where did you walk today?

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by pammosley

Wow, wonderful sunnydale. Monks dale looks especially lovely.

Thanks Pam. My photos just don't do it justice. It really is the most magical place but it takes quite a while to walk through it, as for the most part, it's very rocky underfoot.
The wildflowers are just starting to grow and later on, it will look even better.

[Pete Collins]

Today I decided to walk somewhere slightly different, and headed to the Greensand Ridge a few miles north of the Chilterns where I usually walk. The Greensand Ridge runs across Bedfordshire from Linslade to Gamlingay in Cambridgeshire (there is a parallel ridge south of London, too), and today I followed a section of it from Woburn to Ampthill, returning the same way. This was the longest walk I've done for very many years, very close to 20 miles!

It was overcast, misty and cold in the morning, but turned into a lovely afternoon from 2pm onwards, so most of my photos are from the return trip to Woburn in the afternoon.

View north from Ampthill Park

Looking back along the Greensand Ridge towards Ampthill (this was where I had my picnic lunch, next to the Millbrook Proving Ground where they test out cars)

Near Jackdaw Hill (there is a very steep slope in the trees to the right, and yes, there usually are Jackdaws on Jackdaw Hill!)

Path near Ridgmont

Bridleway near New Water End, Eversholt

Bridleway near New Water End, Eversholt

Path through the estate around Woburn Abbey

Path through the parkland around Woburn Abbey

I saw a couple of Buzzards near Eversholt, and had a glimpse of a deer but couldn't make out what sort it was. The only flower I really saw today was Lesser Celandine.

[LynM]

Nice area, Pete, not one that I'm familiar with, so even nicer!!! Glad that the weather cheered up for you in the afternoon, a great blue sky does make for a good background.

[ChrisJB]

Ah, lovely Monks Dale. I remember seeing my one and only Nottingham Catchfly there, sometime in the early 90s. Nice photos too Sunny.

Regards, Chris

[Mick_S]

Excellent walks folks, nice photos too.

Mick

[foxy mars]

Sunny, the Pennine Bridle-Way looks very tempting. One I fancy for next year (on mountain bike)

[agrumpycow]

Another walk along the Kennet & Avon Canal for us today.
We started at Tyle Mill Swing Bridge and headed away from the canal and across the fields until we met the canal again at Ufton Bridge. Crossing the road we veered away from the canal, again, and walked along a tributary for a mile before doing a U-turn and heading back the 2.5 miles to Tyle Mill following the canal tow-path this time. Very nice weather, lots of water-birds on nests and a lovely walk.

[Pippa]

I love all the pics everyone,so beautiful but Sunny, that is my kind of heaven

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by Pippa

I love all the pics everyone,so beautiful but Sunny, that is my kind of heaven

Anytime you want to join me on a walk Pippa, you're very welcome! I just love sharing walks with people who really appreciate the beauty of nature.

[sunnydale]

Love your shots Claire, especially the reflections in the first one

[Pippa]

Originally Posted by sunnydale

Love your shots Claire, especially the reflections in the first one

Meant to say that about (No 1) of Claires too Sunny.

Wonderful Claire

[agrumpycow]

Thanks, both of you, it certainly was the weather for taking water reflection shots

[ChrisJB]

Today's walk was in one of my favourite areas, the Forest Of Bowland. It was another early start for me as was hoping to maybe catch sight of some early morning upland raptors. Alas, the weather was far too windy and cold, though I did find a rather exotic looking Reeve's Pheasant (too cold to stop and get my camera out to photograph it).
The route was from Dunsop Bridge, up the lonely valley of Whitendale to Whitendale Farm, up the fellside to the trig-point on Burn Fell, then a spot of tresspassing to Beatrix and back down the lane to Dunsop Bridge.
On the way 'wom', we took a rather large detour to the top 'ressy' at Foulridge to see a Red Throated Diver.
All in all, a good walk, but disappointing for birds.

Whitendale, Forest of Bowland

Whitendale from near Dunsop Head, Forest of Bowland.

Regards, Chris

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

then a spot of tresspassing...

Phew! Thought I was the only one who can't read signs that say 'Private'!

Looks lovely scenery Chris. Shame there weren't many birds around though

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by sunnydale

Phew! Thought I was the only one who can't read signs that say 'Private'!

I do it all the time Sunny. In fact whilst I'm doing it, I talk to myself, planning a tissue of lies should I ever get confronted by an angry farmer and a nasty Border Collie that can lift its own nose up and show its front teeth.

Regards, Chris

[redandshane]

I took a walk today with my daughter
We were off to look for frog spawn in a resevoir near Northend just outside Bath
We didn't find any but it was really such a nice day we proceeded to head up onto Solisbury Hill

On the approach "ascent" saw two things of interest to readers of this forum
First was a well used Badger latrine feet away from footpath on the edge of some scrub/narrow woodland and the other was my daughter saw what she thought was a dead bird. On inspection I identified it as the hind quarters of a rabbit.Thinking no more about it we proceeded on up the hill and just before a gate we saw the head of I guess the same rabbit stiill with eyes in
My guess is it was a fox which had taken the rabbit but interested to know what others may think
Didn't take any pics which I now regret
There you go faeces and death in one post
I am a nurse by the way

[The Woodman]

Disappointing -ChisJB? A RTD at Foulridge? For such a detour, you must have known it was there? That's a nice find.

Redandshane - sounds like you had a good day out and spotted some interesting stuff. Being a Nurse you'll have an enquiring mind about what you see but keep an open mind about the rabbit cadaver. The cause of death cannot be known and there may be secondary predators to consider, mammalian or avian.

