feels tighter than the left side and doesn't go away for a couple of days.
03 June 2010
Akeley circular, 5.4 miles
Another quick run around my 'staple' route, this time with a very heavy pack for training. I took three and a half extra litres of water, my paperwork folder which is quite heavy, my work accounts book, a hardback book on herbs and a couple of paperbacks, along with my rapidly-expanding library of Collins Gem reference books. It was stupidly heavy, making me think about emptying some of the water out after three quarters of a mile. With a couple of rest stops to help me cool down I managed to get around the circuit without resorting to lightening my load, and I'm pleased I did.
The weather was beautiful, the first truely sunny day for a short while. Bugs and birds were in plentiful supply, the wheat is up to my knees and the rape is in full flower, almost ready to go over into fruit. I saw blue damselflies by the dozen hopping off the wheat as I walked through, and hundreds of bees enjoying the bountiful cotoneaster apiculata flowers.
This was a recce walk for a group social walk I'm planning under Walking for Wellbeing. It's a nice easy route with some variety, some water and a pub half-way around, although I hope to take people a little further in future.
The weather was beautiful, the first truely sunny day for a short while. Bugs and birds were in plentiful supply, the wheat is up to my knees and the rape is in full flower, almost ready to go over into fruit. I saw blue damselflies by the dozen hopping off the wheat as I walked through, and hundreds of bees enjoying the bountiful cotoneaster apiculata flowers.
This was a recce walk for a group social walk I'm planning under Walking for Wellbeing. It's a nice easy route with some variety, some water and a pub half-way around, although I hope to take people a little further in future.
28 May 2010
Quainton, North Marston, 6.0 miles approx
I say approx because the sodding GPS stopped working after the first two and a half miles so this is a measured estimate from the map. Edit: software says six miles dead, what with slight diversions and off-track excursions I'd probably peg it at six and a quarter anyway.
We set out around 4.15pm from a handy verge at the northernmost point of our route. With Tracey navigating I felt at a bit of a loose end; although my dad normally navigates their walks and I never feel the need to get on the map, I often felt the urge to work out where we were. I think I have to learn to be comfortable not being in control of a new walk occasionally, and confident that the person with the map can take us around. Sometimes I'd encourage her to check footpath markers before we crossed stiles, or choose which direction we'd head when there was a choice. I think her map-reading confidence grew as we went around and she was pleased when she noticed we were heading in the wrong direction.
This route is definitely one I'd like to repeat, perhaps in the opposite direction. Most notable are the brilliant hills with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside on either side of Quainton village, the windmill in the village itself and perhaps the most interesting ash tree either of us had ever seen.
We started out through a field of horses, across a couple more to the road, where we completely failed to investigate the site of a medieval village I'd specifically intended on showing my companion. Across a field of sheep to the base of our first hill, Conduit, a 75 metre climb with a break at the top to admire the view. The wind brought a chill with it as we took in the patchwork countryside and the cotton-wool sky.
A further walk along the contour of Quainton Hill to the edge of Simber Hill and a sit among the buttercups to have ham, brie and rocket wraps and ol' faithful ready-salted Hula Hoops. We started to cool down in the evening air so we paced our way quickly up the next small peak and watched a man training a dog from the top of the hill before heading down into Quainton village.
Quainton is very pretty and tidy, the people friendly and the 17th-century Almshouses near the main church are beautiful period buildings. I could have happily spent more time exploring the village but on we pushed past Denham Farm and up another hill, stopping to admire a few circling red kites then buzzed by two buzzards whose markings were beautifully visible. After the next field was the most intriguing tree. An old ash with simple holes around its roots where supposed fairies could live, it turns out an older tree has been 'cored' by a younger tree whose trunk it surrounds and houses. Tracey called it her favourite tree ever.
Over the hill, down and over the road into a field of sheep and one horse who seemed magnetically attracted to Tracey. Once the horse had vetted her she was approached by the sheep. Word must've spread because we were soon accosted by a herd of teenage cows and one big Bessie who rasped Tracey's bag with her huge tongue and let her stroke her head.
The remaining walk back to the car was flat and unremarkable except for numerous hares and the low sun which cast a gorgeous orange light on the country.
There's a longer route around here I'd like to try which skirts Oving, possibly two or three miles longer, so I hope to convince someone mad enough to do ten miles to come out with me and explore the next hills along.
We set out around 4.15pm from a handy verge at the northernmost point of our route. With Tracey navigating I felt at a bit of a loose end; although my dad normally navigates their walks and I never feel the need to get on the map, I often felt the urge to work out where we were. I think I have to learn to be comfortable not being in control of a new walk occasionally, and confident that the person with the map can take us around. Sometimes I'd encourage her to check footpath markers before we crossed stiles, or choose which direction we'd head when there was a choice. I think her map-reading confidence grew as we went around and she was pleased when she noticed we were heading in the wrong direction.
