Walk for Polio Plus

Sun 20th June 2010 - Leg14 : Hare Street to Royston - 12.7 miles

2010-07-28T21:44:00.001+01:00

It was the beginning of the end when Jim Web, Jonathan Berks, Sandra Scott, Linda Berks, Liz Beardwell, Ray Munden, Pat Fletcher, David Beardwell, Neil Guttridge, Howard Peacock, Fudge (the dog), Chris Hardy, Guy Garfit, Ginny (the dog) lined up in front of the Old Stores in Hare Street for the now customary group photo.

It was a cool but humid morning as all, except Jim, set off on the first short stretch to St Nicholas Church, Great Hormead. Jim had stayed behind just in case any members of the public decided to join us - we had arrived in Hare Street much earlier than the publicised start time and were itching to get going. We were also expecting the Warden for this stretch of the walk, Ian Hurst to join us and Jim had to wait for him.

We sat or walked around the churchyard amusing ourselves until Jim and Ian arrived. Off we set in earnest. Along pathways, across a meadow and down a narrow path onto the road in Great Hormead. As usual we turned in a direction so as to avoid the nearest pub.

We followed the path blindly until Ian shouted, “Left turn!” just as we were about to walk up the drive to Hormead Hall! With a screech of brakes (just imagine it) we turned left. Our route eventually brought us out in the village of Anstey and to the Church of St George. Here we had a break for coffee.

It so happened that we had arrived on the day of a service to commemorate the loss of ten American air crew, killed when their bomber crashed behind the church shortly after take off from nearby Nuthampstead airfield during World War II. The incident was described to us by one of the Church Wardens as he waited for two veteran US Airmen to arrive for the service. There is a stained glass window in the Church to commemorate the airmen.

We left the churchyard and continued our walk through the village, past the Blind Fiddler Pub, recently renamed after a local blind fiddler who, local legend has it, walked back to the cave in which he lived, fiddling all the way. After entering the cave the music suddenly stopped - the fiddler was never seen again.

Continuing on, we passed the old village pump and eventually entered the aforementioned Nuthampstead Airfield where we crossed the main runway. We were told by Ian that the hard core used to build the runway came from a demolition site in London then, when the M1 motorway was being built the runway was broken up to provide hardcore for the motorway - that’s recycling!

Onwards, across the airfield, to the Woodman Inn for lunch. Outside the Woodman is a memorial to the USA 398th Bomb Group which was based at Nuthampstead during WW2. Here we were joined by Ken and Di Charles but, unfortunately, Liz Beardwell had to leave for another engagement.

After lunch we were again on our way - the longest part of the day’s walk lay ahead. After negotiating several bridges, kissing gates (no more demonstrations by the Berks!) and other obstacles our path took us across a field of oilseed rape, more than waist deep for some of our party.

In due course we found ourselves wondering down Barkway High Street. Barkway, once a coaching stop on the road from London to Cambridge is now famous for its Street Market and Village Pantomime. We stopped for a breather by the village pond. Moving on, further up the High Street we turned left into Church Lane, our path the taking us through the churchyard and hence onto the village of Reed where we emerged close to the Cabinet pub, despite the temptations we soldiered on to the village church where we again took a breather.

A lovely little church where, we noted, one of our Club members is a Church Warden. After lazing in the sun, we walked on through the village to emerge on the Joint, the road running between the A10 and Barkway. We crossed the Joint and took a path across the fields, vaguely in the direction of Royston.

At its highest point we had a splendid panoramic view across towards Cambridge, the Fens and Ely. With Ray’s binoculars we were just able to make out Ely Cathedral.

As we walked into a dip, the sea of blue before us turned into a field of linseed. On past a new “farm-hand’s” house and a large array of sheds and farm machinery. It’s amazing what is within a mile or so of your own home that you didn’t know about. We walked up the other side of the dip to the top of the chalk escarpment that borders Royston, then down through the woods to the bottom of the Grange Estate, out onto Barkway Road, down the hill to Priory Gardens, the churchyard and our final goal, the Cross. The End.

Chris Hardy

Sat 19th June 2010 - Leg13 : Bishop's Stortford to Hare Street - 11.4 miles

2010-07-28T21:14:00.000+01:00

It was a fresh and breezy morning when at 9.20am President David, the Diplomat, the Alpaca sheerer, Pharmaceutical Consultant and Construction Engineer left Bishop Stortford on the penultimate leg of the Polio+ walk. The town meanwhile was girding ups its loins for the annual Fete and Fun day.

Bishop Stortford dates back to well beyond the 11th century when Bishop Maurice of London built Waytemore Castle to oversee the very key position, the ford over the River Stort, for William the Conqueror. Wayte means place of ambush and more a fen or marsh. The ford was a troublesome spot before the fort was built.
The town has two other people of great distinction. Cecil Rhodes of South Africa fame, who was born there, founder of the two Rhodesia’s and the owner of what was then the largest diamond mine in the world, Kimberley. It is still being mined to this day. The second Sir George Jackson opened the canal in 1769 and was a major shareholder in it. He was also a promoter of Captain Cook who later named Port Jackson in New South Wales and Point Jackson in New Zealand in his honour.

It was but a short walk from the station and down the high Street and through the playing fields to the countryside. The ground under foot was cracked and dry but despite the longish dry period we have had, the fields and hedgerows were verdant. The latter were peppered with blushing pink and white dog roses and there was an abundance of Elder Flowers which people were already starting to collect for Elder Flower cordial and wine. Judging from the sloes on the Blackthorn they did not suffer too badly from frosts.

After passing under the A120 we entered Hadham Park and soon reached the Hall. Hadham Hall is a Tudor building parts of which date back to 1575. It was once owned by the ancestors of the Earls of Essex. The 2nd Earl of Essex, Robert Devereaux, a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I suffered the fate of ambitious men of the time by being thrown into jail for his failure as a general in Ireland. He was later banished and finally beheaded on his return for leading a rebellion against her.

Outside the gatehouse you will find a boulder of pudding stone but no Crème Anglaise. Pudding stone is in geological terms known as a conglomerate and as such fairly rare. Hertfordshire Pudding Stone consists of well rounded flints and sandstone pebbles cemented together by a matrix of silica quartz. Similar stones can also be found in Essex. In cross section it looks like concrete.

The hall grounds are now an upmarket housing development and business park.

Our next port of call was Partmore Heath which has an outstanding area of grass heathland and as it is such a scarce habitat in the south east is a SSSI. It’s the heath has a number of rare plants and its ponds are the home for thee forms of newts including the locally rare palmate newt.

