Long Walk March 5th led by Toby Lucas
17 of us assembled at The Boot car park in Bledlow Ridge. The sun was shining, daffodils dancing and the birds were singing about the joys of spring. We set off towards Lodge Hill Farm and then along the valley, through Deanfield. We then returned to Bledlow Ridge via Scrubbs Lane to the Tennis Club where steaming cups of coffee at the cafe were served and enjoyed outside, overlooking the cricket pitch. We then descended towards The City and then through Radnage to Bennetts End and then up towards Sprigs Holly Lane where the view down the valley towards the Golden Ball was stupendous. We returned to The Boot via the church and the Nature Reserve where a sumptuous lunch was enjoyed by 14 of us.
Strollers March 10th – led by Caroline Jones
Twelve strollers started out from a rather muddy and bumpy car park just off the Phoenix trail on the Lower Icknield Way. We walked along the Trail to Horsenden Church and then past the tennis club towards Saunderton. They we walked up Oddley Lane and along the footpath towards Bledlow and back along the Phoenix trail to the cars. All enjoyed this walk on a lovely dry March morning.
Medium walk March 28th led by Peter West
This was a 6 mile walk over mainly hard surfaces but with short stretches of muddy paths. The forecast was for rain overnight clearing to sunny periods. However, there was no rain and it was fine for the walk.
Leaving the Three Horseshoes at Towersey we crossed the field behind the pub to pick up the path leading to the Phoenix Trail. After a short distance, we turned off the trail and took the path past Penn farm and Henton Manor to arrive at Henton village. Walking though the village, we followed the footpath that leads through the grounds of the Peacock pub. From here, there was a muddy section through the edge of a field of dense bamboo plants which were at least nine feet tall. Crossing another field, we climbed the only stile on the walk to come to Forty Green.
We then took the quiet road that led to the Henton Crossing. We were now back on the Phoenix Trail which we followed until turning off onto the track that led to Manor Road approaching Towersey. Only four of the group stayed to lunch at the Three Horseshoes. There was a selection of food to suit all tastes, and we had a pleasant meal albeit in a dining room all to ourselves.