This route is definitely one I'd like to repeat, perhaps in the opposite direction. Most notable are the brilliant hills with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside on either side of Quainton village, the windmill in the village itself and perhaps the most interesting ash tree either of us had ever seen.
We started out through a field of horses, across a couple more to the road, where we completely failed to investigate the site of a medieval village I'd specifically intended on showing my companion. Across a field of sheep to the base of our first hill, Conduit, a 75 metre climb with a break at the top to admire the view. The wind brought a chill with it as we took in the patchwork countryside and the cotton-wool sky.
A further walk along the contour of Quainton Hill to the edge of Simber Hill and a sit among the buttercups to have ham, brie and rocket wraps and ol' faithful ready-salted Hula Hoops. We started to cool down in the evening air so we paced our way quickly up the next small peak and watched a man training a dog from the top of the hill before heading down into Quainton village.
Quainton is very pretty and tidy, the people friendly and the 17th-century Almshouses near the main church are beautiful period buildings. I could have happily spent more time exploring the village but on we pushed past Denham Farm and up another hill, stopping to admire a few circling red kites then buzzed by two buzzards whose markings were beautifully visible. After the next field was the most intriguing tree. An old ash with simple holes around its roots where supposed fairies could live, it turns out an older tree has been 'cored' by a younger tree whose trunk it surrounds and houses. Tracey called it her favourite tree ever.
Over the hill, down and over the road into a field of sheep and one horse who seemed magnetically attracted to Tracey. Once the horse had vetted her she was approached by the sheep. Word must've spread because we were soon accosted by a herd of teenage cows and one big Bessie who rasped Tracey's bag with her huge tongue and let her stroke her head.
The remaining walk back to the car was flat and unremarkable except for numerous hares and the low sun which cast a gorgeous orange light on the country.
There's a longer route around here I'd like to try which skirts Oving, possibly two or three miles longer, so I hope to convince someone mad enough to do ten miles to come out with me and explore the next hills along.
26 May 2010
Buckingham, Maids Moreton, Akeley, Leckhampstead, Foscote circular, 7.9 miles
An early break from work and I decided to head out and enjoy the tail-end of the beautiful weather we've experienced over the past week. The breeze was somewhat cool as I set out but covering the first two miles to Akeley at 3.5mph soon sorted that out. As soon as I got into the first field by Maids Moreton, I scoffed at my earlier questioning whether I should walk or stay home. I got about thirty metres into the field and said to myself 'As if there was ever any doubt going for a walk was a good idea!'
The route was the reverse of one I took daughter around last year and she found a four-leaf clover and I put her off walking. At 7.9 miles this was incredibly far for little legs and I really do regret dragging her round, mainly because our route should have been just over five miles and I think that'd have been fine for her.
Anyway, another profusion of buttercups, clovers and other meadow flowers marked my path. Grasses are flowering and lambs are getting big. I saw a pheasant chick almost get run over - that won't be the last run-in you have with a car, young bird - and its mother ran circles around me, mewling and chirping in warning. It was so utterly prehistoric I felt like I was witnessing a dinosaur protecting her young.
I took a nice long sit by a stream near Leckhampstead which unfortunately was directly under some buzzing power lines, but I didn't let that spoil my enjoyment of the scene, with black sheep and lambs coming to the ford to drink and me throwing buttercup flowers into the water to watch the flow.
This was a lovely walk and one of just a handful of trips I've done alone this year. Another walk follows tomorrow!
The route was the reverse of one I took daughter around last year and she found a four-leaf clover and I put her off walking. At 7.9 miles this was incredibly far for little legs and I really do regret dragging her round, mainly because our route should have been just over five miles and I think that'd have been fine for her.
Anyway, another profusion of buttercups, clovers and other meadow flowers marked my path. Grasses are flowering and lambs are getting big. I saw a pheasant chick almost get run over - that won't be the last run-in you have with a car, young bird - and its mother ran circles around me, mewling and chirping in warning. It was so utterly prehistoric I felt like I was witnessing a dinosaur protecting her young.
I took a nice long sit by a stream near Leckhampstead which unfortunately was directly under some buzzing power lines, but I didn't let that spoil my enjoyment of the scene, with black sheep and lambs coming to the ford to drink and me throwing buttercup flowers into the water to watch the flow.
This was a lovely walk and one of just a handful of trips I've done alone this year. Another walk follows tomorrow!