Lunch was taken after 6.2 miles at the Catherine Wheel in Gravesend where we arrived at 11.30 am. The hospitality of the house was first class and both the food and drinks were reasonably priced.

The afternoon stroll to Hare Street was unfortunately spoiled by a few short sharp showers, none of which got us a wet as having to fight our way along a previously cleared path through chest high oilseed rape. Under the weight of the seed it had bowed over to cover our route. Unfortunately the path had previously been trafficked by horses which made the ground below the rape dangerous underfoot.

In addition to the dog roses the hedge rows and field edges were covered with oxeye daisy, red and white campion, teasles, blackberry and many other flowers. The remnants of last months May could be found and their seeds were setting ready to feed the birds through the winter.

Along the way we saw many Burdock plants. In my younger days we used to enjoy the soft drink made from dandelion and burdock which has I believe has been drunk since 1265. Can it be found today? The root of the burdock also has many herbal uses. It seems, in the past, to have been used as a cure all being a cure for common colds, arthritis, sore throats etc. and it was taken as a diuretic and for purify the blood. In modern medicine it is use in oncology and also reputedly used to treat other serious health problems.

As we walked through Mutfords, we past a field full of post war vintage Austin and Rover cars.

We arrived at Hare Street at about 3.00pm having enjoyed yet again a great day out in the Hertfordshire countryside.

Jim Webb

Approaching Little Hormead

Sun 16th May 2010 - Leg12 : Widford to Bishop's Stortford- 13.6 miles

2010-06-06T14:32:00.003+01:00

Our journey commenced in the delightful village of Widford, in the Ash Valley, it was here that our party of David Izod – leader for the day – Linda and Jonathan Berks, Chris Hardy, Fudge and myself were joined by another Linda and her husband Hugh, from the Rotary Club of Epping. They live in Hertford and walk the Hertfordshire footpaths regularly.

After the walks further south in the county, we have now reached East Hertfordshire, described as an area of small villages and large fields.
Leaving Widford behind and moving up the Ash Valley, we head out across the fields, passing Mill Wood, towards Much Hadham.
Before we see anything of this picturesque village, we are directed onto one of the now familiar Hertfordshire Way loops – named the Much Hadham loop. It turned out to be much too obvious, as we came across a junction where the Hertfordshire Way branched off in three directions. We knew by going straight on we would eventually return to this point to take the third option later, and so it proved to be.

However, straight on we went, into Sidehill Wood. Very apply named as the path was cut into the side of the hill. In a large part of this wood the Bluebells were in full bloom, covering the ground with a carpet of blue. A wonderful site to behold.

Leaving the wood behind we crossed a field to the River Ash at a point where the road goes across through a ford. We were not to cross yet, as we were directed through a one hundred and seventy degree turn back up the road before turning off left across the fields.

Eventually, after a further two miles, we crossed the river further downstream and continued on across the fields, eventually arriving at St Andrews Church in the village of Much Hadham. This church is reputed to have two gargoyles carved by Henry Moore, the sculptor. Time didn’t allow for us to view these interesting spectacles, a further visit will have to be made another day.

As we joined the High Street in the village, we met up with another charity fundraiser, Mats Frankl from Sweden, who is roller blade skating round the world in aid of the Red Cross. He commenced his feat at the top of Mount Are in Sweden, has roller blade skated though Sweden and Norway before crossing to the UK, landing at Edinburgh. He has travelled down this country, and stayed over the previous night at a B & B in Hare Street; he will be in London the same day that we met him. Staying that night in Stoke Newington before heading for Harwich, where he crosses back onto main land Europe. Then on through Denmark, Belgium, Germany, France and Spain. From Spain he travels across the Atlantic to North America. He told us he travels approximately 50 miles each day. His endeavours are reported daily on his web site - http://www.rollerpeace.com/ . He is accompanied by his wife and two young sons, who follow behind in a camper van. Good to meet someone with a purpose in life, I wonder what made him start this venture. If you visit Mats’ web site and click on Photos then Supporters, you will find a photo of us with Mats.
After we had all taken the inevitable photos, Mats wheeled away ahead of us down Much Hadham High Street on his way to London. We followed in the same direction but at a far more sedate pace.

We walked half way down this very pleasant village, with its period cottages and houses, before stopping outside the village hall for our morning coffee break. After coffee we continued on down eventually turning off left by the Old School House, with its flint stone walls.

It was not long before we came across the same river again, this time back at the road and the ford. We were now the wrong side, but a foot bridge had been provided, so all was well, except that there is always one who has to wade through the water!!!!!
Once on the other side, the route retraced our tracks back across the field and into Sidehill Wood again, with its display of Bluebells. So, back at the signpost we resume our walk taking the third option. It was now out into the country again, across fields toward the village of Perry Green.
It was here in Perry Green that Henry Moore came to live during the Second World War, and remained until his death in 1988. Before entering the village we passed through the Henry Moore Heritage Foundation Trust, where many examples of Moore’s work are displayed around the grounds. They say art is in the eye of the beholder!!!!!
Passing through the very pretty village of Perry Green, we cross more of Hertfordshire’s countryside in the direction of Tye Green. Here we found a hostelry for our lunch break. The Prince of Wales is a pub that hasn’t changed much over the last thirty years. It has a varied collection of real ales as well as snacks. The gentlemen of the village were in there for a sociable drink rather spending large amounts of money on expensive food. However, our Linda did find the chips were of a very high standard.

After a well deserved break, we walked on towards Thorley and our final destination of Bishop’s Stortford. Continuing on through fields with beans, corn and rape we arrived at the London/Cambridge railway line. It was crossed with care, even for a Sunday it was busy. Once over that hurdle we arrived on the banks of the River Stort, more a canal than a river.
Turning left up the towpath towards Tyeford Lock. It was here that a dilemma had to be addressed. To the end of the journey via the streets of Bishop’s Stortford following the Hertfordshire Way route, or following the more pleasant route along the river. This alterative was meant to cross the county boundary into Essex.
We decided to take the picturesque route along the canal. I can categorically assure any one following in our footsteps, that Essex wasn’t in our way, and we saw no “Essex Girls”.
The towpath eventually arrived at the end of the canal on the outskirts of Bishop’s Stortford and only half a mile from our final destination, the railway station.

So ended a very pleasant day’s walk though some spectacular countryside, we are indeed fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the world.

