Tag Archives: Practice walk

03 Nov 2013: Kingley Vale to Stoughton

03 Nov 2013: Kingley Vale to Stoughton
Walk descriptor Test walk  
Day 04 Start to end time 03h 03m
Date Sun 03 Nov 2013 Cu miles 6.43
Start point Kingley Vale End point Stoughton
Miles today 6.43 Miles left 9999
Ft ascent 1074  

 

Today’s weather Bright sunny with occasional showers.   Light wind.   Still quite mild for time of year

 

2013-11-03 15.00.50

 

2013-11-03 14.59.53

Today’s location

(the red circle and cross shows where I am at the moment)

GPX based track of today’s walk

(click here to access downloadable file)

 

Commentary

An Autumn walk in the South Downs National Park with friends.   Beautiful bright and breezy day, and a really interesting day out in the UK’s newest National Park.   Ancient yew trees were said to have been planted in Kingley Vale by the residents of Chichester after seeing off a Viking attack in the 10th century.   Some of the trees are thought to be even older.   From the top of the Downs, at the Devil’s Humps (old Bronze Age fortifications), the views in all directions were spectacular.   To the South, stunning views of flat lands near Portsmouth and as far as Brighton, with the needle of Chichester cathedral clearly standing out.   To the North, excellent views into the main body of the South Downs.   Stopped for a pint and crisps at the Hare and Hounds pub  in Stoughton, then headed back over the hill to get to the car just as the heavens opened and normal Autumn weather resumed.

 

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)

 

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At the entrance to the Kingley Vale National Nature Reserve

On way up Stoke Down

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Ancient yew tree in nature reserve

Looking West from Bow Hill

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With Pollaidh at the Devil’s Humps

Team photo under boughs of 700 year old yew tree

 

The previous day’s blog follows below the blue line

 Solid line blue

 

27 Oct 2013: Amersham to Shardeloes

27 Oct 2013: Amersham to Shardeloes
Walk descriptor Test walk  
Day 03 Start to end time 02h 23m
Date Sun 27 Oct 2013 Cu miles 7.2
Start point Amersham End point Shardeloes
Miles today 7.2 Miles left 9999
 

 

Today’s weather Stormy with heavy rain, strong winds, and occasional bright sunshine.   Mild

 

2013-10-27 11.03.35a

 

2013-10-27 11.03.01

Today’s location

(the red circle and cross shows where I am at the moment)

GPX based track of today’s walk

(click here to access downloadable file)

 

Commentary

A short Sunday morning circular walk from Amersham, taking in Shardeloes and the Misbourne Valley to the West of Amersham.   The day had started with a deluge of rain and finished with forecasts of storms and strong winds but in between was a sunny interval which made for a very pleasant walk.   Not many people about, given the early hour (despite everyone having had an extra hour in bed with the clocks-change).   Most of the trees still had plenty of leaves – Autumn is only just starting.   Val managed to find a geocache in Parsonage Wood (Rectory Hill) on the way back!   Resisted the temptation to drop into the excellent “Seasons” café in the old town, as we need to be back in time to take the latest batch of apples to Chiltern Ridge Farm for turning into juice.

 

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)

 

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In Bray’s Wood, near Hyde Heath

Getting your ducks in a row near Toby’s farm in Little Missenden

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Shardeloes lake

Market Hall, Old Amersham

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St Mary’s Church, Old Amersham

Trees in Parsonage Wood still not showing much sign of Autumn colours, even at the end of October

 

The previous day’s blog follows below the blue line

 Solid line blue

 

06 Oct 2013: Aylesbury Vale Parkway to Amersham station

06 Oct 2013: Aylesbury Vale Parkway to Amersham station

Walk descriptor Practice walk  
Day 01 Start to end time 07h 12m
Date Sun 06 Oct 2013 Cu miles 23
Start point Aylesbury Vale Parkway End point Amersham station
Miles today 23.2 Miles left 9999
 

 

Today’s weather Sunny all day, mild for the time of year, no wind, excellent visibility

 

2013-10-07 23.53.31

 

25k route overview AVP Am

Today’s location

(the red circle and cross shows where I am at the moment)

GPX based track of today’s walk

(click on the map to access downloadable file)

 

Commentary

This was a lengthy walk, done to test out a walk I will be leading for the Long Distance Walkers’ Association in January 2014.   A thoroughly enjoyable hike, with an interesting contrast between the flat landscape and extensive urbanisation at the start and the hilly beechwoods and extensive views from the Chilterns later on.   There is a ruined mediaeval village just outside Aylesbury at the start, which is less spectacular than it sounds, but standing in the middle of it , even though you are no more than a couple of miles from the town centre, it is possible to look in all directions and see most no trace of human settlement.

The views from the Boer War memorial at Coombe Hill were spectacular.   You are supposed to be able to see seven counties from up there.   Later on, there is plenty of scenic and human interest, for example the Roald Dahl memorabilia in Gt Missenden.

Today’s photos (click to enlarge)

Aylesbury Vale Parkway Ruins of Mediaeval village

Aylesbury Vale Parkway

Ruined village of Quarrendon

Wendover Coombe Hill Boer War monument

Wendover

Coombe Hill Monument

Roald Dahl museum Amersham station

Gt Missenden (Roald Dahl Museum on left)

Amersham – metroland!

 

The previous day’s blog follows below the blue line

 Solid line blue