Long Walk December 3rd led by Libby & Ger James
15 walkers met at the Greyhound pub in Wigginton. We started off in chilly low cloud which luckily was burnt off by a kind sun in a blue sky. The walk meandered around the woods above Tring, to occasionally cross a grassy field, the trees were mainly beech, but we also met sweet chestnut, horse chestnut and pine trees. We walked Roundhill Wood and High Scrubs and Drayton Wood before following a track then a road through Hastoe. From there we picked up the Icknield Way through the upper reaches of Tring Park, with views across the vale, before making our way back to the pub. The Greyhound looked after us superbly, with Sidepockets and Ciders and good food. We were very, very lucky with the weather.
Strollers December 8th led by Caroline Jones
9 strollers turned up for the walk around Thame. It was a warm dry morning for December and the walk was the Thame Inner Circuit walk taken from the Thame Council website. We walked approximately 4 miles on the footpaths and the Phoenix Trail around the town. We ended in the churchyard of St Mary’s Church looking at Robin Gibbs gravestone, his home in Priest End was pointed out to the strollers. All returned to their cars dry and without muddy boots after a very enjoyable walk.
Medium December 19th led by Toby Lucas
Roughly 14 of us set off from Kings Oak Close on a bright, cloudless day, which was very welcome after the downpour the day before. Those of us who had driven to KOC felt a slight trepidation at leaving our precious vehicles in the Close just before the KOC Christmas Party at a time when the committee was trying to balance the books. Our route took us past Monks Risborough school and up to the golf course, after which we headed towards Brush Hill. I was worried that the chalk path might be slippery after the rain but we got to the top of Brush Hill without mishap. The view was spectacular, enhanced by the brilliance of the sun which must have been on its lowest trajectory of the year. After a short coffee break and photos we proceeded to Green Hailey Farm and thence to Longdown Farm and up to Pulpit Wood. It was then downhill to Kimble and through the fields to the Three Crowns in Askett. The pub did us proud with their festive menu and their staff were very attentive in the stables annex which we enjoyed on our own, even if the jokes in the crackers were terrible. It was then a short stroll to Mill Lane where we briefly stopped at the old Mill House and wondered how the stream had enough flow to power the wheel. Happily, we got back to KOC to find our vehicles intact and not festooned with parking tickets! Happy Christmas