Howard

Sat 15th May 2010 - Leg11 : Hertford to Widford- 13.6 miles

2010-06-06T14:07:00.005+01:00

Brilliant sunshine heralded a warm day with occasional cloud cover and no rain! David & Liz Beardwell, Guy Garfit and Ginny four legs, David Izod and, of course, Jim Webb set off from Hertford Parliament Square on this 11th leg. Passing over the river, excellent views of ancient buildings and the impressive McMullen’s Brewery were passed, before leaving residential Hertford for a raised course, bordering Goldings Canal, once an essential supply of the town’s drinking water.

Climbing gently we followed the river Beane valley in company, at a distance with the Hertford-Stevenage railway and main road. Bluebells were a feature here in the rising woodland to our right. Passing Waterford and leaving the railway on our left we encountered Stapleford church, a well preserved rendered building, although we struggled to view the ancient Norman gateway. Further up the Beane we heard our first waterfall, an impressive triple at Bullsmill. Crossing open country in Woodford Park, we enjoyed some longer parkland views with excellent tree specimens.

Ginny the dog was restrained early here, passing through a large flock of somewhat sinister sheep. They only moved marginally to let us through and then formed up facing us in rows, staring. Liz and I were bringing up the rear where they had closed up behind us.As I approached, one of them singled me out and took two paces towards me. Not wishing to distress the animal unnecessarily, Liz and I ran for the nearby path gate and hurried through, only to see the herd fill the closed gate entrance with pressure, one animal actually squeezing through the metal bars! We hastened on, no pursuit taking place, but the herd remained pressing into the gateway. I had never witnessed this almost aggressive behaviour by sheep before and Ginny hadn’t said a word!

Our way took us in sight of the impressive Woodhall Park House before turning away and climbing towards the park boundary wall crossing by stile where ancient step stones were in evidence. Traversing along the wall we eventually crossed the A602 and climbed through woodland to high ground past a water tower. More open country and occasional copses and farm houses led us almost suddenly down into the Rib valley at Wadesmill. Sitting in the peaceful pub garden of the Anchor at lunch, by the once dangerously busy A10, I reflected how quickly the atmosphere of perhaps one hundred years ago had returned, after the by-pass construction.

Mostly restored we left the village, passing several buildings of interest, up hill and along the valley side. We found the tower of a ruined church, delighted to see a scaffolding team cladding the building. Restoration or maybe H&S, but still work was being done and it wasn’t demolition! The path flirted with the riverside for a while until we spied a trusty Hertfordshire way sign (many of which were missing on this stretch), pointing across a treated gap in an Oilseed Rape field.

Being conscientious walkers we duly kept to the path only to find that the plants had been sprayed late when virtually full grown. They seemed to resent our passing, and the path was a lot longer than first perceived. Being in the van of our group my body hugging walking trousers became stained with pollen dust and highly unattractive…The alternative almost parallel lane is highly recommended! The path, now seriously uphill, flattened, at last, and led us eventually steeply down into Wareside. A well earned break was taken, outside the closed White Horse (probably as well) before the last lap to Widford.

Although, after twelve or so miles, I was flagging a bit, this next section of the walk was probably the most beautiful with excellent long Ash Valley views, and Widford Church a now welcome final highlight. A short road walk triggered a fond memory for me of the approach to Buxton Derbyshire, with industrial units tucked away in a long wooded quarry. Old railway lines, whilst saddening, can still set my imagination off on a reverie of what life was like in their heyday. Somewhat cruelly for the weary, Widford Church comes close after thirteen miles only to be whipped away on our right as we are tantalisingly drawn up the valley for the best view ,Good oh! Seriously it was a lovely view both of the Church approach and back down the valley from some charmingly challenging steps. Destination at last and our trusty vehicle back to Royston. The best leg I have been on and in the best weather. Ginny the dog snored on the way back...and we all knew why….

David Beardwell

Sun 25th April 2010 - Leg11a : Broxbourne to Hertford - 12.5 miles

2010-05-01T21:35:00.000+01:00

It was a good turn-out with Sandra Scott, Jonathan & Linda Berks, Barbara & Peter Mitton, Howard and Fudge Peacock, Ray Munden and David Izod lulled into a false sense that the weather would be fine following the brilliant day that we had enjoyed on Saturday. Surprise, surprise it rained!

Most of the walk was along the New River, which continues to be a major supply of water into London, and the River Lea Navigation with a brief diversion into the Ash Valley to get the obligatory mileage in. We started at Broxbourne Station and after a couple of miles reached Rye House Station, close to the scene of The Rye House Plot of 1683 which was a plan to assassinate King Charles II of England and his brother (and heir to the throne) James, Duke of York, builder of Peter Franks’ palace. Historians vary in their assessment of the degree to which details of the conspiracy were finalized. Anti-Catholic sentiment, which associated Catholicism with absolutism, was widespread, and focused particular attention on the succession to the throne. While Charles was publicly Anglican, he and his brother were known to have Catholic sympathies. These suspicions were confirmed in 1673 when James was discovered to have converted to Catholicism. Rye House, a manor house owned by a well-known Republican, Richard Rumbold was to conceal a force of 100 men in the grounds and ambush the King and the Duke on their way back to London from the horse races at Newmarket. However, because there was a great fire in Newmarket on 22 March, which destroyed half the town, the races were cancelled, and the King and the Duke returned to London early. As a result, the planned attack never took place. Historians have suggested the story of the plot may have been largely manufactured by Charles or his supporters to allow the removal of most of his strongest political opponents. Politics always was a rough old trade.

At Stanstead Abotts we passed the Clock House. From 1635 it housed a grammar school founded by Sir Edward Baesh, which subsequently closed in 1881 and is now a residential property. The town is also famous for fishing and was recommended by Izaak Walton in his book, “The Complete Angler”.

We walked up the Ash Valley, back through Easneye Wood, along the disused railway line to Buntingford, axed by Dr Beeching in 1965 and back to the sand and gravel pits at Amwell. In doing so we managed to lose our ladies who had stopped to take pictures of the wildlife conservation area and got left behind. Whilst searching for them, Howard found a sign post saying Hertford 2 1/4 miles, but of course the planners had other routes in mind for us, giving us well over 5 miles further to walk!

After being reunited we continued on across the railway and the New River to the church of St John’s built in the 11th century and much restored. Peter and Jonathan were confined to the stocks there but we were too polite to throw rotten eggs at them! We enjoyed a well earned pint at the George IV pub. Stirring our stumps we passed by the monument to Sir Hugh Myddleton, builder of the New River near to Emma’s Well close to one of the springs that feeds the New River.

Continuing along the New River and the Lee Navigation tow path we eventually turned up at Ware passing by the Gazebos. These were erected by the Ware inns to attract new trade following the setting up of England’s first turnpike road which then as now caused all the traffic to find an alternative free route and had had a disastrous effect on their business!

