Day 36: Tring to Dunstable

A nice days walk... Not too long and not too much climbing. We started off in Hertfordshire, our eighth County.

The walk began along the road out of town and then off into a wooded area.

Following the Ridgeway we of course climbed steadily...

until we reached the grassy ridge where there was comfortable walking for a short while until we ran out of ridge and had to descend!

Of course every descent is followed by an ascent and this was no different but the view was certainly worth it.

We continued along the ridgeway through farming land....

...

then across a golf course where we had a chat with this little fellow who was out for a stroll.

On reaching Whipsnade we found this gorgeous little pub for lunch.

Then off on the last leg for the day past Whipsnade's Tree Cathedral which we glimpsed through the hedge.... It is a large collection of trees and hedges laid out like a cathedral... Quite novel.

We then climbed up over Dunstable Downs where there is a large gliding school and heaps of gliders and hang-gliders ... Very picturesque.

At some stage we moved into Bedfordshire ... County number 9 and thence to Dunstable and a day off! Haaaaaa!

Day 35: Radnage to Tring

A day of many trails! The view from the room was just as good in the morning as it was last night

and we set off up the hill (of course) and into the countryside.

We hit the Ridgeway again

and enjoyed the buttercups as well as the agriculture.

Many trails meander through this area and so we moved from one to another as we endeavoured to navigate the shortest (and least steep) trail between the Ridgeway, the Chiltern Way and the Ickniel Way. Of course sometimes they converged.

As we went through fields

and woodlands.

Then as we missed our turn onto the Ickneild Way from the Ridgeway we came across an ancient Neolithic burial site.

We retraced our steps and found our way onto the Ickneild Way, which is an ancient route used even prior to the Roman occupation

and into the woodlands

with an abundance of wild flowers.

After lunch we were a bit over the ups and downs of hill walking and so we changed or route oand followed the canal into Tring and our rest for the night.

Day 34: Streatley to Radnage

Wheeeew! A hard day! It was a longish day to start off with (about 31 Km) and once we hit the Chilterns it was up, then down, then up again! We started the day in Streatley, which by some quirk of boundaries is in West Berkshire (our 6th County) then as we crossed the Thames into the next village (Goring) we crossed back into Oxfordshire.

Initially the walking was fairly easy with lovely rural scenery.

And more little piggy towns.

Then off into the fields of rape.

As we followed the Swans Way.

And then up into the Forrest land along the Chiltern Way.

Where we saw more different pigs... Very cute.

And gorgeous wild violets.o

And early bluebells

Then off into more agricultural scenery... I love these cute little paths through the farms.

And past the farm gates.

Then off through yet another field ... This one just newly plowed.

And back into the woods.

And into county number 7 (Buckinghamshire).

With more beautiful, lush rural scenery.

And then to our B&B at the 3 horseshoes Pub with this glorious view from the patio outside our room... Aaaahhhhhh!

Day 33: Letcombe Regis to Streatley

A day pf two halves! We bid a sad fair well to our lovely thatched B&B and our welcoming hosts.

And set of up the hill to the Ridgeway. It was a very misty morning but not cold.

Another easy day following the extremely well marked Ridgeway Trail: so even in the mist we could not loose our way.

No hamlets or villages today and so lunch was cheese, biscuits, nuts and chocolate washed down by cold water sitting on the grass by the side of the trail. By then the mist had started to lift

Then off again along the ridgeway.

By mid afternoon the clouds had parted, the mist had gone and the sun was shining through. A delightful day and delightful scenery.

The trail dropped down toward Streatley

and there were more signs of habitation.

We arrived in Streatley just after 3pm to find that reception at the Youth Hostel doesn't open till 5 .... So nothing for it, off to the pub next door for a well earned pint Aaahhhhh!