Today’s walk started a few miles from home and visited four different villages. I started by parking in East Hanney Village Hall Car Park. Backtracking down the road for a couple of hundred metres I started off on a path which is adjacent to an old, large commercial mill building.
My path turned away from the village and alongside the clear waters of Letcombe Brook. The fields all seemed to contain horses!
A tape across the path which looked electrified but luckily wasn’t needed to be unhooked and then replaced. Okay so far but at the next gate the horse decided to come and greet me! Quite difficult to open with such a large animal the other side. Tried patting it, talking to it but no movement. I think it might have wanted feeding – in the end I told it no and it turned tail and wander off!! First obstacle passed.
The path passes through several fields, the sun is already significantly lower this afternoon than a month or so ago and the brook continues very clear, quite fast flowing. Slight diversion around a newly planted cabbage field. Quite a few people out today and chatted with a few. At one point it looked as if there was a Ford with a track way on both sides – possibly for cattle.
The path met with the railway track, it looked as if it might go under. Talked about this with a couple I met – path just crosses the track. Not a good thought! As I arrived at the track, two others did as well. They told me they’d done it lots of times – just look either way up the track and listen! Signs about trains travelling at 100 miles an hour didn’t completely reassure. There were in fact blocks between the rails so actually quite easy!
The path led on to Grove – village 2 – barely a village now, more a huge housing estate. The brook runs alongside a building – perhaps once a mill. The path leads onto the village green. In this part of the village there are several older houses.
Along the road for about a kilometre and a half, passed the cemetery and into another field with horses and my second railway crossing.
Quick glimpse over to the Ridgeway.
Three people chatting by the crossing with a long lens camera, waiting for the next train. I diffused my slight anxiety by expressing my slight fear and over emphasising my looking for a train! Nothing to really worry about – all in the head!
Now towards Denchworth and some newly ploughed fields, luckily the farmer had demarcated the path and it was quite well trodden.Across the second field and an arched entrance could be seen into a wooded area, a nice respite after so many open fields.
The path now crosses Childrey Brook, walks like this really reinforce why these are called spring line villages. The rather inconspicuous church soon comes into view, tucked into a corner near the Manor House. Not much to see from road apart from a large entrance arched gateway and a sign further down the road indicating the Tradesman’s entrance! Not a big village but a few pretty houses.
The route took me for about 400 metres along the road to Grove which I had crossed a little further down, across the brook again and then onto a track to West Hanney. The path was on a road used as a public path. No chance of loosing my way here!
The path turned to run parallel and behind the village and came out close to the ‘Plough’ – now a community run pub. A little further along and the church emerged tucked back away from the road and with the footpath leading around the edge of various cemetery areas.
A short section back towards West Farm in East Hanney and even more horses roaming in the field which was my direct route. Chose to go up towards the school on the main road but took the path behind a row of houses only to be told by an occupant that the path had been blocked. Quick double back and along the road to the car park and my car. My walk this afternoon was just over 12km.
It did give me the opportunity to try another new pair of boots. My left hip scar and underlying muscle had been feeling quite sore when I wore my new boots – not terrible but a bit uncomfortable. Decided to get something with as good a sole but perhaps a little lighter for some walking I’m about to do! A successful outing!
Marion's 50 Walk Challenge 