I had not realized how interesting Ware and later when we got there, Hertford, are. We tend only to see the main street and miss all the older nooks and crannies. Anyway, somewhat footsore but pleased with our accomplishment we finished our walk at around 4 pm in a nice, pleasant afternoon at Parliament Square.

Sat 24th April 2010 - Leg 10a : Cuffley to Broxbourne - 12 miles

2010-05-01T20:27:00.001+01:00

It was a gloriously sunny morning as we, David Izod, Jim Webb, Chris Hardy, Ray Munden, Sandra Scott, Guy Garfit and Jinny and our guides from the Friends of the Hertfordshire Way, Peter and Sue Garside, left Cuffley Station at 9.30am to retrace part of our earlier walk from Shenley to Cuffley on our way to Goffs Oak. Goffs Oak is named after the Goff Family who were for many years the major land owners in the area until the last one of the line past away in the mid 20th century. The old oak reputed to be several hundred years old of Goff fame also met its demise in 1950’s and its replacement lasted until 1987 when it was destroyed by the October gales. The current oak proudly stands outside the Goff Oak pub. One of the village’s claims to fame is that Victoria Beckham, one of the Spice Girls pop group, once lived there.

On leaving Gaffs Oak we quickly left suburbia behind to be heralded by multitudinous clouds of blackthorn blossom, wherever you looked, until we reached Broxbourne Woods. It looks as if it’s going to be a bumper sloe crop this year provided we avoid any more frosts.

On leaving Tanfield Stud we entered a series of four woods namely Wormley Wood, Bencroft Wood, Hoddeston Park Wood and Broxbourne Wood which form the Broxbourne Woods National Nature Reserve (NNR). These are also recognised as Sites of Special Scientific Interest as they are home to some of our scarce woodland wildlife. One of our rarest butterflies, the Purple Emperor, has found a home in Broxbourne Wood. The woods also have a strong connection with the past evidenced by the banks and ditches in and around the woodlands which tell us our Roman and Medieval ancestors once coppiced the woodland for fuel and had pastures for livestock.

The woodland is a mixture of hornbeam and sessile oak. In fact they are the most northerly natural occurring hornbeam woods in the country although you will find hornbeam garden hedges much further north. Hornbeam is a wood that is heavy and hard and is often referred to as iron wood. It is used for tools and for construction purposes, for example it has been used as spokes in wheels, gear pegs in geared drive wheels in windmills, pianos, parquet flooring etc. where hardness and good wearing requirements are of paramount importance. The wood also burns hot and slowly making it very suitable for firewood and charcoal. The latter uses were the saving of Epping Forest where the hornbeam is the favoured pollarding tree. Sessile or Welsh Oak, as it is the national tree of Wales, is taller and straighter than English Oak and because of this is particularly suitable for the construction of oak framed buildings. It gets is name from the fact that the acorns grow straight from the stem, the sessile, where in the case of the English Oak they grow on stalks.

The woods, that are thought to go back to the ice age, were first mentioned in documents in the 6th Century in relation to Ermine Street which passes through Wormley Wood. Undoubtedly Harold would have passed through the wood in 1066 on his way to challenge William of Normandy at Hastings. Gradually, this like all Roman roads was allowed to deteriorate. The fact that they were still used as drove roads until the 19th century speaks volumes for the road building abilities of our Roman ancestors.

On your way through the four mile stretch of woodland we passed a Coal Post. These were first erected around London in 1851 to denote where duty would be levied on imported coal and wine leaving the city. This tax goes back to1667 when it was levied to pay for the rebuilding of London following the Great Fire of 1666. In 1861 the 250 posts (44 in Hertfordshire) were moved to coincide with the new Metropolitan Police District. The City’s Wine and Coal Duty Act was repealed in 1892.

Within Broxbourne wood are areas of recently planted conifers which are gradually being removed to bring back native broadleaved trees. Unfortunately with the conifers will go the gold crests which you could hear chattering away in the tops of the trees as we passed by below.

In Hoddesdon Park Wood we passed a moated site thought to be the location of an ancient deer park-keepers lodge. No buildings have survived. It is a scheduled ancient monument probably dating back to the 13th century as a 1290 document details the restocking of the wood with two bucks and two does from the Forest of Essex. Wherever you looked the floor of the wood is a carpet of white wood-anemones. Coppicing has opened up the woods to sunlight allowing the flowers to flourish in the dappled light. Open glades are being formed to allow other plants to grow and attract butterflies and other wild life.

On leaving the wood we turned left for the Huntsman for a pint and a leisurely late lunch in the sunshine leaving us with a three mile stroll to Broxbourne for a 3.30 pm. finish. This village is the oldest recorded in the area. A mill is mentioned in the Domesday survey. The remains of the one found near the station built in the 19th century last ground corn in 1890 and burnt down in 1949 when it was being used as an engineering workshop. The last stretch of the walk was along New River, a 40 mile long aquifer of clear spring water built on the 100 foot contour line. It was built between 1608 and 1613 to take drinking water to London from Amwell and Chadwell springs. The area along the river was a hive of activity with two cricket matches and two football matches in progress and many families out enjoying the spring sunshine. A most enjoyable walk was enhanced by the interest and background supplied by our guides Sue and Peter Garside.

Many Thanks.

Jim Webb

Sun 21st March 2010 - Leg 10 : Cuffley to Hertford - 12.6 miles

2010-04-05T10:50:00.000+01:00

At last it seemed that Spring was springing when the intrepid quartet of Sandra Scott, Howard Peacock, Fudge Peacock and David Izod set off on Leg 10 from Cuffley to Hertford. The blackthorn buds were finally breaking and the blossom developing almost in front of our eyes. For pretty much the first time we had warm, sunny and dry weather for our walk. Howard certainly knows how to pick the date as it was his first walk with us!

We left Cuffley Station and walked up Tolmers Road that Howard’s aunt had lived in some years ago. Originally, the houses had been built in the style of those in Letchworth Garden City. However, the developers had been at it since, with lots of lovely new houses with smart bricked drives, so Howard no longer recognised the place. We walked through woods that were part of Tolmers Park Estate. The Scout Association bought some of the estate in 1939 and many thousands of scouts use the area each year.

We encountered another example of the sadistic nature of the planners of the Hertfordshire Way at a place near to West End, about 5.5 miles into the walk. We went round in a loop of about ¾ mile to finish up at a turn that we had seen previously, about 50 yards up the path! To add insult to injury, The Candlestick pub had closed down at West End so we could not quench our thirst.

