Some Reports & Photos of walks during 2006

Sunday 8th October 3½ miles

Bushey to New Bushey & Back                  David Bearfield

A walk from Old Bushey through New Bushey and cross the LNWR railway by bridge and tunnel.

Twenty people came on this walk in remarkably bright and warm weather for the time of year. We aimed to ensure that everyone had at least part of the walk that they had not ever walked before. Some hadn't seen the swallow hole or the Gulches. Few had seen the 'new' estate at the top of Cross Road where BADFA had persuaded Watford Borough to divert a path that wasn't on the official map at the time. Few had seen the short cut to the Rifle Volunteer (see photo).

We then cut from Watford Heath to Green Lane via the footbridge and under the railway at Prestwick Road to reach By-the-Wood. Finally on to the Merryhill Greenway for a picnic and back to St James'.
 

The start

The unrecorded alleyway near the Rifle Volunteer in Villiers Road
 

In the wood near Prestwick Road

Sunday 10th September. 8 miles.

The Thames Footpath Moulsford to Dorchester.
Part 13. David Bearfield

photo R deBoise

 

We met at Bushey Station and after sorting out the ticket man who wanted to sell us tickets for How Wood at Strathclyde we traveled to Watford Junction where some of us enjoyed a coffee and we met up with two other of our group to make 16 altogether.

From How Wood we were straight away in the country and went round and beside river and lake. Then up to the site of the Roman villa on the open land above the old gravel pits.

Over the M25 through the tree-arched path to Drop Lane Bridleway and on to Drop Lane itself. Other people's dogs frolicking put us off picnicking there as planned. Chris produced a pair of wellies from nowhere, David just walked in and we all crossed the River Ver, and then across the peninsular to the River Colne. That had no helpful stepping-stones (why not?) and, since it was only a couple of inches deep, most people just walked it. One or two used Chris' wellies to cross. BADFA has never walked this route before.

After a democratic decision not to rush to catch the next train (one per hour) we had a leisurely picnic in the grass. Then we took a route via the Munden ford, where David walked the ford, with water knee high and others saw people fishing for crawfish.

Time slightly pressing, we missed out the Old Fox wood and went straight to Garston Station, a station almost none of us had been to before, and after only some ten minutes or wait our train home arrived.

Weather was good to us, quite warm, a spot or two of sun and no rain.

Despite the weather looking doubtful, thirty people came on this walk from Bushey to Shenley along our developing Greenways.

David Bearfield was away, so Chris Beney led this walk, at five to seven no one had arrived, but then it was thick and fast, was it twenty three? Strange weather, heavy sky and wind but bright; and lovely evening sunshine at the end of the walk.

Sunday 12th June 2006.  4.5 miles
Moor Park and Bishops Wood.  David Bearfield

A good number set out up the steep path by Moor Park Mansion. We picnicked by Bishops Wood, where the path joins the London Loop. Generally the County had made the surfaces quite good for walking. Sadly, the stile that we have reason to believe is unlawful was still there. It is not even to any recognisable standard. Some of us found it difficult to use. Despite the unduly hot weather, several people commented that it was a good walk.
 

Sunday 12th February 2006.  4 miles
Battlers Green and Wall Hall Woods. David Bearfield

11 people came, despite the drizzle. We picnicked in the Open Air Theatre. It was interesting to be able to see how the Wall Hall housing is taking shape, it all seems a bit isolated.

Admiring the Snowdrops

The new route which is not yet cleared


The stile near the farm shop

Sunday 15th January 2006.  4 miles
Cassiobury to Chandlers Cross.  Monica Shelton

About 20 came, none directly from the Watford Observer publicity. We wonder if they joined the other walk going off from the same place some ten minutes earlier.

Our Chairman found a lovely lot of unnecessary gates to complain about.

We had the usual discrepancy between the pedometer and the map measurer, we really must sort this out in the next few years.

The sun came out at picnic time and, after so much gloomy weather recently, helped make it a much enjoyed walk.

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