A Walk In Pictures

A fine day for a walk -
- boots, camera, map -
- two sandwiches and a waterbottle -
 - train to Biggleswade - through backstreets - cross the little River Ivel.

  

- a Robin sings - a muddy path - over the busy A1 road - through fields -

- skylarks sing on high - flooded gravel pits ahead -

- a place for migrating birds in a few weeks -

- tufted ducks and coots on the water -

- and a beautiful swan stands in the shallows -

- cross another road -

- into the smart parklands of Shuttleworth Agricultural College -
- a sign says "bull in field" -
- but there's no bull -

- a biplane flies over from Old Warden Aerodrome -

- down a path known as The Sheepwalk- and into the village of Ickwell -

- cottages grouped perfectly around the village green -
- ideal for cricket during summer -

- parts of the green are flooded after the recent rain -

- an oak tree dominates the open space -

- blackbirds sing and pigeons coo contentedly -

- there's a huge maypole too -

- then on to the neighbouring settlement, Northill -

- the church clock chimes the hour -
- too nice a day to venture inside -

- then it's up the hill and into Home Wood -

- some of the paths in the wood are under water -
- a muntjac deer skitters away through the undergrowth -

- the squelch of boots -

- overhead a buzzard calls-

- up a grassy slope to Highland Farm -

- horses graze -

- ascend gently to the Greensand Ridge Walk -

- follow it through trees -

- only occasional glimpses of a hazy view -

- a choice of routes back -

- I chose the only one I could find! -

- someone's been cutting timber -

- bizarrely a tawny owl is hooting at midday -

-catkins -

- the village of Old Warden -

- a thrush sings -

- a Swiss Cottage -

- or so it says on the gate -

- all the rage in villages built to house estate workers in the nineteenth century -

- all a bit too perfect for my taste -

- but there is a pub -

- which is how it should be -

- and another exasperatingly twee cottage -

- so it's up into the forestry plantation -

- noisy walkers behind -

- one of those irritating women who whinnies "I know, I know" at everything she's told -

- I duck into the trees till they've passed -

"I know, I know....."

- before long the sky is putting on a show -

- but the rest of the way back is a bit of a grind -

- I rather wish I could ride a horse! -

- Take care.