Pressing on, we passed through the village of Essenden, through another golf club, to emerge at Little Berkhamstead. The locals were holding a sponsored Sports Relief circular walk around their common and we were invited to join them. By this time our tongues were hanging out so we politely declined and made our way to the ancient Five Horseshoes pub (7.9 miles). Fudge enjoyed a quick afternoon siesta whilst we refuelled.

Resuming our perambulations we passed the lovely Little Berkhamstead Church, quickly followed by a folly built in 1789 by retired Admiral John Stratton as an observatory. Now, plodding on, we travelled through Bayford Wood, the village of Bayford and eventually along a track by the side of the railway. We ran into a couple of railway workers and a policeman who were at the scene of a crime. We were not told anything but it seemed to us that someone had nicked cable from the railway track. We did not have to empty our rucksacks to prove our innocence!

From here it was but a hop, skip and a jump to Parliament Square, Hertford (12.6 miles). No, I tell a fib – but how else are we to get more people on this grand adventure! At Parliament Square, we were able to relax and enjoy the afternoon sun for 15 minutes until Lesley turned up to carry us home. So Sandra has completed 120.7 miles whilst the rest of us have a little catching up to do.

Sat 20th March 2010 - Leg 9 : Shenley to Cuffley - 11.5 miles

2010-04-05T10:49:00.000+01:00

Nine of us on this leg, David Izod, Lynda and Jonathan Berks, Liz Beardwell, Jim Webb, Guy Garfitt plus Ginny, Sandra Scott and yours truly (wearing the red hat!). David Beardwell had been due to join us but he wasn’t feeling well.

It was drizzling when we left Shenley Park and it was drizzling when we eventually reached Cuffley Station. For some reason, the gods looked down on us favourably when we reached The Sun at Northaw, the drizzle held back and we were able to eat our lunches in the pub garden and down a well earned pint.

As we left Shenley, someone shouted, “W. G. Grace used to play cricket over there” but we’d passed the gap in the hedge and missed it! The rain and mist hid the views across the Vale of St Albans so we missed seeing the Pastoral Centre, the tower of Napsbury Hospital and St Albans Abbey. We crossed a ploughed field which, mercifully, turned out to be less muddy and sticky than it looked.

Just over an hour into the walk we came to a monument at the bottom of someone’s garden. As you will see from the photo it is thought to have been erected by the Dudding family to celebrate their cousin, Admiral Nelson’s victory at Trafalgar. It also indicates that the Earl of Warwick’s death on the spot during the battle of Barnet in 1471 is probably a myth. Perhaps the monument was a figment of our imaginations! Immediately after the monument we entered a “kissing” gate which of course the Berks had to demonstrate.

We continued on to pass under the M25. Judging by the rubbish, the underpass looked as though it had been used by people sleeping rough. Shortly, we came to the village of South Mimms. Time for a break. Unfortunately the Black Horse pub was closed so refuge was sought at a picnic table in the children’s playground - it was just a pity about the rain. Refuelled, we set about finding the next part of our path. We found it hidden between two houses.

Our path took us along the side of the Catherine Bourne towards the A1(M). Another damp and dingy underpass and lots more rubbish. We walked on past Warrengate Farm and thence to the Cranbourne Industrial Estate and the railway line; through yet another underpass. More comments on the amount of rubbish to be seen in the bushes. After the railway, we crossed Potters Bar Golf Course following the course of a ditch. We pondered the existence of a pill-box in the middle of the course. The Golf Club’s website doesn’t say much about it other than during WW2 “Parts of the course were requisitioned by the army, a concrete "pill-box" still exists between the 11th green and 12th tee.”

As we entered into the outskirts of Potters Bar we remarked on the late flowering of the daffodils and wondered how many would be blooming in Thriplow during the forthcoming Daffodil Weekend. We walked down Quaker Lane, passing the Scout Hut and decided from its condition that it predated the surrounding housing estate. Liz’s phone rang. It was David looking for sympathy…he didn’t get much! At the end of the Lane we crossed the road and passed through a rickety iron kissing gate into sticky black mud. This path took us past a large house, Northaw Place (photo) and onto the village of Northaw.

We decided to have lunch at The Sun Inn. The rain had stopped and we were allowed to eat our sandwiches in the garden. An extremely welcoming waiter came out to take our order for beer and bowls of chips. It was probably just as well because our boots were, to say the least, muddy. We were all surprised to discover that we only had about 3 miles to go. Whilst lunching, we learnt that the village church that we could see was Victorian, the original having been burnt down in 1881.

We set off after lunch with renewed vigour, eventually we turned on to the Northaw Road into Cuffley. From here we thought it was just an easy walk to the railway station but, no, as usual, the Friends of Hertfordshire Way took us the long way round. We soon turned right off the road and under the railway line. Walking through the fields we came to a small commercial estate and turned left onto Station Road and in 50 yards into the station, where we waited for our lifts under a bus shelter, out of the rain.

Sun 28th Feb 2010 - Leg 8 : Kings Langley to Shenley - 12.8 miles

2010-03-07T17:30:00.001Z

I thought I had got out of writing this blog by delegating it to John Kelly but alas it was not to be, as both he and our illustrious president copped out at the first threat of adverse weather conditions. Cowards, wimps did I hear you all cry? Well the forecasters were threatening very heavy rain all day, temperature of 4C and winds of 25 mph. Despite the threat the intrepid three, Sandra, Jonathon and I set of at 8.10 am to meet our Hertfordshire Way guides John Ledger and Marion Wiseman at Kings Langley. There is no way sugar and spice and all things nice was going to be outdone by slugs and snails and puppy dog tails. As it turned out the adverse weather threat was way of the mark.
We had extremely light rain until 11.30, it then it eased off so we were able to have lunch in the great outdoors, temperatures were at least four degrees higher and winds were light to calm. As traffic enroute was light we all arrived early and set of at 9.20am. led by Marion Wiseman who is the warden for this leg. Those of you who plan to walk this leg later would be well advised to pull down the long list of changes to the leg from that published in the latest issue of the guide book, from the Friend of Hertfordshire Way web site.

We left Station Road, Kings Langley and joined the permissive path at Numbers Farm with the Ovaltine wind turbine on our right and walked over the hill to Bedmond walking roughly parallel to the M25. There was much evidence of the heavy overnight rain, the lanes whilst reasonably firm underfoot were being scoured by clean running water and inevitably where you came to an avoidable stile it was surrounded by a large pool of water. I manage to drop one my waterproof gloves into the first I had to cross much to the amusement of Jonathon.

