DSC_0219
My monthly walk guided by Roy Hazel & accompanied by Keith Hughes & Bramble. Today the walk was about 12 Hazel miles in weather much better than expected from the forecast. It did start off dismally at Coombe Hill NT carpark about 8.30am but the amazing pollarded trees and bluebells here soon put us in high spirits. Heading South through High Scrub & Dunsmore, turning West eventually at Cobblershill Farm passing along a cunningly hidden path into Hampdenleaf Wood, at the far side briefly stopping for Sheila's bread pudding & a hot drink while enjoying the peaceful vale ahead, gradually being bathed in sunlight, revealing a Brown Hare standing still in the middle of a field of wheat. Across the valley we encountered an odd structure, part church, part medieval building, Little Hampden Church. Over the west side of this ridge and through a bluebell swathed copse across the Prestwood to Askett road & up across wheat and pine wood (passing a large Wellingtonia) to Hampden House in bright sunshine greeted by the sounds of demented barking from beyond a tall Laurel hedge. Giving the house HAHA a slight birth we turned north west up the tree lined avenue & then diagonally across a very stunted & dry field of wheat towards Barnes Grove where realised we should turn NE along Grim@s Dyke & the edge Kingsfield Wood & on into Knighton's Hill Wood, then around Green Hailey Farm leading into the steep descent of Whiteleaf Hill, still in brilliant sunshine, to the welcoming sign of The Red Lion for a refreshing pint of Aylesbury Pale Ale taken outside as we watched a steady stream of AT Bikers struggling past with a clicking of cogs & a lot of puffing. we all agreed one pint was adequate & off we set again across a cricket pitch where members of the team were praying to Mohammed before play, then through a pristine golf course and eventually up the long slog through Grangelands & Rifle Range BBOWLT nature reserve to the foot of Pulpit Hill where a quick bite was taken sat amongst the prickles of a cleared Blacthorn scrub. It was a long & winding plod through Pulpit & Pond Woods down in sight of Chequers through more stunning masses of Bluebells down to across the same road crossed earlier and through yet another field of wheat (this looked much healthier) up to Buckmoorland & up a never-ending sunken lane in dappled sun up to Goodmerhill Wood & on through Fugsdon Wood, eventually regaining the trail that we had descended 7 or so hours earlier. The scene had changed since 8.30am, now heaving with cars, children and dogs. Ditching our rucksacks we staggered a few hundred yards to The Monument to wonder at the view and how far we could see across several counties, even to Kings Wood on the Greensand Ridge. So safe home very weary but all agreed a great walk, certainly the best so far this year. My thanks already given to Roy & Keith, I should like to add thanks to Sheila for her sustaining bread pudding and to Bramble for all her encouragement as I staggered at the rear when every 10 minutes or so she would rush down to find where I was and after a swift pat rushed back to inspect the trail ahead. :)
DSC_0219
My monthly walk guided by Roy Hazel & accompanied by Keith Hughes & Bramble. Today the walk was about 12 Hazel miles in weather much better than expected from the forecast. It did start off dismally at Coombe Hill NT carpark about 8.30am but the amazing pollarded trees and bluebells here soon put us in high spirits. Heading South through High Scrub & Dunsmore, turning West eventually at Cobblershill Farm passing along a cunningly hidden path into Hampdenleaf Wood, at the far side briefly stopping for Sheila's bread pudding & a hot drink while enjoying the peaceful vale ahead, gradually being bathed in sunlight, revealing a Brown Hare standing still in the middle of a field of wheat. Across the valley we encountered an odd structure, part church, part medieval building, Little Hampden Church. Over the west side of this ridge and through a bluebell swathed copse across the Prestwood to Askett road & up across wheat and pine wood (passing a large Wellingtonia) to Hampden House in bright sunshine greeted by the sounds of demented barking from beyond a tall Laurel hedge. Giving the house HAHA a slight birth we turned north west up the tree lined avenue & then diagonally across a very stunted & dry field of wheat towards Barnes Grove where realised we should turn NE along Grim@s Dyke & the edge Kingsfield Wood & on into Knighton's Hill Wood, then around Green Hailey Farm leading into the steep descent of Whiteleaf Hill, still in brilliant sunshine, to the welcoming sign of The Red Lion for a refreshing pint of Aylesbury Pale Ale taken outside as we watched a steady stream of AT Bikers struggling past with a clicking of cogs & a lot of puffing. we all agreed one pint was adequate & off we set again across a cricket pitch where members of the team were praying to Mohammed before play, then through a pristine golf course and eventually up the long slog through Grangelands & Rifle Range BBOWLT nature reserve to the foot of Pulpit Hill where a quick bite was taken sat amongst the prickles of a cleared Blacthorn scrub. It was a long & winding plod through Pulpit & Pond Woods down in sight of Chequers through more stunning masses of Bluebells down to across the same road crossed earlier and through yet another field of wheat (this looked much healthier) up to Buckmoorland & up a never-ending sunken lane in dappled sun up to Goodmerhill Wood & on through Fugsdon Wood, eventually regaining the trail that we had descended 7 or so hours earlier. The scene had changed since 8.30am, now heaving with cars, children and dogs. Ditching our rucksacks we staggered a few hundred yards to The Monument to wonder at the view and how far we could see across several counties, even to Kings Wood on the Greensand Ridge. So safe home very weary but all agreed a great walk, certainly the best so far this year. My thanks already given to Roy & Keith, I should like to add thanks to Sheila for her sustaining bread pudding and to Bramble for all her encouragement as I staggered at the rear when every 10 minutes or so she would rush down to find where I was and after a swift pat rushed back to inspect the trail ahead. :)