Thursday 21st March Streatley - Keech Hospice 7½ miles 15 walkers led by Tony P

Meeting up at the allotment car park we commenced our walk by joining the Icknield Way trail out towards Smithcombe Hill, leaving the trail just before the Sharpenhoe Clappers.

Neal leading Richard & Jill

Wendy & Brenda leading Sue et al

Crossing the Sharpenhoe Rd, we followed our old friend the John Bunyan trail, taking us behind the houses in Streatley, passing behind the church and on past the village duck pond before entering Streatley Bury.

Diane out in front

Joining with the Icknield way trail again we walked on towards Keech Hospice where a well earned coffee break was taken.

 

On down Great Bramingham Lane we crossed the busy A6 Barton Rd to join the parish boundary track up towards the golf club.
Keeping on the Icknield Way we stopped for a water break at Maulden Firs.

Then through the firs to join the Chiltern Way on our way back to Streatley, once again crossing the busy A6.
Walking through the village we returned to the car park for the end of a thoroughly enjoyable walk.
On an overcast but very mild day.

Track of walk, walked in anti-clockwise direction.

 

Saturday 16th March led by Janet & John York

 

There were 5 of us on this walk starting in Pirton village on a bright morning. 

We set off on the Icknield Way - a gentle steady incline passing Tingley Wood then down to cross the B655. We were exactly on the Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire border here. Some convenient logs provided seats for a short coffee break then on a fairly muddy stretch past Telegraph Hill where we turned sharp left towards Little Offley. 

 

Janet, Judith, John & Paul

Arriving at the latter place we found some stacked pallets suitable for our packed lunch. Then back down to cross the B655 again up a short but steep hill and back into Pirton.

 

 

Janet, John, Sandra & Paul

A kestrel flew out from oil seed rape field and we heard skylarks and a  green woodpecker. 6.7 miles in total on quite varied terrain was enjoyed by everyone. 

Track of walk, walked in anti-clockwise direction

Track of walk, walked in anti-clockwise direction

Thursday 14th March Caldecotte Lake circular

The original walk on this date should have been at Priory Park in Bedford, however as this was flooded that walk had to be cancelled. Sue & Tony R therefore decided to lead another walk & so Caldecotte Lake was selected due to its lack of mud & also its free car parking at the pub.
We started off from the car park crossing the River Ouzel by a footbridge where we met runners coming in the opposite direction. They were doing 8 laps which is approximately equivalent to a Marathon distance.
We continued a short distance before re-crossing the river which was in full spate.

Sue, Beryl, Judith, Hilary, Jenny, Diane & Ged on the bridge over the Ouzel

We continued round the top of the lake over the boardwalk where we saw a pair of swans & a very noisy coot trying to scare the swans away.

 When we reached the top of the lake we saw many daffodils by the overflow weir.

The daffodils with the pub in the background

  We crossed to the east side of the lake where we stopped for a photo.

Diane, Beryl, Jenny, Ged, Hilary, Sue & Judith

The lake with the pub in the background.

We continued to walk down the east side of the lake, under the main road & round several circular bays with concrete tiered walkways round them.

Diane & Judith leading off

We soon arrived at the bottom of the lake with a bird hide & some seats where we stopped for a coffee & banana break.

Tony R, Judith Beryl & Diane at the "bird hide"

Jed with the 2 sisters

We followed the path round the lake passing under the main road before arriving back at The Caldecotte pub. Diane left us at that point but the rest of us found a round table for 7 at which we had our lunch.

Sue said "Tony, Beryl, Hilary, Jenny, Ged, Diane, Judith and Sue joined this walk. 

We had a coffee stop and a banana break much to my delight. Lots of daffodils and sunny at times. 

We all went for a lovely meal except Diane. Such a lovely day.  Thank you Tony"

Thursday 7th March - Northchurch Common walk led by Debbie & Nick

Nick & I were joined by Wendy,  Sue, Kate, Cathy & Neil at Northchurch Common car park where we started our walk at 10am.

Neal & Kate looking at the canal barges

We walked along the Grand Union canal for a while before cutting across a field over the railway line where we came across a field of Alpacas. 

Cathy, Kate, Wendy, Sue, Debbie & Neal by the alpacas

We headed uphill across a meadow where we stopped for our coffee .  

Coffee stop for Nick, Debbie, Wendy, Kate, Cathy & Neal

We then headed toward the village of Albury where we took the track up to Ashridge monument for our lunch Break. Returning across Northchurch Common.  A total of 7.4 miles.  We had a lovely day & Nick & I thank you for joining us.