We crossed to M25 into Abbots Langley and from then almost to Shenley one was aware of the constant hum of road traffic. I must congratulate the architects of the route we followed, for threading us through a dense conurbation of towns and villages whilst leaving you with the impression you were in the countryside most of the way. Immediately after crossing the M1 you pass BRE (Building Research Establishment) in Bricket Wood, which used to be the site for war time experiments for Sir Barnes Wallace's bouncing bomb. After crossing the lovely parkland of the gothic revivalist, Munden House and the swollen River Ver we were confronted by a lake. Sandra stepped forward in the epic mode of the an explorer crossing the Rubicon and we stood back expecting her to go glug, glug, glug and leave her cap floating on the surface only to find it was just ankle deep.

The next crossing was the River Colne. The bridge was still holding its own against the swollen waters so we passed on to Wall Hall a magnificent gothic revivalist mansion built in 1802 for George Woodford Thelluson, mentioned in Charles Dickens "Tale of two Cities". The grounds were extensively developed for an American banker John Pierpoint Morgan Jnr. who purchased the hall in 1910. During the Second World War it was the residence of Joseph Kennedy the US Ambassador to the UK and the father of JFK. In 1945 it passed to the local authorities and became a training college before becoming a part of Hertfordfordshire University. Between 2003 to 2006 it became an expensive private housing estate built by Octagon. We were then left with a short stroll through Aldenham, past the 800 year old Hertfordshire Spike Church to lunch at the a pub in Round Bush. Aldenham Church and the village were used in many Elstree Studio films including "The Confessions of a Window Cleaner" and the BBC TV series "The Pathfinders" to name but two. Fortified with a fine pint, we ate our lunch in a very nice garden attached to the very friendly Round Bush pub.

After lunch we walked on to the very picturesque and Hertfordshire's least altered village of Letchmore Heath where you will find the International Society for Krishna Consciousness at Piggott's Manor. Paul Harrison, of Beatle's fame, gifted this property to the Hindu sect that now reside there. It has I believe caused much controversy over the years and its development and attraction of so many followers is I believe not much liked by the villagers.

Skirting the edge of Radlett we crossed Watling Street the longest Roman Road in Britain running from Dover to Chester via London to find ourselves in a lane near Wood Hall Farm blighted by fly tipping and a busy stretch of road whose verges were blighted by empty high energy drink cans and other fast food rubbish. Oh the joys of living close to urban dwellers and the reluctance of some authorities to accept all rubbish at their tips.

Out into the countryside again onto the last part of the leg to Shenley where we crossed a wide foot bridge of timbers which were floating on a the very swollen stream. Despite Sandra practicing her dance steps we were disappointed as it held together and she failed to cause a splash. We need to feed her more than a half pint at lunch time.

Shenley is a 13th Century village with many historical connections. William Hawksmoor the architect and Wren's assistant during the building of St Paul's lived here as did Admiral Lord Howe, the First Lord of the Admiralty when Nelson was twenty. The Hospital Water Tower remains a constant reminder of the Mental Hospital founded by King George V and Queen Mary that used to be here. The walk was completed in Shenley Park at the car park and cafe where we said farewell to John and Marion. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them both for their help, guidance and friendship over legs 6, 7 and 8 of the walk.

Jim Webb

Sat 27th Feb 2010 - Leg 7 : Tring to Kings Langley - 15.0 miles

2010-03-01T18:03:00.001Z

When we left Royston Golf Club in what seemed like the early hours of Saturday morning, several of us were under the misapprehension that we were in for an idyllic walk along the side of the Grand Union Canal - an idea that, it would appear, had been put about by Mr Webb…in fact we only walked some 475 yards alongside the canal. Our walk took a different turn altogether as you will see.

Our party for the day, fourteen in number, met at Tring station, consisting of Jim Webb, David and Simon Izod, David Beardwell, John Kelly, Guy Garfit and Ginny, Chris Hardy, Sandra Scott, Paul Walker (Secretary of the Dacorum Masonic Lodge), Peter Berman (President of the Hemel Hempstead Rotaract Club), Richard Jackson-Bass (Hemel Hempstead Rotary Club), Brain McCann (VP of HH Rotary Club) plus our Hertfordshire Way guides John Ledger and Marion Wiseman.

Setting off, we turned right onto Station Road heading towards Aldbury, however, within a hundred yards we turned off into the fields which took us across country, to the south of Aldbury and into the woods on the Ashridge Estate. Looking at Google Earth one finds names like Bluebell Woods and Thunderdell Wood; too early for bluebells and despite the weather we didn’t hear any thunder. As we entered the woods it began to rain, the heaviest of the day and, luckily, it didn’t last too long. The ground underfoot was waterlogged and muddy as it would be for most of the walk!

Sometime around eleven o’ clock we stopped for a break at the edge of the woods. As we variously drank coffee and ate snacks, Ginny, Guy’s dog, was wondering around longingly hoping for a morsel or two.

We moved on. Some of us walking in the field alongside the wood because the going there was much easier. We soon had to re-enter the wood. Shortly we came across fairways of Berkhampstead Golf Course and had to watch out for stray golf balls as the various signs suggested.

We eventually came out of the woods opposite Bullbeggars Lane on The Common road near Potten End. We walked towards the centre of the village, crossing over the road to walk past both Martins Pond and the Martins Pond pub (we passed a pub, unforgivable). We were now to walk on firmer ground for awhile as we followed the road from Potten End down through Little Heath (National Trust) to the village of Little Heath. On the way we crossed the Bullbeggars Lane which was marked by a large sign which John Kelly insisted he be photographed beneath.

As an aside, a bullbeggar is something used or suggested to produce terror, as in children or persons of weak mind; a bugbear. Mountfort in 1691 defined one as an ill-looked fellow, having a pension from the church wardens for being Bullbeggar to all forward children in the parish.

We followed Little Heath Lane down to the railway and the Grand Union Canal. We crossed the canal and walked for a short distance (475 yds according to Google Earth) along the towpath to Bourne End - this was the only glimpse of the canal that we would have until we crossed it again in Kings Langley at the end of the walk.

At Bourne End we stopped at the Anchor pub to down a well earned pint and eat our packed lunches. Ginny was on the prowl again for titbits.

As seems to be the pattern with these walks, no sooner do we set off after lunch, when the muscles have stiffened a bit, than our path turns upwards. This took us to a footbridge over the A41 and onto another golf course and potential danger. We crossed over the golf course and into the village of Bovingdon entering at the back of the churchyard. A brief stop to view the church of St Lawrence. Through the churchyard and out to Chipperfield Road where we turned left. After a short stretch we reached Austins Mead. A surprising move, we entered this small housing development and left by a small path between two houses at the back. The path was almost like a stream for the next hundred yards or so.

