Brian Whitaker kindly transported President David, Sandra, Jim and me from Royston to Markyate this morning. Soon after 9.30 we were joined by Ray Munden and the Warden of the Hertfordshire Way Leg 6, John Leger, and the warden of Leg 8, Marion Wiseman. We were dressed for a cold and frosty morning we enjoyed a very pleasant walk. Apart from a couple of muddy stretches the walk was one of the best have so far.
The highlight for me was the stop for lunch at the Buddhist Temple at Great Gaddesden. As it was Sunday lunchtime the temple area was quite busy with visitors and was not the tranquil place I had expected. Nevertheless, it was an excellent lunch stop. After removing our boots we were able to go into the inner sanctum and see the shrine and the statues of Buddha.
In Ashridge Park we saw a small group of deer.
Ashridge House is a spectacular building with crenulated walls, towers and turrets. It started life as a monastery in 1276 and was turned into a home after the dissolution in 1535. Today it is set in a National Trust Estate but is not open to the public as it is now used as a Management School.
From the house to the Doric Column monument is a pleasant stroll of one and a quarter miles on a grassy path through beautiful woods. The café at the NT monument was very busy and we enjoyed our afternoon tea break under a grand old tree. We had a short snow shower to remind us that it is still mid-winter.
The village of Aldbury is delightful. President David was tempted to clean the mud off his boots in the village pond water but was unable to break the ice.
At 3.15p.m. we arrived at Tring Station where Brian was waiting to take us back to Royston.
It was one of the better walking days we have had. I am looking forward to Leg 7 on Saturday 27 February when we will be doing the longest stretch of the walk – from Tring to Kings Langley.
John Kelly
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