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.
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.
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