WALK REPORT Just a couple of shots from a test walk to Winkworth Arboretum, near Guildford in Surrey. Trying it out as a possible autumn destination. Photos by Adam Pushkin.
Trial Walk at Tring
Date 30 Jul 2007
WALK REPORT These photos are from a test run of a walk I did on Sunday with Lizzie, Katie, and Jonny to Tring and the Ivinghoe Beacon. The Beacon is an outcrop of the Chiltern Hills that lie to the northwest of London; from it you get some amazing views out over the surrounding English countryside. Thanks to my St Albans friend Graham Williams for suggesting the route. I may incorporate it into the schedule as one of my autumn walks. Scroll down for the full-size images, with captions.
White Cliffs, May 21st
Date 26 May 2007
WALK REPORT Here are a few photos from the walk I did last Monday near the Seven Sisters – a line of white chalk cliffs on the south coast of England, where the hills of the South Downs meet the English Channel. It was a dreary day, not a great one for photography – hope to have some better shots next time around!
Route: Exceat – Westdean – Friston Forest – East Dean (Tiger Inn) – Crowlink – Seven Sisters – Cuckmere Haven – Exceat [walk profile]
The flintstone facing on this cottage in Westdean village is characteristic of this region of Southeast England.
All Saints chapel in Westdean, completely deserted on a wet Monday afternoon.
Inside All Saints chapel. What is the proper name of the cloth hanging behind the carved wooden eagle lectern?
Leeds Castle, May 20th
Date 25 May 2007
WALK REPORT Here at last are some pictures from our Leeds Castle walk. Along with me this time were my friends Guy and Guy (which made for some confusion). Guy brought his specially modified 16mm film camera. Unfortunately, it jammed irreparably just before we made it to the castle.
Route: Harrietsham – Fairbourne Heath – The Pepperbox – Kings Wood – Broomfield – Leeds Castle – Eyhorne Street – Hollingbourne station [walk profile]
Old petrol pumps in Harrietsham village.
Playful dogs in a back garden near Fairbourne Manor Farm.
Stopped for lunch at The Pepperbox. This is Guy’s special camera.
River Towns of Essex, May 19th
Date 24 May 2007
WALK REPORT I was joined on this test walk by my friends Matt and Richard, who are to be congratulated for getting up at the ungodly hour of 7:30 on a Saturday morning. After a smooth ride on the fast train to Colchester North, a slow branch-line connecting train took us into Colchester Town where we caught a somewhat skanky bus out to start of the walk near Colchester Zoo. For future walks, I’m considering ditching the bus portion in favor of a cab to the starting point.
Our route on Saturday followed the Roman River: Colchester Zoo – Cheshunt Field Iron Age & Roman Settlement – Chest Wood – Layer de la Haye (pub) – Abberton Manor – Abberton church – Abberton village (pub) – Haye Farm – Fingringhoe (pub) – Rowhedge (pub). This walk is much improved from the previous week, given the addition of one extra pub at Abberton which breaks up the journey nicely. [walk profile]
Here are some photos from our day out. I know, too much camera-tilt. Will make an effort to avoid excessive use of this effect in future photos, but be forewarned, the next couple of batches suffer from it.
These ruins in the center of Colchester are all that remain of the first Augustinian priory church in England, St Botolph’s. Botolph was an influential Christian missionary of the 7th Century AD whose name was given to many churches and towns throughout the East Anglia region of England. It is theorized that one such town is “Botolph’s Stone” in Lincolnshire. This name was later shortened to Boston, and replicated across the Atlantic as the capital city of the state of Massachusetts.
Red corn poppies (Papaver rhoeas) and other wildflowers on a patch of scrub land near Butcher’s Wood, just outside Colchester.
A vintage 1960s Daimler Sovereign we found parked in a driveway in Layer de la Haye village. This car is an early relative of the Jaguar XJ6.
Bodiam Castle, May 18th
Date 19 May 2007
WALK REPORT Wow. Got home at 11pm, absolutely exhausted. This Bodiam Castle route will be a good one. Found a place that does cream teas, and a really sweet pub in the little village of Salehurst, which used to have a railway station but now is rather cut off from the rest of the world (which probably gives it some of its charm).
Here are some pics from my solo walk today. Did 17km, which is far longer than the route I’ll be taking guests on, but there were some details I had to check. Route today was Robertsbridge – Udiam – Bodiam – Peter’s Green – The Curlew – Salehurst – Robertsbridge. [walk profile]
The Ostrich pub, right next to the train station in Robertsbridge.
If you need supplies for a picnic lunch in Robertsbridge, this is the place to come!
A half-timbered building on the main street in Robertsbridge.
Fun in the rain at Benington Lordship
Date 18 May 2007
WALK REPORT Spring has sprung! My guest Anna and I had a great walk in the rain today, visiting Benington Lordship gardens. Our route today was Watton-at-Stone village – Hebing End – Benington, with stops at The Lordship Arms (good bitters here), and The Bell Inn, where we nearly fell asleep after a delicious lunch of stilton and broccoli soup and smoked haddock.
Here are some snaps from today. If you know any of the plant names I’ve left out, please let me know – there are big gaps in my “naturalist knowledge”. [walk profile]
Gravestones beneath an exotic monkey-puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) at the church of St Andrew and St Mary in Watton-at-Stone village.
Linenfold motif on a door at the church of St Andrew and St Mary, Watton-at-Stone.
A close-up of the old water pump in the middle of Watton-at-Stone village. Lilacs in the background.
Bodiam Castle, May 11th
Date 10 May 2007
I’m doing another trial run of a walk tomorrow – this time the destination is Bodiam Castle.
I’ll be at London Bridge station tomorrow morning at 7:30am in time to catch the 7:47am train to Robertsbridge. Should be back in London about 5pm. Normally I’d run this walk a bit later but evening appointments mean an early start this time.
Drop me a line at david@englishcountrywalks.com if you want to come along, and I’ll send you all the details. Rain jacket required, for sure.
Brooding Fortress – Bodiam Castle from the North East
Originally uploaded by Skink74.
River Towns of Essex – Take One
Date 6 May 2007
WALK REPORT Here are some highlights of the walk we took near Colchester yesterday. Route was Cheshunt Field – Layer de la Haye – Abberton Reservoir (northeastern corner) – Fingringhoe – Rowhedge [walk profile]
Red campion on the path near Cheshunt Field Iron Age & Roman Settlement
A makeshift swing on the Roman River in Chest Wood
Close-up of a ceanothus plant in Layer de la Haye village