Long walk July 3rd led by Angela Wall
It was a damp and dreary morning when 10 intrepid, brave explorers met by the windmill in Brill. Setting off down the hill in high, hopeful spirits, we traversed the old brick clay quarry, followed by a brisk joyful walk downhill through meadows and small wood to a road. Then, noticing a rather dark cloud in the sky approaching at speed, we stopped to don waterproofs and set off down the road towards Boarstall still hopeful that it was only going to be a short sharp shower. 45 minutes later it was still raining! After crossing fields with no visible footpaths and full of long, wet grass often battered down by the rain and ready to trip us up, we arrived in Boarstall. A short walk into the village and then we turned left at a sign post opposite Boarstall Tower into, “joy of joys”, a field of growing maize with, again, no sign of a footpath!
However, having walked the walk before, Angela knew the way across the field and we entered a small copse and stopped for a quick coffee break. The rain had eased as we came to a field with young cows blocking the gate on the other side. But miraculously, the farmer was entering the field to feed the cows and he very kindly said he would feed them a long way from the gate so that we wouldn’t be bothered by them. Hooray! After a tramp through more wet, long grass fields and a lovely wildflower meadow, we came to the village of Oakley. Passing along roads through the village, we turned right and crossed a field full of thistles and noisy sheep. Having fought our way through yet another wet grass field with no visible footpath, we eventually came to a track to Leatherslade Farm. By this time, we were mostly soaked from feet to knees and squelching as we walked. After a gradual climb along the edge of a field of wet barley, we arrived in Brill and made our way to The Pheasant Inn. A warm welcome and good food nourished our hunger and spirits after a rather challenging walk.
Strollers July 8th led by Caroline Jones
We had a good walk in Thame today before the rain. We walked out of the back of Thame, crossed the Phoenix Trail and walked across the fields to Moreton Village and then back into Thame. It was a nice flat walk with a couple of stiles and was rather muddy in places. One field contained cows and their calves and the brave ones of us walked through the herd whilst the other avoided them by walking around the perimeter of the field. 10 attended the walk and reported back they enjoyed it.
Medium walk July 19th led by Chris Mansfield
Fifteen walkers met at the Lions of Bledlow on a beautiful sunny morning, promising to be the hottest day of the summer. WE set off at 9.30 on a long gently rising path, all in the shade, to reach the ridgeway which we then followed with glorious views towards Lodge Hill. Here we took the Lodge Hill bypass to walk along a lovely shady path before emerging once more into the sunshine. There was then a short hill. then a path which contoured around before rejoining the ridgeway leading downhill across fields with lovely views all the way to reach the golf course. Once again our path was shaded through the golf course and on to cross the railway line where we left the ridgeway to walk through flower filled meadows towards Saunderton and on to Horsenden for a break in the shade. Then it was just another 20 minutes or so across fields (no shade now) to reach Bledlow and then through the village back to pub for a welcome drink and rest. Ten of us stayed for lunch – eating inside as it was cooler there and we’d had enough sun for one day! A beautiful walk in our lovely local area.