Blaize Bailey - 12 May 2013

 Another longish (8.5 miles) Geoff Mullett walk.  First half was lovely, with fine views from the lookout which is the Bailey, but in the second half we increasingly toiled through paths that felt that nobody else ever walked.  Severely overgrown paths (writing this over a week later my left calf is still gouged with bramble scratches), a field descent through wet waist-high maize in which Margie several times fell over and disappeared in a comedic way (comedic to watch rather than experience I am led to understand), muddy fields, and a memorable farm crossing in which we couldn't guess from the destructions which direction to take.  A couple of false starts in the drizzle before we eventually found our way.  One of those walks which you like in retrospect.

 

 

  

The fields were full of lovely white flowers...

 

Wick Rocks - 6 May 2013

Nice to reprise this short Geoff Mullet favourite with Nicola and Ellie on a suddenly baking hot day on May Bank Holiday.

Slad Valley - Sunday 5th May 2013

9.5 miles and it was one of the most fantastic walks we have done.  Beautiful scenery for most of the walk, lots of 'undulation', mostly on good surfaces, and a pint of Cider with Margie half way round in Slad.  Must do this again.

The Muswell Hill Trot - Saturday 27 April 2013

A walk from Tony's new house in Muswell Hill, via Ally Pally, Highgate Woods, various other bits, a nice pint in a pub in Highgate, past the Cemetery, across Hampstead Heath, and ending in Hampstead Village, with a taxi home.  Great fun, unusual views of North London, and my first view from Parliament Hill.  5 miles.

Sunday 21st April 2013: Landsdown

Two walks in 2 days! This 8.25 miles described by Geoff as 'undulating' which it certainly was. Lots of dramatic views which would have been stunning on a clearer day, but navigation was often difficult ( strange how often I get lost when Margie isn't there) and a fair bit of field walking with testing terrain. Glad to have done it, but won't repeat it. From this weekends walks, Maes Knoll was definitely better.

Saturday April 20: Maes Knoll

Another R solo as M in Lisbon with Nicola. 8 miles which Geoff describes as 'energetic' but which I found very agreeable. Lovely views for much of the walk on very good terrain.

We tried to do this walk a couple of years ago but got put off by the horrible start, about a mile of walking through the Grundy's farm. After that though, it's really enjoyable with varied scenery and simple navigation.

Sunday 7th April 2013: The Limpley Stoke Valley

One of Geoff's very few one-way walks, train from Bradford-on-Avon to Bath Spa, then 10 miles back along mosly attractive scenery and rather a lot of canal towpath, to the station car park.  This walk, despite the introductory comments from Geoff, has a very tough (to me) start, big climb up Widcombe Hill, then Claverton Down, nearly killed me!  After that it's fine, although there is another steep road section after Iford Manor:

Rather knackered by the end, but glad to have done this walk.  Margie was away in London, the one-cup thermos tells of a sole walker!