23 May 2010
Great Hampden circular, 7.6 miles
This was a cracking walk with unseasonal hot weather approaching 30 degrees. Mum thought it prudent to spend much of the day in woodland which was a good idea and one I'll transfer to my own walks in future. There were hundreds of butterflies and bugs, the ramsons, also known as wild garlic, and Jack-by-the-Hedge, or garlic mustard, were out in force and both taste absolutely divine. I can now spot these in the field by their leaves and flowers and I'm quite pleased with myself for this. I've bought Collins Gem books identifying wild flowers, insects and trees, to join the bird and foraging books I carry around with me. The rape was in full bloom, bazillions of buttercups and purple clover flowers covered the meadows. Ferns were uncurling in the woods, we saw kites and buzzards and a roe deer. The route itself was notable for a few hills, in particular the final one we came down which would have been a real challenge had we gone the other way around.
20 May 2010
Adstock, Singleborough, Great Horwood, Addington circular, 7 miles
Another walk with Walking for Wellbeing's first client, this was the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures topping 25 degrees from occasional blazing sunshine. When away from the main road, the countryside on the route is very quiet and varied; few hills but different cattle, crops and grasses, occasional water and lots of lovely trees. The views weren't particularly stunning but the scenery was lovely.
Spring was in full flow with butterflies, birds and bugs plentiful. Floral smells came at us from every angle, blossoms, rape, cow-beans, cowslip, billions of buttercups and other wild flowers. Our lunch spot was dotted with wild mint and its small purple flowers among the long grass, which tickled my nose as we sat and ate ham and brie wraps in the shade of a huge tree.
Apart from the tranquility rarely being broken by the main road, it was a very pretty walk and one I'd definitely do again.
Spring was in full flow with butterflies, birds and bugs plentiful. Floral smells came at us from every angle, blossoms, rape, cow-beans, cowslip, billions of buttercups and other wild flowers. Our lunch spot was dotted with wild mint and its small purple flowers among the long grass, which tickled my nose as we sat and ate ham and brie wraps in the shade of a huge tree.
Apart from the tranquility rarely being broken by the main road, it was a very pretty walk and one I'd definitely do again.
16 May 2010
Buckingham, Foscote, Reservoir, Maids Moreton circular, 3.6 miles
This walk was undertaken with an old friend while quite drunk, in the dark with only a sparing sense of balance. It was quite a challenge, but walking sticks definitely helped. Paddling in the stream at 3am in the dark, drunk, was great fun but bloody freezing! Sitting by the reservoir eating over-peppery Ginster's cornish parties and drinking Friij milkshakes while the sun illuminates the sky is a memory I'll keep with me forever. Now, if only I could remember more about the night out itself...
11 May 2010
Buckingham, Foscote, Reservoir, Maids Moreton circular, 3.6 miles
I was making a sandwich when I spotted sunshine out of the kitchen window and decided at 6pm to take my dinner somewhere picturesque, so on with my boots and off across part of my staple walk to Foscote Reservoir. I recently noticed there's a permissive footpath that lets you walk right up to the reservoir wall so I think this will become quite a regular feature of my walks on this side of town. After eating and watching the coots, swallows, swifts, ducks and swans do their thing for an hour I wandered into Maids Moreton to see a friend before heading home. This walk was a wonderful waste of an hour or two and I should do it more often. It occurred to me that this is probably the first solo walk I've done after work this year, so I really want to try and do these more often.
09 May 2010
Brailes circular, 8.5 miles
Other than a cold northerly wind, stunning views and an extensive badger set, this walk around Brailes was reasonably unremarkable. A few good hills marked the route with Castle Hill being the first we climbed affording us a great view. Brailes Hill is the second highest point in Warwickshire but there's no footpath to the top so we couldn't climb it. There were some nice spots and we managed a good pace for the terrain of 2.8mph. It wasn't a very exciting walk and initially quite short so we extended it. The last mile or so were through a golf course, which was nice enough but felt somewhat restricting.
It's nice to see my body is now completely at ease with this kind of terrain, distance and pace. I haven't suffered any aches or pains from this walk and only got a couple of very minor blisters on my feet. When working hard, my pulse and breathing rate are considerably less than they were this time a year ago so it's great to see the results of all this walking!
It's nice to see my body is now completely at ease with this kind of terrain, distance and pace. I haven't suffered any aches or pains from this walk and only got a couple of very minor blisters on my feet. When working hard, my pulse and breathing rate are considerably less than they were this time a year ago so it's great to see the results of all this walking!
06 May 2010
Buckingham, Bourton, Coombes, Adstock linear, 6.4 miles
Another walk with Walking for Wellbeing, we set off mid-afternoon along the river up to the old Bourton road and out towards the Roman bridge near Thornborough. We stopped for a chat by the river where my companion related tales of playing in the water there as a small child. A short hop along the road to the Coombes wildlife reserve and dinner on the bench overlooking the rookery. We continued up past Brightmoor and took the long way up to the road, down past Pilch Farm and back along the long bridleway to Adstock. This was a nice walk with beautiful, quiet open country after the Roman bridge and a lovely stretch back to Adstock village.