Faeces are not the most popular subject in the world but much can be gained by careful examination of them, their conformation, smell, attitude (position) etc.

[Pete Collins]

Another local walk for me this morning, a route that took about three hours, from Kensworth to Roe End, Studham Common and Whipsnade. Apologies if I'm starting to repeat some of my photos!

Looking back at the path junction where I joined the 'public highway' to Roe End. This 'green lane' connects two stretches of lane, and there is evidence that it was once surfaced. The green signs either end say 'public highway', rather than footpath or bridleway.

Looking back towards Studham from the 'Public highway' to Roe End

Looking back to Roe End

Track through Gravelpit Wood

Path through Great Bradwin's Wood - I saw some Wood Sorrel here, which had been the aim of the walk having seen pressld2's lovely photos on the Flower of the Day thread yesterday

Path through wooded section of Studham Common

Footpath near Studham church

Footpath through Church Grove, Studham

Old lane between Holywell and Whipsnade (closed to traffic about 20 years ago)

Path through Whipsnade Heath

I saw a Buzzard near Oldhill Wood, and heard another one later on between Studham and Whipsnade Zoo. There were Skylarks singing in several places too. Apart from the Wood Sorrel (which I'd set out to see, Great Bradwin's Wood being the only place locally that I've seen them before), there was Lesser Celandine everywhere and lots of Dog's Mercury and a few Violets. I saw Wood Anemones in a couple of places, one site being new to me. I saw Coltsfoot in three places, again one of them a site where I'd not seen it before. There was just the odd Bluebell flowering in Byslips Wood, then I saw a small clump beside the path along the edge of Whipsnade Zoo.

But the highlight was getting my best Muntjac deer photo so far - a female crossed the track 80 yards ahead of me as I walked through Gravelpit Wood (I've also put the photo on the Mammal of the Day thread).



This was a really nice walk, on a lovely warm and sunny morning. All the paths were very familiar to me, but I'd never walked this actual route before. The wildflowers, birds and the muntjac deer all added to my enjoyment of the walk.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Disappointing -ChisJB? A RTD at Foulridge? For such a detour, you must have known it was there? That's a nice find.

.

I knew it was there. It's been there for weeks. My bitter disappointment stems from not seeing my Bowland target species. The diver was a nice bird though, just coming into breeding plumage as well.

Regards, Chris

[tameblackbirds]

some lovely walks thanks everyone

[foxy mars]

Another good's walking and great weather too, fab.

Walk statistics:
16.5 Miles.
2.9 mph Average speed.
4h:49m Moving time.
42m Stopped time.
5h:30m Total time.

Route:
Eller Beck Bridge.
Simon Howe Rigg.
Wardle Green.
Raindale Head.
Newtondale.
Farwath.
Staindale.
Bridestones.
Old Wife's Way.
Saltergate Car-Park

[pammosley]

Wonderful walks & pictures everyone.
We had a ride out to Croft Castle, between Leominster & Ludlow, We walked the long way up to the hill fort at Croft Ambrey, fantastic views, then ambled around the miles of woods.

[Pete Collins]

Some lovely walks and photos on here!

Today I did another very long walk, from my home in Kensworth to Toddington and back. There were some grey clouds as I set off, but the weather improved and was quite sunny in the afternoon (though it was very windy coming back across Dunstable Downs).

Footpath near Kensworth Quarry

Dunstable Downs, looking north over Dunstable towards Toddington

Footpath between Chalk Hill and Bidwell

Footpath to Wingfield

Looking back from near Wingfield to Dunstable Downs

Bridleway near Toddington

View south from near Kensworth Quarry

Lesser Celandine was still the most common wildflower, though there were also lots of Violets, and Coltsfoot occurred in several places. Cowslips were coming out near Sewell. I think I saw Common Chickweed and Hairy Bittercress, too. I saw two Buzzards as I was walking to Wingfield - it's great that these birds are doing so well all round here, I see them on the majority of my walks now. I saw several Small Tortoises and Peacocks too.

But the highlight of the walk was seeing Roe Deer, at three separate places. I have only seen them 3 or 4 times before, since I started walking regularly in the northern Home Counties about four years ago. Like today, I've only seen them north of the Chilterns.

[ChrisJB]

Today's walk for me was a short uphill affair, to a moortop called West Nab
(1640'), overlooking Meltham and Holmfirth in Yorkshire. My motive for such an amble was to position myself on high and look for Ospreys heading north (optimistic I know). I'll cut to the chase, no Ospreys seen, but a Ring Ouzel was a good sight. There were also plenty of 'moorpeeps' (Meadow Pipits), Red Grouse, a couple of Curlews and a decent pair of Wheatears. It was cold up here today, with a wind-chill I recorded of 0.9 degrees centigrade.

Meltham and Huddersfield beyond, from West Nab

View north from West Nab, to distant Buckstones (the scene of an unsolved double murder in 1903)

The Cock Crowing Stone, a well known landmark on Meltham Moor

Regards, Chris

[agrumpycow]

After looking at the weather forecast for the rest of the week I guessed that this may be the only dry walk I would have for the rest of the week so I packed the dogs into the car and drive the few miles to the local bluebell wood in Sulham, just outside Reading and went for a walk in the woods & surrounding farmland.
Unfortunately, it seemed I was a bit early for the full show of bluebells but there was plenty of other flowers to see: dog violet, primrose, wood anemone & lesser celandine.
Apologies, my dogs seemed determined to get in most photos