Long Walk 19th September led by Peter West
Our walks are usually in the Chilterns with its undulating countryside and occasional steep hill. For a change, our leader planned a flat walk of about 8 miles commencing in Towersey. This was a relief to one or 2 of our group who now have difficulty with climbing hills. With a forecast of sunshine all day, we started at the Three Horseshoes pub and walked along Manor Road until it became a track through a copse. This led to open fields and on to Ilmer where the footpath passed through the gardens of a number of houses. As one of the group lived in Ilmer, we were treated to a running comentary on details of the church and the occupants of the various houses in the villages.
The route then took us east initially by the railway line and then over fields to the old paper mill development with the waterwheel now displayed by the road not far from the Bledlow Crossing. Passing over the Phoenix Trail, we branched off on a footpath over fields to Walton’s Farm. Here the course of the footpath was not too obvious and we wrongly ended up on a footpath which led to Skittle Green. We soon recovered the situation with a slight diversion back to our intended path. The path now led to the Peacock pub in Henton which was passed with some reluctance as the time for lunch was approaching. We then headed north on the New Close Farm Road and came to a point where the footpath had been diverted from its original route. It had previously passed close to an unassuming house which has now been converted into a much grander one with gardens to match. After the house, the footpath reverted to its original route. We were soon on the Phoenix Trail and heading back to the Three Horseshoes. We all sat at a table in the garden of the pub in the sunshine eating food chosen from their extensive lunchtime snack menu and, of course, satisfying our thirst with drinks from the bar. All in all, it was a very pleasant day.
Strollers 9th September – led by Sheila Lane
Just completed an enjoyable walk. There were 6 of us met at The Swan Little Kimble (5 female, 1 male) and two dogs. Sorry, it I can’t give younames! 2 were vaguely familiar but we all got on well and it was a great morning.
Medium Walk 13th September led by Pat Fowler
Just seven of us met at the Royal Standard of England on a beautiful, sunny August morning. WE set off across fields and through woodland to reach and cross the main road at Penn then continued on over more foelds and through more woodland to reach the village of Winchmore Hill. WE continued on, mostly through woodland, which was wonderful as the day was starting to get very hot and arrived at Penn Street where we had a short break on the Common in the shade. Then on again, through Penn Wood, which we negotiated perfectly exiting in the right place! Our path led us through yet more woodland and became more undulating as we reached the main road again near Penn. After crossing the road we followed a delightful woodland path, going downhill to finally reach the lane near the pub. We sat outside in the shade enjoying drinks and food (though the cauliflower cheese was late coming, undercooked and overpriced!) – other meals were ok, before driving home.
Shakespeare Way September 4th
Hayes and Harlington to Chiswick, 9.5 miles
Eleven of us met at Great Missenden station to catch the 9.16 train to Harrow-on-the-Hill where we walked to the bus station to take the 140 service to Hayes & Harlington, arriving at 10.40. After a short walk to the Grand Union canal we set off on our walk to Chiswick. After a short time we passed Bull’s bridge and the Paddington Arm where we had joined the canal on the GU walk starting at Paddington Basin. WE were now on uncharted territory and very beautiful it was too! After a short coffee break we arrived at our first locks – the start of the Hanwell flight. Here the canal was very wide with lots of green algae on the water – especially near the lock gates. Pretty to look at though the rubbish sitting in it was not so good! After the flight of locks we passed Osterley Lock before walking under the M4 – we had been hearing the traffic noise for some time – a reminder that we were nearing central London! Continuing on past Clitheroe Lock – none of these locks looked as though they had been used recently we reached Brentford Basin – once a hive of industrial activity but now with beautiful apartment buildings. Thames lock is the last lock on the canal where the canal reaches the tidal river Thames – the gates can only be opened two hours either side of high tide – and it was low tide as we arrived there giving views of a very muddy river! Here we joined the Thames Path following it to Kew bridge then on to Strand on the Green and the Bull’s Head for lunch, arriving at 2.40pm. A table had been reserved for us upstairs in our own small private room with views over the river. The land lord was a very jolly man and the food was good and very quickly served (note – no pre-ordering!). Leaving the pub soon after 3.30 we walked the short distance to Chiswick station where we caught a train to Waterloo, then Bakerloo line to Marylebone then home by train arriving around 6pm. Another very successful day.
Short Walk 23rd September – led by John Stallwood
Seven of us met at the Chandos Arms, Western Turville at 10am on a sunny day but with dark clouds. We walked towards the church and turned off to the right just before it to go across some fields and a small wood which brought us to the canal, the Wendover arm of the Grand Union canal system. We walked towards Wendover and the terminus of the canal and wharf were sighted. Then a walk up a short hill and along the road between houses brought us to the bottom of Wendover woods. No climbing today though!
We turned left to walk for about 1-1/2 miles, sandwiched between the wood and various buildings of Halton RAF camp, eventually reaching and croingd the main road running between Wendover and Tring. After a short while the path diverged and I decided to go on a different path to the one I had recced, to save time. We were passing very close to the Rothchild Manor house, now the RAF’s officers mess but we could not spot it at all through the trees. We eventually got back to the canal and passed under a wonderful blue painted cast iron bridge and onwards to Halton Village. We left the canal here and after a short way along the road we climbed a stile and started on a path which would lead us back to Western Turville, and lunch. A pleasant and interesting walk which would be worth doing again..