where did you walk today?

[agrumpycow]

Very nice walks all of you! Isn't it nice now the weather's improved

I was at work today but convinced a few other staff and some residents to come for a walk down to the Thames with me. Down through the village and over the field (not the easiest pushing a wheelchair ) we walked along to the lock at Mapledurham and just sat and watched the world go by for an hour or so.
Beautiful sunshine, herons flying and landing on a nearby tree, mute swans & greylag geese and a flock of long-tailed tits made it a nice morning.

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

Very nice walks all of you! Isn't it nice now the weather's improved

I was at work today but convinced a few other staff and some residents to come for a walk down to the Thames with me. Down through the village and over the field (not the easiest pushing a wheelchair ) we walked along to the lock at Mapledurham and just sat and watched the world go by for an hour or so.
Beautiful sunshine, herons flying and landing on a nearby tree, mute swans & greylag geese and a flock of long-tailed tits made it a nice morning.

I've walked through Mapledurham a few times, its a wonderful little place.

[kiltoncomp]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

Very nice walks all of you! Isn't it nice now the weather's improved

I was at work today but convinced a few other staff and some residents to come for a walk down to the Thames with me. Down through the village and over the field (not the easiest pushing a wheelchair ) we walked along to the lock at Mapledurham and just sat and watched the world go by for an hour or so.
Beautiful sunshine, herons flying and landing on a nearby tree, mute swans & greylag geese and a flock of long-tailed tits made it a nice morning.

its got to be the best therapy there is, getting out into the countryside,(and its free - apart from a little effort) , especially after being indoors all winter,
and even if you cant get out, just looking at some of the great photos of the places some of you get to visit makes you feel almost as if you are there
there is no wonder we are all "wild about Britain"

[Dutchess]

On the beach, at Galley Hill, Bexhill-on-Sea. Ended up picking out yet more treasures from the pebbly shore....holey stones, a broken pretty sparkly stone (it looks a bit like a white Geode, but it can't be) and a weird shaped eroded shell that looks like a delicate ear bone from a skull (but it isn't, it's a shell ).

I love to forage like this...

[Mick_S]

Some more lovely walks that I would like to do.
On behalf of Mr Duck thank you Pam and Mr Pam.

Mick

[LynM]

Just a wander along the SW coastal path between Cogden Beach and West Bexington. A pleasant walk, still very muddy in places, lots of Skylarks, birds amongst the reeds that I can't id from their calls alone (!), a silvery sea and some lovely little shells to add to my growing collection.

Sea air makes me tired......

[Pete Collins]

After a long walk yesterday, and with a longer one planned for tomorrow, I hadn't intended going out today. But it was too beautiful a morning to stay indoors, so I took a slow stroll for about an hour and twenty minutes around the Downs at Whipsnade.

[Pippa]

We had a beautiful walk along the Beach this morning prior to work.The sun was shining and the sea was calm.So warm,roll on Summer and let's hope it's a great one

[Dutchess]

This morning I explored one of the many small areas of green/gardens scattered around St.Leonards. This particular one was in Burton St'Leonards (named after James Burton, of Regent's Park fame). I hadn't visited this one before and was interested to see it, as it has recently been renovated with the help of a lottery Heritage grant. Not only has it been restored and planted in the regency manner, but I was delighted to see lots of nest boxes placed high up in the mature trees. All different types, including bat boxes (I shall have to find out just what all the different ones are designed for) and numbered for monitoring purposes, I presume! Yes, so it all looks good! The pond was looking clean but bare....devoid of life and interest, so I hope the preservation society are planning something good for that

D.

[Gypsy Orchid]

Hi Dutchess I useto live in Hastings and often went on the beach near Gally Hill also remeber the park you mentioned at St. Leonards. Royal fern grew round the ponds.
Sylv

[Dutchess]

Hey Sylv! 'Nice to see you active on the boards

Nope, nothing around the margins or sides of the pond at all at the moment. I am sure they have plans for it though...I shall have to get down there with a camera for you, it must have changed a great deal from when you last saw it.

D.

[kiltoncomp]

a few more views of sunny Clumber today, suddenly everything is begining to look greener
it looks so much better when the sun shines!

[Pete Collins]

A beautiful day, and a beautiful walk!

Today I went on a long circular walk in the Buckinghamshire section of the Chiltern Hills. Starting from Coombe Hill (close to the Prime Minister's country retreat at Chequers), I followed the Ridgeway national trail as far as Whiteleaf Hill (overlooking Princes Risborough), then followed paths to Parslow's Hillock, Hampden Common, Great Hampden, Little Hampden and Dunsmore. I then took a somewhat convoluted route back to Coombe Hill, by descending one side of Bacombe Hill and turning back and following an almost parallel path back up - it was worth it for the views back towards Wendover and Wendover Woods.

I am currently re-visiting some of my favourite walks in the Chilterns, and this walk is definitely one of the very best I've ever done in the area.

Beech woods near Coombe Hill

Path near Chequers (I sometimes see policemen carrying submachine guns around here - obviously some very dodgy characters in the neighbourhood! )

Chequers, with Coombe Hill behind

The Vale of Aylesbury, from near the hillock of Chequers Knap

The Ridgeway path, approaching Whiteleaf Hill

The path near the top of Whiteleaf Hill

Hazy view from Whiteleaf Hill, over Princes Risborough towards Bledlow Cop. There was a lot of mist in the Vale of Aylesbury this morning, so the views were nowhere near their best.