Our way eventually took us to the woods adjoining Chipperfield. The woods contain a number of 350 year old sweet chestnut trees planted for the delight of Isabel of Castile. We stopped for a break at the side of the ancient Apostles’ Pond, a fishpond for the monks of the Dominican Friary at Kings Langley.

We moved on, our goal mentally in sight. After some time we reached a footbridge over the A41, the second of the day, then, downhill all the way to Broadfield Farm on Watford Road. It was then but a short walk passing over the Grand Union Canal to Kings Langley Station and a lift home.

Thanks to our guides John Ledger and Marion. Thanks also to our drivers Brian and Julia.

It should go down on record that Paul was sponsored to the tune of £160 by members of his Lodge. In all, our guests from Hemel Hempstead expect their sponsorship for the day to exceed £300. Brian tells me that their Club’s tin collection on Saturday raised £423.59 plus 2 dimes + 10 Australian cents.

Chris Hardy

Sun 31st Jan 2010 - Leg 6 : Markyate to Tring - 9.8 miles

2010-02-06T16:47:00.001Z

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

Sat 30th Jan 2010 - Leg 5 : St Albans to Markyate - 11 miles

2010-02-06T16:37:00.001Z

Snow on the ground, temperature -3, northerly wind chill, It must be another day for a Rotary Polio Plus walk! So with some trepidation Liz, (dodgy foot) and I, (general decrepitation) prepare for the ordeal ahead. Excellent start being chauffeured from our door to the start point, with a small exploration of the backstreets of St Albans where we’re nearly rammed by an ice-blinded BMW.

All present and correct we set off in brilliant sunshine only to be immediately stymied by a closed country park gate. Oh dear, it seems that this may reduce our route by up to a mile. What a shame… (Honest). Never mind, a short road stretch leads to a path where we immediately come across a splendid country scene, an ancient mill and ponds jealously guarded by two white geese.

Further on a part -frozen brook is crossed, two Heron’s on display, the going much aided by part frozen ground. Wood End Farmhouse is passed and almost immediately we encounter the ancient Redbournbury house with a working bakery. Many of our party weaken, much cake is consumed, a short break is taken. Further on we encounter three ponies, closer examination reveals their condition to be sadly suspect, and a country person and lad are seen harnessing a pony to a trap. Something about his response to us suggests cameras may not be welcome…A small part hidden scrap yard is passed without comment. Further progress sees us on a disused railway path which we leave abruptly to pass a house garden that made mine look like Kew, to enter the picturesque village of Redbourn. Leaving the church till later we repair to a local inn for our lunch break taken in a sheltered garden, and still in brilliant sunshine.

The church, where curiously I had been recently present at my nephew’s son’s christening, was a splendid building with excellent facilities. A superb Rood Screen with rural carvings being much admired .Slightly uphill from Redbourn we became more aware of the dreaded M1 which we eventually crossed. The vision of all this bustling humanity contrasting sharply with the peace and tranquillity of our day. A longish mainly rising grade, interspersed with many ice bound puddles, (It was still freezing hard in the shade) took us up, passed friendly horses, to Flamstead where we sight another splendid medieval church. A signpost is spotted on the road “Markyate 2 miles.” Can we be that close already? I’m not even partially clapped out yet. Not quite, the” Way” map takes us off-road (as it should), so we make rural and peaceful entry downhill into Markyate cross the old A5 and in to the car park. Careful forethought by our trusty leader had ensured an earlier call to Julia, our taxi, so waiting was minimised.

Thus ended a splendid day, with no-one complaining of any bodily failures, and all feeling that we had had a privileged day, in good company, in rare and brilliant weather, in quiet and ancient pastures, seemingly rarely trod at this time of year.

David Beardwell

Wed 30th Dec 2009 - Leg 4 : Codicote to St Albans - 12.6 miles

2010-01-09T21:33:00.002Z

The intrepid four of Sandra Scott, David Izod, John Kelly and Jim Webb set off at 8.00 from a very wet Royston to travel to St Albans to drop off a car and then on to Codicote to start what was to be the longest leg so far executed. The promised weather was rain with possibly snow later. By the time we reached St Albans the rain had stopped and from then to the end of the walk more rain came off the trees than from the overcast sky. Unlike the preceding day the walk proved to be good underfoot with mainly hard tracks on country estates, golf courses and meadows. As the latter had not been ploughed up by horses the result was a pleasant but long stroll.

The first 1.8 miles of the walk was through Codicote via Codicote Bottom Farm to Ayot House. On route we passed along an avenue of trees with a bird box on every tree on our left and were greeted by a large family of Long Tailed Tits. Ayot St Lawrence is a very interesting village with a lovely pub, the Brocket Arms, George Bernard Shaw's House, owned by the National Trust, and the summer house where he wrote many of his plays. The queen Anne style Ayot House in Tudor times was owned by William Parr the brother of Catharine Parr, Henry the VIII sixth and surviving wife. The old parish church shown was pulled down by Sir Lionel Lyde, a later owner of the house, and replaced with the classical building shown. We were closely attended here by a lovely tortoise shell cat as we took our morning break.

The walk through the Latimer Estate woods and fields and via a golf course, privately owned by a Japanese company, to Wheathampstead was particularly pleasant. See Photo 3. As you can see we had to negotiate the water at ford over the river Lee. (Photo 4) The Nelson pub is now closed so we passed on to Coleman Green via the prehistoric earthworks of Devils Dyke. (Photos 5 & 6) The earthworks is part of an iron age settlement of the Belgae tribe who ruled large parts of Hertfordshire and were conquered by Julius Caesar in 54 BC. If you walk through the bottom of the dyke as we did you climb the steps to exit and at the road turn left. On reaching Coleman Green we dropped in to the John Bunyan pub (Photo 7) for a warm by the fire and a welcome pint. Mine host and the locals were very hospitable and contributed to our Polio Plus funds and the food looked good. Just north of the pub is a house chimney stack where John Bunyan preached. The house was demolished in 1877.( 5.5 miles)

A short break was made on route to Sandridge for lunch. The stone church in the this village is the oldest in Hertfordshire and there are several interesting epitaphs to be found in the church yard (7.8 miles)

From here we walked onto Childwick Green. The gatehouse to the estate on the A1081 is a magnificent Victorian edifice (9.6 miles). (Photo 8) You walk through the gate and up the beautiful rhododendron drive to the model village of Childwick Green. The village which was built over 100 years ago for the farm workers is well worth exploring. See Photos 9&10.

