where did you walk today?

[Mike Jackson]

As promised a few pictures from this mornings walk.



And another gratuitous dog picture.


Mike

[Pete Collins]

Lovely photos Mike - Pippa will enjoy those!

[tameblackbirds]

I now I keep on about this but don't we live in an amazing part of this planet. such beautiful places Keep these pics coming Then I won't need to book a holiday LOL

[pammosley]

Hi folks, wonderful photos of our green & pleasant land on here & some great walks. Lovely to see whats around the country.
Our walk this weekend was a trip out to the Long Mynd, Shropshire. Fantastic walking country. We covered 10 miles but with all the ups & downs it felt like alot more Worth every step for the views





View from the Long Mynd looking out to Caer Carodoc which we walked up & on later on, and the Wrekin is the conical shaped hill in the distance



Down into the valley of Church Stretton & the ruined chapel & the bluebell woods.





Path up to Caer Caradoc



View from Caer Caradoc to Lawley Hill & The Wrekin.



Rock formation

[Pete Collins]

Lovely photos Pam! What a great area - Shropshire is somewhere I've been wanting to walk for years.

My walk today was a 12-mile circular route in the Oxfordshire part of the Chilterns. Starting at Watlington Hill, I went down to part of the Ridgeway National Trail, then back uphill to Cookley Green and on along the escarpment past Swyncombe, with fine views out over the Oxfordshire Plain. I then went through Park Corner and then to the Warburg nature reserve (where I had a quick 20-minute look around). From there I went through Maidensgrove to Pishill, and finally through College Wood and along the ancient Hollandridge Lane to the charmingly named Christmas Common, from where it was a short road walk back to Watlington Hill.

Path descending Watlington Hill

Looking out to the Oxfordshire Plain, from the path to Cookley Green

The Oxfordshire Plain from near Swyncombe

Path through parkland, Swyncombe

Path through Bluebells near Park Corner

The valley of Upper Bix Bottom

Warburg Nature Reserve

Path through clover field near Maidensgrove

Path from Pishill to College Wood

Stonor from near Pishill church

Bluebells in College Wood

Hollandridge Lane

I saw Red Kites almost everywhere, one at Cookley Green was only just above the top of a telegraph post. I was a bit disappointed not to see or hear a Raven, as I've seen them in this area several times before (a note said they'd been heard over Warburg nature reserve recently).

There were loads of wildflowers: Ramsons, Sanicle, Common Rock-rose, Yellow Pimpernel, Bugle, Crosswort, Star-of-Bethlehem, Greater Stitchwort, Bluebells, Lesser Celandine, Yellow Archangel, Ground Ivy, Herb Robert, Red Campion, Wood Speedwell, Germander Speedwell, Woodruff, Wood Avens, Wintercress, Cow Parsley, Cowslips and Garlic Mustard.

Ramsons near Maidengrove

A few butterflies too: Orange-tip, Brimstone, Comma, Peacock, Speckled Wood

[agrumpycow]

Lovely pictures from today
That's an area I know well, Pete, and your pictures have captured it beautifully! Hope it wasn't too windy for you

[Pete Collins]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

Lovely pictures from today
That's an area I know well, Pete, and your pictures have captured it beautifully! Hope it wasn't too windy for you

Thanks Claire - you'll have noticed how I've carefully managed to hide Didcot Power Station behind a hill!

I forgot to say that it was a lovely day (well, you can probably see that!), and although there were strong winds they didn't really affect me at all. I thought the last part of my walk would be into the wind, which would be rather tiring (and tiresome!), but in fact my route was mainly north and south, so the easterly winds were always cross-winds. Most of the time I was out of the wind anyway, in woods or sheltered by hedgerows.

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Pete Collins

Thanks Claire - you'll have noticed how I've carefully managed to hide Didcot Power Station behind a hill!

Cleverly done, hiding the power station from the view of any hill around here can be difficult

[diggleken]

Just a quick one for Pippa - bit of a woody thing near the river this morning, got shouted at by grey waggies nesting, so scarpered quick.
Cheers
Ken

[LynM]

Love the Long Mynd and Church Stretton areas....well overdue for another visit! Great to have the reminder of how lovely it is there.

Pete....I've been there, done that, but not all on the same day! I did a fair chunk on a sponsored walk about 15 years ago, but again, like Pam's area, it's good to see it in all its glory on a great sunny day.

Thanks to all for sharing.