Wednesday May 4th Long walk led by David Brown
Nettlebed and Nuffield ‘’Bluebell Walk’’
This was our annual May Bluebell Walk which Jenny and I last led in May 2019, but which regrettably was suspended during 2020 and 2021 owing to Covid restrictions. Fortunately, the weather this year was kind and we enjoyed sunny periods and a mild temperature of around 16 C. Our party of 8 walkers started from The White Hart Hotel in Nettlebed and we walked to Manor Farm, which now has an immensely popular creamery producing excellent local cheeses for its shop and ‘Cheese Shed Café’. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to stop here on this occasion and continued the walk, past Howberry Wood with our first bluebell sightings. We soon joined a bridle path, running between two hedges, that led to further bluebell woods before entering Nuffield Village.
At Nuffield Church we paused for a break and took time to view the grave of the famous TV presenter and broadcaster Sir David Frost. The Church is also kind to passing walkers and inside provides refreshment facilities including a kettle, water, tea, coffee, milk, biscuits and a fridge with the intriguing invitation notice, ‘’There may be some cake in the fridge’’. Our group took advantage of these welcome and kind facilities and donated in return.
Suitably refreshed, our route then joined The Ridgeway path across Huntercombe Golf Course and down through open fields, with side entertainment from ‘boxing hares’, before we reached the Chiltern Way. From here we walked on a winding woodland path surrounded by drifts of superb bluebells contrasting with the fresh unfolding acid green beech leaves and white stitchwort flowers
Our path continued along Digberry Lane and on to Nuffield Common, with yet more bluebells. Soon we reached Nettlebed High Street and arrived at The White Hart hotel again, where we enjoyed a friendly welcome and good food and drink.
Monday May 9th stroll led by Chris Mansfield
Fourteen walkers plus Reggie the dog met in the layby in Monks Risborough on a dry and sunny morning. WE set off at 10.30 to walk up over the fields to Whiteleaf then on over the golf course to reach Cadsden. From here we crossed the road and walked through scrubland then gently uphill through Grangelands nature reserve to reach a track where we paused for a break. WE then turned left down the track which led us to the A4010 (very busy today) which we crossed to then walk down the drive of a property. Then after a couple of stiles we turned left to walks across fields to Askett and on back to Monks Risborough arriving at just after 12 noon.
Friday May 20th medium walk led by Sharon Clark
The reccy walk for the reservoirs was on a beautiful sunny day. Sadly the real walk was on a soggy rainy day!! However, 11 intrepid walkers weathered the drizzle to enjoy 6 miles of the natural beauty of the area. We saw ducklings and goslings and such an enormous fish that we all had to look twice!! A friendly welcome at The Red Lion was a good opportunity to dry off and refuel.
