1 January 2014: Amersham Winchmore Hill circuit
| Walk descriptor | Test walk | Day | 00 | ||
| Date | Wed 1 Jan 2014 | Start to end time | 03h 48m | ||
| Start point | Amersham | End point | Winchmore Hill (circuit) | ||
| Miles today | 12.95 | Cu miles | 0,000.00 | ||
| Ft today | 1069 | Cu ft | 000,000 | ||
| Route miles left | 0,000 | Route ft left | 000,000 | ||
| Today’s weather | Very wet. Was raining hard when I started, and then it got worse. Cool (about 6C) with strong southerly wind. No sun. | ||||
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| Today’s location (the red cross in a circle shows where I am at the moment) |
GPX based track of today’s walk (click here to access to access downloadable file) |
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Commentary
Decided to start the year as I mean to go on! Intended to get up early and get out on a long walk before lunch, but sore head from New Year’s Eve, and yet more persistent rain dispelled that notion. Eventually got away about 11:30 and was quickly soaked. Hardly anyone out and about enjoying the new year so I felt like I had pretty much the whole of the Chilterns to myself.
A good walk, despite the rain. Decided to take a quick look at the Amersham Martyrs’ memorial – slightly off the path but worth the detour. Also took in the Plough at Winchmore Hill – formerly owned by Barbara Windsor, and now an Italian restaurant. There was lots of mud, of course, everywhere and at times it was a bit like trying to walk on well-greased PTFE. The best thing about the rain, though, was that in places the topsoil had been washed away, leaving a gravelly layer which was easier to walk on.
The route passes through Common Wood, near Tylers Green, which must surely be one of the most attractive beech-woods in the Chilterns, stunning in all seasons.
Today’s photos (click to enlarge)
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| Memorial to Amersham Martyrs, on Parsonage Hill | No problems finding the path – just follow the stream! |
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| The Plough at Winchmore Hill – formerly run by Barbara Windsor, of “‘Big breaths’ — ‘Yeth, and I’m only thixteen’” fame. | View up the Misbourne valley from above Little Missenden. On a sunny day, it’s stunning… |
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| Bridges across the Chiltern Line railway near Little Missenden | Fascinating fungi in the woods near Amersham |
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| Beechwoods at Common Wood, near Tylers Green. At one time in private ownership and destined to become a golf-course, now open access land. The long straight path through the middle is beautiful at any time of the year | |