28 April 2010
Buckingham, Maids Moreton, Chackmore, Stowe, Radclive circular, 8.5 miles
This was the first official walk for Walking for Wellbeing and I don't mind admitting I was a little nervous as I walked down to meet the client. I'd undertaken a couple of 'test cases' to get my head around how much ground to cover, what pace to go, how often to stop and see how conversation might flow, all of which was very useful and without this preparation it might have been incredibly daunting.
As it was, the walk itself was lovely, the client was open and talkative and definitely made real progress, coming to some important conclusions about things she needs to get through to help her feel better. We stopped by a lake in Stowe's beautiful gardens and had ham and brie wraps and a can of Bud, watching the coots and ducks go about their business until the temperature dropped somewhat and we headed onward.
I've arranged to see her again in a fortnight and subsequently for two more walks after that. At that point we'll guage how she's doing and whether we need to continue at the same frequency or maybe move to monthly walks for three months. I will let her plan the third walk so she has some ownership of our time together.
I really got a lot out of this walk, not just the wonderful scenery and good company but the opportunity to be a listener, to let someone talk their way through their life and their problems and see them make real, tangible progress was really fulfilling. I spent some of the evening and the following day in a bit of a daze as to quite how well things went. I'm quite sure I got lucky on the first outing for the charity project and not every client will be so open and aware of their problems, but I'm pleased the premise has been proven and I've helped just one person. I always told myself that if one person got something from a walk with me, took something away with them and made good progress, it'd all be worth it. It definitely feels worth it now.
As it was, the walk itself was lovely, the client was open and talkative and definitely made real progress, coming to some important conclusions about things she needs to get through to help her feel better. We stopped by a lake in Stowe's beautiful gardens and had ham and brie wraps and a can of Bud, watching the coots and ducks go about their business until the temperature dropped somewhat and we headed onward.
I've arranged to see her again in a fortnight and subsequently for two more walks after that. At that point we'll guage how she's doing and whether we need to continue at the same frequency or maybe move to monthly walks for three months. I will let her plan the third walk so she has some ownership of our time together.
I really got a lot out of this walk, not just the wonderful scenery and good company but the opportunity to be a listener, to let someone talk their way through their life and their problems and see them make real, tangible progress was really fulfilling. I spent some of the evening and the following day in a bit of a daze as to quite how well things went. I'm quite sure I got lucky on the first outing for the charity project and not every client will be so open and aware of their problems, but I'm pleased the premise has been proven and I've helped just one person. I always told myself that if one person got something from a walk with me, took something away with them and made good progress, it'd all be worth it. It definitely feels worth it now.
11 April 2010
Buckingham, Maids Moreton, Foscote, Akeley circular, 5 miles
This was a walk with a friend to get out in the open and catch up. We walked my Old Faithful route, stopping at the pub in Akeley and meeting with her parents and their friends for a beer, then a walk back to hers, then out to dinner for a massive two racks of ribs to undo all the good work of the day. It was worth it, though!
Also, it's worth remarking that this was fourteen miles walked in two days. I tried my impact-absorbant insoles in my boots to try and relieve pressure on the previous day's blisters but to no avail. They dramatically reduced the amount of room in my boots and probably made things worse, but never mind. These things heal.
Also, it's worth remarking that this was fourteen miles walked in two days. I tried my impact-absorbant insoles in my boots to try and relieve pressure on the previous day's blisters but to no avail. They dramatically reduced the amount of room in my boots and probably made things worse, but never mind. These things heal.
10 April 2010
The Slaughters circular, 9 miles
I'm writing about this walk a couple of weeks after the event so it'll be a bit sketchy. I can remember it was one of my favourite walks with great hills, lovely views, punctuated with good stopping spots and a couple of beautiful villages with a river running through them. Once again I highly expected my legs to ache after this walk but didn't feel anything the next day except a couple of blisters in a new place.
02 April 2010
Crackington to Boscastle, North Cornwall Coastal Path, 7.5 miles
Well, I'm tired out and a couple of pints under, so hopefully I can do this walk justice.
Having caught the bus from Tintagel, I started out at Crackington bridge, replaced in 2004 after the huge floods which trashed Boscastle and Crackington, but only the former made headlines in the UK. Uphill past cliff-side tennis courts, which is a first for me, up up up the cliff to a lovely peak with a good view of the Crackington inlet, then down, then up possibly the toughest climb on the route. I say possibly - the climbs and descents have all kind of melted into a big pot of up and down, such was the undulation of the whole walk.