The Childwickbury Estate and Manor House (Photo 11) has a very interesting history from the 13th Century when it belonged to St Albans Abbey to the present date it has passed through several hands. It went from monks to medieval knights, the Cavendish family, it had links through its owners to Ayot St Lawrence in Elizabethan times, the Toumlin's, a Victorian merchant shipping family built the village, the founder of Maples in Tottenham Court Road started breeding horses and Jack Joel a diamond and gold merchant built up a stud farm, which became one of the largest in the world. The stud farm survives to this date but the estate has been split up. One of the most recent owners of the Manor House was the film director Stanley Kubrick.

After a pleasant walk through the Estate we reached the brow of a hill to see St Albans and the cathedral, our ultimate destination, ahead. The last climb up the hill reminded us all how foot weary we were after the two day 24.4 mile hike. ( Photo 12)

Jim Webb

Tue 29th Dec 2009 - Leg 3 : Willian to Codicote 11.8 miles

2009-12-31T17:48:00.012Z

This was the section of the walk for mud-larks. The day dawned wet with a bitter north easterly wind. It did not improve! However, full of Christmas cheer, Peter and Barbara Mitton, Guy Garfit, his daughter Helena, her boy friend Richard and the dog Ginny, Sandra Scott, John Kelly, Jim Webb, Neil Guttridge, Chris Hardy and me (David Izod) set off.

We got lost near to Cardinal Wolsey’s palace, who famously fell out with Henry VIII, had a dice with death crossing the A602 dual carriageway and pressed on regardless. Why the reference to mud-larks? Well, the farmers plant up their winter crops with scant regard to a public footpath expecting you to walk over the field in the right direction. Because it is newly ploughed each of picked up a hundred weight of mud on each boot by the time we crossed it!

We passed the church of St Paul’s Walden and later the ornate house of St Paul’s Walden Bury, where the late Queen Mother was christened and reputedly born, respectively. A little further on having ploughed our way through another obligatory mud bath where the River Mimram had overflowed its banks, we arrived at the village of Whitwell. We lunched at the Red Lion. We could not be served food in the pub because we had a dog with us but we were allowed to eat our own food sat outside in the pouring rain under the smokers canopy.

Suitably refreshed, we made our way onwards through fields and old parkland, crossed a classical bridge over a dried up ornamental lake then followed the Mimram through to Codicote, arriving just at sunset.

We certainly earned our sponsorship money this day but we had a lot of laughs along the way, observed huge piles of empty bottles outside houses indicating that they had had a good Christmas, and had the satisfaction of the achievement of another leg.

David Izod

St. Mary's, Great Wymondley

Ruins of Minsden Chapel

Built in 14th century as a chapel of ease for pilgrims going to St Albans.

More about this chapel may be found at

www.haunted-britain.com/Haunted_England_Home_Counties.htm

Grave of Reginald Hine, historian, buried at Minsden Chapel

Sun 29th Nov 2009 - Leg 2 : Wallington to Willian 11.4 miles

2009-12-01T17:20:00.000Z

On Sunday morning at 9.30 a.m. President David and I with our leader Jim Webb and Sandra Scott returned to Wallington having parked one car at Manor Farm car park near Willian. On the way we picked up Sandra’s mum, Carol, near Sandon. The awful overnight weather improved so that we started off in the dry.

Underfoot we were constantly coping with sodden fields and pools.

We visited the churchyard at Weston to pay our respects to the legendary giant Jack-O-Legs whose remains rest in the graveyard. He was a robber of travellers who before he was executed by the men of Baldock requested to be buried wherever his arrow, which he shot from his bow, fell. His arrow glanced off the church tower at Weston and landed in the churchyard. Some feat as Baldock is three miles away!

Killing time in the churchyard allowed us to arrive just as The Red Lion opened at noon. Fortunately we were carrying our own vitals and only needed ale from this sad pub. We were its only customers.

There was little of note as we progressed from Weston to Chesfield except for-

Before Gravely we had great views of Stevenage and the Lister Hospital through the falling rain. It came down quite heavily for thirty minutes but after 2.00ish it eased up enough for us to be able to converse with one another again. We were relieved finally to reach the car at Willian at 3.45 in pretty murky weather. We had a sense of achievement and felt we had well and truly earned our sponsorship.

Only another 170 miles to go......

John Kelly

Sat 28th Nov 2009 - Leg 1 : Royston to Wallington 11.1 miles

2009-11-30T10:48:00.020Z

The morning started early for Jim, Guy and John as they had to drive out to Wallington and leave two cars there to get us home at the end of the walk.

At 9:30am, we all met at the Cross in Royston; David Izod, Guy Garfit plus dog, Jim Webb, John Kelly, Ken & Di Charles, Sandra Scott and me. After a quick pose for photographs we set off towards Therfield Heath. Despite the sunshine, there was a bitterly cold wind as we walked up to the back of the Heath. Whilst the majority of us followed the path into the woods, Ken & Di hadn’t noticed and, instead, turned off left to follow the Icknield Way arriving at the Fox & Duck in Therfield well ahead of us.

In the meantime we walked through the woods and along the back of the golf course crossing Therfield Road into the Jubilee Wood and to the Jubilee Stone. As we came out of the woods the sun was shining across towards Litlington and Cambridge. The path finally dropped down to a small track which we followed for a short distance before turning left and walking alongside the woods to The Thrift. Our path took us through the farmyard where, in the shelter of the farm buildings we stopped for refreshments.

We took the path out of the farmyard to follow the Chain Walk up to Therfield and the Fox & Duck and reunite with Ken & Di. On the way we saw a dozen or so hares playing in the fields. To our delight we were joined for lunch by David and Ann Bannister. Don Kingsley popped in for his Saturday lunchtime pint.

Lunch over, boots on, we set off through the churchyard for the path to Kelshall. In Kelshall we passed the Kelshall Cross and then on through the village to … the churchyard. Then, following the Chain Walk and the Icknield Way we entered Sandon via … the churchyard. As we walked through the village we met a very inquisitive goose by the telephone box.

Walking across the fields to our final destination we were observed by a herd of deer who kept their distance. We entered Wallington again … via the churchyard. Then past the cottage occupied by George Orwell, 1936 to 1940, where he wrote “Road to Wigan Pier”, to the car park and home.

To round off the day David and Lesley Izod kindly invited all the walkers and partners to The Willows for supper – chilli con carne followed by Sephrone’s delicious chocolate and sherry cheesecake.

Chris Hardy