WALK REPORT Photos from a walk we did on a crisp winter’s day in late January. Destination: Leeds Castle. There were six of us on the train out from London Victoria that morning: Sara, Ross, Liz, Miranda, Joe, and myself. The low sun and crystal clear skies made for some nice photography. 24 pics in this set.

1. Coffee and sunshine on the 9:18 from London Victoria. From left to right, that’s Miranda, Sara, and Liz.

2. Watching the South London scenery slip past from the train window. These are the gasometers at Battersea Park.

3. Off the train now. Our walk starts in the little village of Harrietsham, home to Lenham Sports Cars. This company restores and rebuilds classic British cars.

4. Vintage petrol pumps outside the garage at Lenham Sports Cars.

5. Our morning walk takes us uphill to the Pepperbox Inn at Ulcombe. Here we are crossing a meadow that’s puzzlingly strewn with antique enamel basins.

6. Cantering sheep, in a field near Bell Farm.

7. Miranda and Liz on the path through Runham Wood. Ross discovers an old abandoned toy tractor …

8. … and gives it a test drive!

9. A lone catkin on the edge of Runham Wood. I think the tree it’s growing on is either a common alder (Alnus glutinosa) or common hazel (Corylus avellana).

10. We had a great lunch at the Pepperbox Inn – this was dessert.

11. Afterwards, it’s an easy walk downhill to the castle. Here Sara is leading the way across the fields to Chegworth Court farm.

12. Joey the Arab, at Chegworth Court farm.

13. One of the many stiles on today’s walk.

14. Liz looking intrepid.

15. Close-up of some thistles on the path.

16. Liz, Ross, and Miranda on the way down to the little chapel of St Margaret in Broomfield.

17. Spotted this bumblebee on some flowers in the churchyard. Very unusual to see this in January!

18. Miranda and Liz on the lane out of Broomfield. Leeds Castle a short distance ahead.

19. Leeds Castle seen from the hill above the Great Water. We didn’t go inside today but we did stop to visit the swans.

20. Black swans (Cygnus atratus) on the Great Water at Leeds Castle.

21. We stopped outside the castle for tea and jaffa cakes. Here’s Miranda serving out cups from my thermos.

22. Joe taking in the scene.

23. Conclusion: the swans at Leeds Castle like to eat jaffa cakes. And cameras!

24. Tired and happy on the train ride home.

A big THANK YOU to Sara, Ross, Liz, Miranda and Joe for demonstrating how much fun a winter walk can be!

If you would like to try this walk yourself, see this page for details.

And if you liked the photos, please leave a comment. Many thanks —

David