It was at the top of the second climb when the heavens opened. I'd seen the rain approaching from the direction I was heading and was prepared with my waterproof jacket. What I wasn't prepared for was the severity of the shower - despite being a shower, the rain made sure it soaked my jeans and the wind ensured I know what it's like getting a tattoo on your face.
Another descent, then the third climb up to High Cliff - Cornwall's highest cliff - I found myself tiring and aching and getting slightly concerned I wouldn't make the whole distance to my destination if the terrain continued as it had been. Fortunately, half-way up while puffing and panting and aching I found a second wind and trotted up the last third without a care.
The view at the top was simply stunning. I'd compare it with shots I've seen of the peaks in the Lake District except with 110 degrees of sea. I stopped and had a small pork pie and a snack, and continued on my way.
The rest of the walk has its moments but I couldn't put them into chronological order until the final two miles as the terrain wasn't particularly notable. Stunning, yes, but it's a bit of a blur. I saw a kestrel hunting on the cliff-side, two seals swimming through my binoculars, hippie cows and mountain goats, wonderful cliffs and crashing waves.
Before the approach to Pentargon falls, I was faced with a choice: coastal path or "optional route". Coastal path, obviously, until I got round the corner and was faced with quite a tricky cliffside descent with incredibly gusty winds. I took a short walk down to reccie and decided to turn back and take the optional route across a couple of fields to rejoin the path further down. The walk to the falls itself was lovely, but I could feel my legs burning as I came down to the water and was starting to crave my lunch. An interesting thing about the falls themselves is the wind coming up the inlet blows the water back up the falls and onto the surrounding hill. I got a good drenching as I walked up the steps on the opposite side of the stream, my legs shouting enough is enough.
Fortunately, I could see my lunch destination in the distance as I reached the peak and headed down to Penally Point to sit on the rocks and munch my lunch.
I'd initially planned on walking all the way to Tintagel on this walk but the GPS had me down at 7.5 miles, despite the sign at Crackington saying 6.5 miles to Boscastle. With my guide book saying it was another five miles to Tintagel I didn't want to overdo it and decided to catch a bus from Boscastle. I had to spend almost three hours wandering around the village killing time before the bus came so I dropped by the Visitor's Centre which described the rich history of the village and showed footage of the terrible floods which devastated houses and businesses alike. I got quite emotional watching the horror unfold along the beautiful stretch of Cornish countryside I'd appreciated.
This walk has gone straight to the top of my favourite walks. The scenery was just stunning, the challenge immense, and I'm incredibly proud that I managed to acheive what less than eighteen months ago would have been impossible.
Having caught the bus from Tintagel, I started out at Crackington bridge, replaced in 2004 after the huge floods which trashed Boscastle and Crackington, but only the former made headlines in the UK. Uphill past cliff-side tennis courts, which is a first for me, up up up the cliff to a lovely peak with a good view of the Crackington inlet, then down, then up possibly the toughest climb on the route. I say possibly - the climbs and descents have all kind of melted into a big pot of up and down, such was the undulation of the whole walk.
It was at the top of the second climb when the heavens opened. I'd seen the rain approaching from the direction I was heading and was prepared with my waterproof jacket. What I wasn't prepared for was the severity of the shower - despite being a shower, the rain made sure it soaked my jeans and the wind ensured I know what it's like getting a tattoo on your face.
Another descent, then the third climb up to High Cliff - Cornwall's highest cliff - I found myself tiring and aching and getting slightly concerned I wouldn't make the whole distance to my destination if the terrain continued as it had been. Fortunately, half-way up while puffing and panting and aching I found a second wind and trotted up the last third without a care.
The view at the top was simply stunning. I'd compare it with shots I've seen of the peaks in the Lake District except with 110 degrees of sea. I stopped and had a small pork pie and a snack, and continued on my way.
The rest of the walk has its moments but I couldn't put them into chronological order until the final two miles as the terrain wasn't particularly notable. Stunning, yes, but it's a bit of a blur. I saw a kestrel hunting on the cliff-side, two seals swimming through my binoculars, hippie cows and mountain goats, wonderful cliffs and crashing waves.
Before the approach to Pentargon falls, I was faced with a choice: coastal path or "optional route". Coastal path, obviously, until I got round the corner and was faced with quite a tricky cliffside descent with incredibly gusty winds. I took a short walk down to reccie and decided to turn back and take the optional route across a couple of fields to rejoin the path further down. The walk to the falls itself was lovely, but I could feel my legs burning as I came down to the water and was starting to crave my lunch. An interesting thing about the falls themselves is the wind coming up the inlet blows the water back up the falls and onto the surrounding hill. I got a good drenching as I walked up the steps on the opposite side of the stream, my legs shouting enough is enough.
Fortunately, I could see my lunch destination in the distance as I reached the peak and headed down to Penally Point to sit on the rocks and munch my lunch.
