2 January 2014: Amersham Beaconsfield circuit

2 January 2014: Amersham Beaconsfield circuit
Walk descriptor Test walk Day 00
Date Thu 2 Jan 2014 Start to end time 04h 17m
Start point Amersham End point Beaconsfield (circuit)
Miles today 14.84 Cu miles 0,000.00
Ft today 1215 Cu ft 000,000
Route miles left 0,000 Route ft left 000,000
Today’s weather Bright and sunny all day.  Almost no wind.  Average temp for the time of year (about 6C)
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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)
Commentary

I had been prepared to give today’s walk a miss, after the previous two days’ rain-soaked efforts, but the morning dawned sunny and bright so, with suitable domestic encouragement, I decided to venture out and enjoy the bright winter sunshine.

A really enjoyable walk , which took in the countryside to the south-east of Amersham, and the long walk through farmland to Beaconsfield.   Passed through the outskirts of Jordans, a Quaker village and birthplace of William Penn (founder of Pennsylvania),  and now host to some of the most prestigious private residences in the UK.   Then crossed the golf course (had to dodge flying balls on the four fairways that the right of way crosses) to arrive at the halfway point in Beaconsfield.   From there, the route passed through sun-dappled beechwoods, and below Coleshill, to the accompaniment of soaring red kites, and arrived at Gore Hill.   Had trudged up Gore Hill yesterday in pouring rain but today’s reverse journey down the same path was an absolute delight.   Infinite views into the blue distance, with winter wheat throwing a brilliant green carpet over the landscape.   Looked a bit like telletubbieland.

En route, I was interviewed by “Viewranger” – providers of electronic mapping and a corporate sponsor for my Land’s End walk, for an item about the walk that they will be posting on their website.   And I also heard that “Winning Tours” (providers of travel arrangements to the 2015 World Scout Jamboree) had agreed to buy me a camping stove for my journey.

What a fantastic day!!

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)
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Windmill at Coleshill (actually at the end of the walk but I didn’t want to have to reorganise all the photos!) Despite the sun, still plenty of this around..
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Beady equine eye being kept on proceedings near Jordans Beaconsfield golf course – I can’t help but think it would make a brilliant camp site…
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Casualty of December storms blocks path near Great beard’s Wood (Beaconsfield) King’s Arms inn, Amersham old town.   Famous Grant-McDowell scene from “Four Weddings and a Funeral filmed here
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Brilliant sunny day today really dispelled the winter walking blues brought on by the previous days of rain.   Wonder how long it will actually last?
The previous day’s blog follows below the blue line
Solid line blue