| Some walks during 2003
Sunday 9th November 2003 12.00 noon 4 miles
Monica’s Aquadrome Walk
Sunday 12th October 2003 12 noon
2˝ miles
Autumn in Berrygrove Woods
click pictures
for larger versions
Sunday 14th September 2003 10.00 am 6˝ miles
The Thames Footpath: Part 7, Windsor to
Maidenhead
Sunday 17th August 2003
10.00 7 miles
Wendover Woods
Sunday 13th July 2003 6 miles
Bushey Festival Walk
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To see all
the pictures on this walk larger,
please click on any of them. |
The start
by the pond at St James Church, Bushey High Street.
56 people started out on the walk despite the very dry and hot conditions.
After using the Greenway to get to Oxhey lane the walk doubled back over the
hill and down to where the new bench was waiting. Hazel Beney was ready with
wine, iced water and leaflets and Ann White spoke of Norman, uncovered the
bench, and proposed a toast to BADFA.
Ann white speaking before unveiling the Norman Hedges bench
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Chris Beney installing the bench, he
also carved the inscription with a
routing tool. |
We then followed the path from Merryhill to Mutton Wood,
avoiding the fallen tree trunks, and on to Grimsdyke Golf Course. Then up to
Grimsdyke and Harrow Weald common.
At The Case is Altered pub, the food we had ordered
wasn't ready and they had problems serving beer at first, nevertheless the
surroundings of the pub garden and the lovely weather made the visit an
enjoyable one.
After lunch a walk through Harrow Weald Common then back to
the start via Whomsoever Lane and Merryhill Road. It is nice to see the new
faces that the Festival Walk so often brings out.
It was billed as "A circular walk through some lovely
countryside using some little known paths", and it lived up to that
promise..
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Friday 20th
June 2003 7.00 pm 1˝ miles
Midsummers’ “Eve” walk
Meeting point by the pond at St James Church, Bushey High Street,
No picnic
Leader David Bearfield
A pleasant evening stroll through the Churchyard and into Attenborough’s Fields
and Merryhill.
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Saturday 7th June 2003 9.00 am 8 miles
The flint mines at Cissbury Ring, West Sussex
photo David Bearfield
click for larger picture
About 20 people joined the coach for the journey to the south
coast.
The coach just managed to manoeuvre into the car park (and out again). Then a
lengthy, but attractive, climb through the forest on the north slope of the
south downs. Emerging on to open downland at the summit. Visit to the dew pond,
but not to the neolithic Chactonbury Ring because of restricted visibility.
On across the Downs to a tear-jerking memorial to a farmer and his wife. Down
the valley and up the steps to Cissbury. Bit of disappointment at the mines,
just dips in the ground with shrubs and rabbits. On down to Finden where the
coach awaited.
photo David Bearfield
click for larger picture
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Sunday 11th May 2003 11.00 am 4˝ miles
Letchmore Heath and back
About 32 people
arrived, a few an hour early because we hadn't updated the Watford Observer
people, sorry.
Weather just right. The A41 was extremely busy, so much so that people seemed
pleased to follow David, who waited for a gap on our side, then strode out and
stopped the traffic on the other side. Two batches and we were over (process
repeated on our return).
The path to
Letchmore Heath, blocked by ploughing a few weeks ago, was rolled flat and a
good width. At
Letchmore Heath
popular demand for toilets and pub snacks delayed us a bit but on to Wards
Cottages, through the hidden spinney and through the plantation which BADFA and
CMS made usable a many years ago. On to the field by the aerodrome for our
picnic and a bit of gymnastics (see picture below). Bypass the new barbed wire
and over the runway to be met by yellow uniformed people telling us there was no
right of way. We regrouped and pushed on, past the sewage purifier and the
helicopter with massive rotors that seemed to be doing its thing on the path
itself. Cheery wave from Air Traffic man in tower, apologies from officer for
the yellow jacket people, handshake from the aerodrome owner.
Then, having wrestled to open the gate, through the garden to Hog Lane where we
joined the Greenway route again which runs along the aerodrome boundary and back
to the A41 and home via the old Tylers footpath.
To see larger photos click any of these.
Sunday 13th April 2003 10.00
7˝ miles
The Thames Footpath: Part 6, Staines to Windsor
Thursday 24th April 2003 7.30 pm 2 miles
An Evening Bluebell Walk
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Sunday 9th March 2003 11.00
am 4˝ miles
Colney Heath and Tyttenhangar
click on photos for larger ones
The
weather was kind both with rain (absent as forecast) and wind (a lot warmer
than forecast). Monica, who led the walk, said it would be muddy but there
was little mud. A pleasant walk, including a wide grassy strip beside the
river Colne. Picnic under the trees. About 20 came.
Sunday
9th February 2003 11.00pm 3˝ miles
Nature in North Bushey
Leader David Bearfield
Fishers Field Nature Reserve, alongside the Hilfield Brook, across the Park &
Ride field and along the Colne Valley Linear Park.
12 people arrived in the light rain which cleared
fairly soon. And Ann and Ivy and Jean arrived after we had left and had their
own private walk, ending up at Finch Lane. We avoided the golfballs, new bunker
and tee. Admired (subject to Chris' inevitable reservations) the riverbank works
in progress. Noted that a fence had been rebuilt across the Path 4 extension.
Crossed the 'Park and Ride land that may well now not end up covered with
cars. Noted that no-one seems to have walked the official route on that land
recently, but in several loops round the field. Acquired free copies of certain
newspapers abandoned by someone. Noted that the M1 link (Stephenson Way) road
bridge and the official path route don't coincide.
O, and by the way we all had a good time walking and chatting.
click for
larger pictures
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Sunday 19th January 2003 11.00 am Approx. 5 miles
Aldenham & Wall Hall Walk
Leader David Bearfield
This report is written by a miracle of technology actually as the walk is taking
place. Despite the rather miserable drizzle some nine people started out and
visited the “Roman” Amphitheatre at Wall Hall, crossed over to Munden House and
walked on up to approach the Ver-Colne river confluence from the north. Alas the
river banks are seriously burst and the path dangerous. At the time of writing
(1.43pm) the walk is having to retrace its steps, and will make a virtue of
necessity by finding the correct route for a small part of the route that was
missed on the way out.
A complaint has gone in to County Hall (2.20pm) with a
request for river authority contacts so that BADFA can contact them direct.
This is the new river across the
public footpath, it was quite
fast flowing.
Click for larger picture
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Wednesday 1st January 2003 12 noon 6.5
miles David Bearfield
New Years Day Walk
Starting from St James
Church the walk went over to Oxhey Lane, through Grimsdyke, and back via
Whomsoever Lane.
Weather was forecast wet and it was wet,
no: it was WET.
A shorter alternative had been prepared but the stalwart sixteen went along with
the longer route.
The stop for mulled wine
and hot mince-pies.
Click for larger picture
Go to earlier
walks (2002)
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