I'd initially planned on walking all the way to Tintagel on this walk but the GPS had me down at 7.5 miles, despite the sign at Crackington saying 6.5 miles to Boscastle. With my guide book saying it was another five miles to Tintagel I didn't want to overdo it and decided to catch a bus from Boscastle. I had to spend almost three hours wandering around the village killing time before the bus came so I dropped by the Visitor's Centre which described the rich history of the village and showed footage of the terrible floods which devastated houses and businesses alike. I got quite emotional watching the horror unfold along the beautiful stretch of Cornish countryside I'd appreciated.
This walk has gone straight to the top of my favourite walks. The scenery was just stunning, the challenge immense, and I'm incredibly proud that I managed to acheive what less than eighteen months ago would have been impossible.
03 March 2010
Home to work linear, 0.6214 miles
I'm sure, eventually, the novelty of having a GPS will wear off, but for quite some time I've been wondering exactly how far it is from my house to my 'office' in the town centre and how long it takes me. It turns out it's very almost exactly one kilometer from door to door. Today I walked at pace and did it in slightly over nine minutes, when I thought I had it down to about eight. I need to leave a couple of minutes earlier for work!
I've decided to switch the units on the GPS to metric instead of the standard imperial miles we tend to use here. This is mainly because all our maps are metric and when it comes to smaller distances I'm much more comfortable with metres than fractions of a mile, yards and feet. In fact, if I could I'd display both but the unit won't let me. I'll still be converting the kilometers to miles for the blog and generally so I can get an idea of how far I've done. The next step is to learn how to record and follow tracks, which seems pretty simple. Depending on the weather and if I'm free, I might go out for five or six miles, or more, once I finish work.
There we have it, then. If I walk to work and back every day I'll add 10km, 6.2 miles to my weekly total with the return journey taking in a fairly substantial hill. That's 520km, 323 miles per year! Working where I do it's too easy to get a ride home, but I'd like to make the effort to walk as much as possible. Not that I'll hopefully be working here for much longer and I'll be moving into a much more active job, but for the time being it's important to recognise the benefit of walking to work and back.
I've decided to switch the units on the GPS to metric instead of the standard imperial miles we tend to use here. This is mainly because all our maps are metric and when it comes to smaller distances I'm much more comfortable with metres than fractions of a mile, yards and feet. In fact, if I could I'd display both but the unit won't let me. I'll still be converting the kilometers to miles for the blog and generally so I can get an idea of how far I've done. The next step is to learn how to record and follow tracks, which seems pretty simple. Depending on the weather and if I'm free, I might go out for five or six miles, or more, once I finish work.
There we have it, then. If I walk to work and back every day I'll add 10km, 6.2 miles to my weekly total with the return journey taking in a fairly substantial hill. That's 520km, 323 miles per year! Working where I do it's too easy to get a ride home, but I'd like to make the effort to walk as much as possible. Not that I'll hopefully be working here for much longer and I'll be moving into a much more active job, but for the time being it's important to recognise the benefit of walking to work and back.
01 March 2010
Very local walk, 1.1 mile
This was a quick test walk for my new old Garmin eTrex GPS unit. It's actually the one my brothers and I bought our parents for Christmas a few years back. I've wanted a GPS for ages, since before I started walking but especially since I started putting miles under my belt.
A 1.1 mile walk wouldn't normally be worth noting here but for two things: the unit had 3940.51 miles on the total odometer - noted here so I can check in future how many miles I've covered since getting it, and that my average walking speed on that short walk was a cracking 4.1mph which is considerably faster than I thought I walked. It was perhaps a touch above my normal flat concrete walking pace just because I was aware I wanted to record my best speed, but it makes me think I'll post better average speeds when walking on my own than when walking with my folks. This isn't an insult by any means - walks with my parents have many more hills and occasional dawdles and are slightly more leisurely than my own constant stomps around the local area, so I reckon it'll be interesting to get out and do five miles or so this week to give the unit its first good workout in my control.
A 1.1 mile walk wouldn't normally be worth noting here but for two things: the unit had 3940.51 miles on the total odometer - noted here so I can check in future how many miles I've covered since getting it, and that my average walking speed on that short walk was a cracking 4.1mph which is considerably faster than I thought I walked. It was perhaps a touch above my normal flat concrete walking pace just because I was aware I wanted to record my best speed, but it makes me think I'll post better average speeds when walking on my own than when walking with my folks. This isn't an insult by any means - walks with my parents have many more hills and occasional dawdles and are slightly more leisurely than my own constant stomps around the local area, so I reckon it'll be interesting to get out and do five miles or so this week to give the unit its first good workout in my control.
