Walk 14 Therfield south

The final walk of the journey was a relatively short walk from Therfield south to Sandon. The initial part of the walk proved somewhat puzzling and a rare wrong turn had us a little out of where we thought that we ought to be. But our trusty mapreader got us back on track.

It was a beautiful autumn day with a good mix of habitats and some ancient churches and pathways. All the fields are ploughed now but with not much recent rain were a little drier. There were still plenty of berries on the bushes and more thrushes and blackbirds to consume them now that the winter immigration has started.

We have really enjoyed the walks - we will have to think of some other exercise options now - but for the time being the chain walk book will be returned to the bookcase.

Walk 15 Ashwell

The penultimate walk of the chain - and out of sequence as we decided to go by train which would not have been possible on Sundays. So the train from Welwyn North to Ashwell was an easy way to start the walk. Ashwell Station is just into Cambridgeshire whilst the village is in Hertfordshire.

We walked south away from the busy A505 through the villages of Kelsall and Therfield. They are both located on the crest of the local downs - the market cross in Kelsall said the the village had been there since before the Domesday Book at which point the whole area was heavily wooded and a long barrow in Therfield dates from over 5000 years ago - so historic areas which are now very sleepy villages. The slopes of the downs are ploughed and arable and the crests still partially wooded with grazing. The ploughed fields had plenty of winter gulls - a merlin dashed through after a skylark - many of which were on the move.

A local farmer stopped to chat - he had been picking up rubbish from the footpath - he asked us to look out for poachers and to call the police if we saw any, apparently they were keen on hares and deer. We walked down from him through one of the traditional old footpaths through a little valley and as we came into the open a group of about thirty fallow deer were grazing in the field - but no poachers to disturb them.

Sun had been forecast but did not quite break through - but for a mid October day it was pleasantly warm and Jean thought it had been one of the best walks.

Walk 13 Sandon south

The forecast was again not promising. Rain for much of the morning but brightening later. And this time the forecast was right - except it brightened earlier than expected! So within half an hour of starting the rain stopped and it remained dry overhead for the rest of the morning - the same could not be said for underfoot though and by the end of the walk shoes and trousers were sodden. In the light of the weather it was just Jean and I walking - our previous companions proved to be fair weather hikers.... We were starting from Sandon which like many of the villages around has been there since norman times.

As we continue north the countryside continues to open out - lots of large fields - across many of which we had to create new paths through the freshly ploughed earth - and hedgerows still laden with berries. The number of birds seems to increase as well - still plenty of yellow buntings, but many meadow pipits and skylarks in the fields too - and blackbirds beginning to gather on the berries. We had our first red kite of the trip - and a very smart hare in the middle of one of the fields. Jean liked the cows and we found a field full with small calves.

Most of the footpaths are very little used, even when not walking across ploughed fields - though a section of the Icknield Way today seemed a little more popular - though no other walkers sighted today. Many of the ploughed fields have been sown and are bursting into life again.

Walk 12 Cottered north

After fine weather for all the previous walks the BBC threatened rain for today - but it dawned bright and almost sunny - and the weather charts suggested that it would not start until 11 - so we were on our way before 9...

The forecast was wrong - at 9.30 it began to tip it down! Fortunately it stopped and started but the whole walk was decidely soggy.... Most of the fields now had been ploughed - and most of the footpaths went straight across the middle of them so it was walking on virgin mud... (aim for the third pylon to the left the instructions said - and were generally correct). As we approached the end and the sixth muddy field to cross we took a slight detour along a surfaced track.

The blackberries had benefitted and were prolific. We stopped in one of the gaps in the showers and picked about a kilo - so it is blackberry and apple tonight. Yellow Buntings seemed to enjoy the berries as well and there were dozens on one stretch - plenty of grey and red-legged partridges in the field margins too - well into double figures for both which is the most I had seen for a long time.

One of the farms we passed had an innovative way of exercising their horses - no-one was in sight and we wondered what would have happened if one of them had stopped...

As we returned to the rather posh pub where we had parked we looked down at our muddy attire and realised that we would not be very welcome for the planned early lunch - but remembered the organic farm down the road who we correctly surmised would not mind at all - and the all day breakfast really hit the spot....

Walks 10/11 Cottered and Moor Green going south

A fine day and a need for some fresh air brought about a change of schedule and an earlier walk than had been planned.

We are still working our way north and chose to start this walk from the northern edge of a double link in the chain at Cottered which was new to us with lots of thatched cottages and a pub, the Bull, which provided us with lunch before we started.

The walk was varied, starting through pasture, and then as we headed south became increasingly arable. Both held their navigational challenges - a young copse described in the 1994 guide was now a full blown wood - and fields which had formerly had a footpath across were now ploughed and so the crossing was largely guesswork with guidance from the book - harder work though as you trod down the large clods.

The local farm advertised full or half sheep and the ones we passed were enormous - so probably a good deal....tractors were everywhere as the rush was on to get the fields ready for the winter crops - no longer left as winter stubble for the feeding finches.

It was all very rural with no roads of any significance now - though a Roman road crossed half way south (and north..) was now just a straight track. The weather was glorious and the blackberries juicier than ever in the autumn sunshine and we managed to get back to the start a little puffed but in one piece.

Walk 9 Green End to Haultwick

An intrepid group of six plus Barney the dog had joined us this time as we continued our journey north.

The countryside has fallen into more of a pattern now with undulating fields edged by tracks, hedgerows and the occasional woodland. All the fields are harvested now and many have been ploughed and resown - with some winter beans growly strongly. Just a few animals with more sheep today. The hedgerows were still laden with berries which promises well for the thrushes to come.

Haultwick was quite a distintive village which we learned should be pronounced 'Artic'....

Walk 8 - Watton at Stone going north

Over half way with this walk and the terrain definitely changing now - both in terms of the surroundings - entirely rural - and in terms of the fields - now all cropped and either with tall haystacks or ploughed all ready for the winter sowing.

The hedgerows are now full of berries. Liz and Ben kept us company again and we kept on losing Ben to the blackberries but all the berry bushes are laden which could foretell a harsh winter if you believe the folklore. A blackcap which dashed across the path in front of us had been taking his fill of these elderberries.

The land is also much more undulating - I thought that there were no hills in Hertfordshire said Jean as she strode up one hill.... Recent rain had led to a late flush of flowers and there were many more in the field edges than there had been on previous walks. So another enjoyable autumn walk.