Looking back along the bridleway to Parslow's Hillock (the log in the bottom left is a seat, with a nice view out to the Vale of Aylesbury)

The path from Hampden Common approaching Great Hampden church

The valley of Hampden Bottom (between Great Hampden and Little Hampden)

Path through Coach Hedgerow, between Great Hampden and Little Hampden (there were lots of Wood Anemones along here)

Path to Dunsmore, from Little Hampden

Path from Dunsmore to Coombe Hill

From Bacombe Hill, looking back over Wendover

Vale of Aylesbury from Coombe Hill

A Red Kite flew overhead as I reached Whiteleaf Hill (which, incidentally, is immortalised in a song by the legendary John Otway! ) and I had a few other distant views of Kites. There was a lot of Lesser Celandine around, and I saw Coltsfoot, Dog's Mercury and a few Violets. I saw my first Wood Anemones and Primroses of the year. I also saw several Brimstone butterflies and a Comma.

[BarbaraEmma]

Another lovely day here ,but only a short walk unfortunately.I broke my ankle in December and a couple of miles is my limit at the moment.The lambs were all enjoying the sun,they gather together in little nurseries and play.A pair of buzzards calling to each other over head,the bumble bees thankful that the gorse bushes are in flower and me thankful my husband is cooking dinner.

[agrumpycow]

Some nice walks pictured here today, guys! Isn't it nice to see blue sky, makes photos always look better

[LynM]

Oh Pete!....you have just taken me back 10 years with those pictures. Definitely a case of 'been there, done that and taken the photo'. The one from Whiteleaf Cross is the most familiar view to me. If the day had been a bit clearer, I would have been able to point out the school where I used to teach and approximately where I used to live!

It is a beautiful part of the country to have on your doorstep and I had over 30 years of it. Thanks for sharing it with us and bringing back happy memories for me.

[kiltoncomp]

Originally Posted by Pete Collins

A beautiful day, and a beautiful walk!
A Red Kite flew overhead as I reached Whiteleaf Hill (which, incidentally, is immortalised in a song by the legendary John Otway! ) and I had a few other distant views of Kites. There was a lot of Lesser Celandine around, and I saw Coltsfoot, Dog's Mercury and a few Violets. I saw my first Wood Anemones and Primroses of the year. I also saw several Brimstone butterflies and a Comma.

you certainly get some fine views in your area Pete, that bit of blue sky makes a great difference to it all

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by LynM

Oh Pete!....you have just taken me back 10 years with those pictures. Definitely a case of 'been there, done that and taken the photo'. The one from Whiteleaf Cross is the most familiar view to me. If the day had been a bit clearer, I would have been able to point out the school where I used to teach and approximately where I used to live!

It is a beautiful part of the country to have on your doorstep and I had over 30 years of it. Thanks for sharing it with us and bringing back happy memories for me.

I only included that very hazy shot from above Whiteleaf Cross because you told me you'd lived in Princes Risborough, LynM. I know the views can be much clearer and more far reaching. At least the haze hid Didcot Power Station from view!

Originally Posted by kiltoncomp

you certainly get some fine views in your area Pete, that bit of blue sky makes a great difference to it all

Thanks kiltoncomp.

[Lancashire Lad]

Tockholes Wood

Went for a walk through Tockholes Wood between Darwen & Bolton (in Lancashire).

Glorious sunshine all the way, basically following paths through the woodland and beside River Roddlesworth to Hollongshead Manor.

Found a few fungi, (Entoloma's & various brackets), several mosses, & lots of lichens along the way - a grand day out .



Regards
Mike.

[LynM]

A grand day out indeed, Mike. I particularly like the path with the trees, but they are all great pictures of an area that I'm not familiar with at all.

[Pippa]

Wow you daren't blink around here .

Beautiful photographs everyone.I love the tree pics Mike. Fabulous

[Pete Collins]

A slightly shorter walk for me today, probably about 11 miles, but again in a favourite part of the Chilterns - from Hambleden, Bucks., through Turville, Fingest and Skirmett. It was almost like walking through a film set, as these villages are used so often in TV and films - Turville in particular was the setting for The Vicar of Dibley, and is overlooked by Cobstone Mill which featured in the film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Hambleden

Bridleway along edge of Ridge Wood, Hambleden

Bridleway near Hambleden, heading to Great Wood

I think Pippa will like the next two photos!

Bridleway through Great Wood, Hambleden

Bridleway through Great Wood, Turville

Looking over Turville to Cobstone Mill

Turville (a.k.a Dibley!)

The path from Fingest to Fingest Wood

Looking back over Fingest

Looking back to Adam's Wood, near Skirmett

This is another great area for seeing Red Kites, but I was a bit disappointed today. I took my 1.7x converter for my camera with me, and sat at a couple of spots near Turville where there are usually Kites flying low overhead, hoping to finally get some decent shots of my favourite bird. There were Kites about, but they stayed a long way off and were fewer in number than usual, so I was unsuccessful.

Lots of Lesser Celandine, and some more Wood Anemones, but no butterflies today. I had two very distant views of a few Fallow Deer - I once saw a herd of 180 here!

[Pippa]

I certainly do Pete and no 2,wonderful.What is it with trees ? Magic

[snowdrop]

Great pics guys. Thanks for posting them.

Spring at last. I'm rubbing my hands and dreaming of all those wonderful pics you will all take during summer....and hopefully share too.

[kiltoncomp]

we went for a walk through the indian territory of Clumber today, and met a brave at his campfire


they even had a lookout posted in a nearby tree