28 February 2010
Page Hill, Linden Park, Treefields, Waitrose circular run/walk, 2.5 miles
Another run/walk, this time on my own in a break in bad weather. It was cold but refreshing and I managed to run a fair way today, although still considerably more than half the distance was walked. I'm suffering often with a stitch in my side which you'll know is incredibly irritating. Apparently you can run through it after a couple of minutes which I'll try, and you can also either apply pressure or stop and touch your toes to get rid of the pain. I'll have to try these methods as the pain caused me to stop much earlier than I'd have liked and made it harder to motivate myself into starting up again after a rest.
The run really energised me. I'd spent most of the weekend lounging around and almost sleepwalked into my running gear. It's like something triggered inside and pushed me out of the door. This is a really, really good sign and I desperately want to keep up the good work with more exercise. My diet has been pretty poor recently and I've been turning to snacks and junk food as something of a rebellion and comfort as we've been very low on money of late. The energy and self-esteem gained from running is a great payback and I know that if I keep it up and work on improving my diet my extra weight will eventually be worked off.
Also, a fit running girl smiled and nodded at me. That's gotta be worth putting more effort in!
The run really energised me. I'd spent most of the weekend lounging around and almost sleepwalked into my running gear. It's like something triggered inside and pushed me out of the door. This is a really, really good sign and I desperately want to keep up the good work with more exercise. My diet has been pretty poor recently and I've been turning to snacks and junk food as something of a rebellion and comfort as we've been very low on money of late. The energy and self-esteem gained from running is a great payback and I know that if I keep it up and work on improving my diet my extra weight will eventually be worked off.
Also, a fit running girl smiled and nodded at me. That's gotta be worth putting more effort in!
20 February 2010
Page Hill, Moreton field, Linden park circular run/walk, 2.56 miles
I've been craving a run for a while. I want to get a bit fitter and increase my stamina and running seems like a natural progression from my walking over the past year - a year tomorrow, in fact. The idea of running cross-country on some of my walk routes really appeals to me as I'd like to get fitter and lose some of this body fat I've been carrying for a more than ten years now.
Today's run was the first of hopefully many. Daughter and I took advantage of the crisp, sunny wintery day and took a run/walk around a couple of local parks. We'd run for a minute or so then walk at a steady rate until we'd recovered, then start running again. It was lovely doing it with daughter and she seemed to really enjoy it too, so hopefully we'll keep it up and do it at least a couple of times a week together. It'd be good for both of us to have a bit more exercise and it's nice we can do it together.
Today's run was the first of hopefully many. Daughter and I took advantage of the crisp, sunny wintery day and took a run/walk around a couple of local parks. We'd run for a minute or so then walk at a steady rate until we'd recovered, then start running again. It was lovely doing it with daughter and she seemed to really enjoy it too, so hopefully we'll keep it up and do it at least a couple of times a week together. It'd be good for both of us to have a bit more exercise and it's nice we can do it together.
08 February 2010
Bourton-on-the-Hill, Sezincote, Longborough circular, 9 miles
A fresh and foggy late-winter's day greeted us as we set out for this walk, making it feel like mid-November instead of the first week of February. The drive took us out of Buckinghamshire, through Oxfordshire, into Gloucestershire and finally to Warwickshire - four counties in less than an hour. Once fully bagged and booted, our start was interrupted as dad couldn't find any GPS satellites despite being out in the open and on top of a hill. It took a few minutes to get reception and we were on our way.
First there was forest, then a little road, then a deceptively long, straight and steady climb. I felt like challenging myself so I started at a good pace and continued up without dropping a beat. There's a wonderful feeling of exhileration upon reaching the top of such an ascent; a pounding heart, heaving lungs and adrenaline all combine to encourage you to push yourself again when you're next faced with such a challenge. Looking down the hill you've just climbed adds to this rapture as you take in what you've just achieved.
Again more lovely woods, sometimes muddy but always beautiful. All this interspersed with steady climbs and descents and breathtaking views of what I believe was Warwickshire. There was a great sweeping view of a valley between Bourton Downs and Hinchwick Manor which I'll definitely have to repeat and perhaps return along the valley floor in future.
It was clear from the outset that we were setting a good pace; our usual speed has been around 2.7mph whereas today we kept it at around 3mph despite the tough, often muddy terrain. I'm really pleased with that pace as it's what I'd expect to do across flat ground for a couple of hours at a time with no trouble - to do it across hills and through muddy woods is an achievement for sure.
We lunched near a burial mound with a view of what was to come after we'd recharged - a steep drop to the valley floor and climb up the other side to the top. I shot up the ascent and we kept the momentum going at a fair old crack, stopping for a quick break after around an hour. A few beautiful country houses dotted the route until the final climb up to the car - a long, long stomp up a hill of varying inclines on mud and leaves, which was really tough going but again elated me at the top.
I allowed myself a couple of deep yawns in the car on the way back - a sure sign I've worked myself pretty hard. I slept very comfortably overnight and don't feel anything untoward in my legs or feet today - another thing to be pretty pleased with myself for. If my body can take that kind of punishment over a day's walk will no ill effects, despite me thinking I'm a bit out of practice, has got to be a good thing.
A couple of nature elements to note: the birds were singing again after a noticeable absence, and the snowdrops were out in force. Here comes the spring!
First there was forest, then a little road, then a deceptively long, straight and steady climb. I felt like challenging myself so I started at a good pace and continued up without dropping a beat. There's a wonderful feeling of exhileration upon reaching the top of such an ascent; a pounding heart, heaving lungs and adrenaline all combine to encourage you to push yourself again when you're next faced with such a challenge. Looking down the hill you've just climbed adds to this rapture as you take in what you've just achieved.
Again more lovely woods, sometimes muddy but always beautiful. All this interspersed with steady climbs and descents and breathtaking views of what I believe was Warwickshire. There was a great sweeping view of a valley between Bourton Downs and Hinchwick Manor which I'll definitely have to repeat and perhaps return along the valley floor in future.
It was clear from the outset that we were setting a good pace; our usual speed has been around 2.7mph whereas today we kept it at around 3mph despite the tough, often muddy terrain. I'm really pleased with that pace as it's what I'd expect to do across flat ground for a couple of hours at a time with no trouble - to do it across hills and through muddy woods is an achievement for sure.
We lunched near a burial mound with a view of what was to come after we'd recharged - a steep drop to the valley floor and climb up the other side to the top. I shot up the ascent and we kept the momentum going at a fair old crack, stopping for a quick break after around an hour. A few beautiful country houses dotted the route until the final climb up to the car - a long, long stomp up a hill of varying inclines on mud and leaves, which was really tough going but again elated me at the top.
I allowed myself a couple of deep yawns in the car on the way back - a sure sign I've worked myself pretty hard. I slept very comfortably overnight and don't feel anything untoward in my legs or feet today - another thing to be pretty pleased with myself for. If my body can take that kind of punishment over a day's walk will no ill effects, despite me thinking I'm a bit out of practice, has got to be a good thing.
A couple of nature elements to note: the birds were singing again after a noticeable absence, and the snowdrops were out in force. Here comes the spring!
25 January 2010
Cleveley, Ditchley Park, Grimsdyke Farm, Kiddington and Kiddington Hall, Radford Bridge circular, 8.25 miles
I'd been craving a walk for a while after feeling low for a few days last week and was really looking forward to getting out and about for a good charge across the countryside. I was not disappointed.
Despite a forecast of cloud cover for the whole day, by the time we parked up we'd driven into a huge blue hole in the sky, the sun warming us quickly as we headed out. The ground was sodden with water even at the highest points and every waterway we came across was severely swollen. We did some good steady uphill work for the first half of the walk and took a late lunch after coming back down. We stopped on a small bridge over the river Glyme to eat where mum spotted snowdrops - the first wild flowers I've seen so far this year.
The days are steadily getting longer and I'm coming up to the one-year anniversary of my country walking. I'm not sure of the exact date of my first proper walk but it was soon after the snow fell at the start of last year. I'm disappointed not to have kept this blog from the start, but determined to keep up with it so I can mark a second anniversary next year with a complete log of all my substantial walking. Now is the time I get the opportunity to walk after work and I intend on doubling my total miles - this past twelve months I've done around 285 miles walking, and I hope to do at least 600 this year, which is around twelve miles a week on average.
Despite a forecast of cloud cover for the whole day, by the time we parked up we'd driven into a huge blue hole in the sky, the sun warming us quickly as we headed out. The ground was sodden with water even at the highest points and every waterway we came across was severely swollen. We did some good steady uphill work for the first half of the walk and took a late lunch after coming back down. We stopped on a small bridge over the river Glyme to eat where mum spotted snowdrops - the first wild flowers I've seen so far this year.
The days are steadily getting longer and I'm coming up to the one-year anniversary of my country walking. I'm not sure of the exact date of my first proper walk but it was soon after the snow fell at the start of last year. I'm disappointed not to have kept this blog from the start, but determined to keep up with it so I can mark a second anniversary next year with a complete log of all my substantial walking. Now is the time I get the opportunity to walk after work and I intend on doubling my total miles - this past twelve months I've done around 285 miles walking, and I hope to do at least 600 this year, which is around twelve miles a week on average.
Long Compton, Cherington, Whichford circular, 7.5 miles
A beautifully sunny walk in frozen countryside with my parents and closest friend. I'm writing this retrospectively so don't remember much detail except the conditions were great for walking and it was reasonably hard work as I was out of practice!
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