A Break In The Clouds

Staying much closer to home this week as fuel supplies remain uncertain. There's plenty I could say about that, but I'd rather get out for a walk in the fields. Are you coming?

As it happened there was just one day when the relentless rolling rainclouds paused for a few hours in their westward progress, though to judge by the strength of the breeze it won't be long till normal service is resumed.

I'd better tell you where we are: we're on the chalky hills to the west of the town of Royston. They are not very high hills but they do give extensive views to the north and west. We're following the Icknield Way long-distance path from the village of Wallington, westwards towards the small hamlet of Clothall.

There are a few sunflowers growing along the edges of some fields, they will provide cover and food for game birds during the winter; the other birds will also benefit.

Because of the general flatness of the landscape distant panoramas are a rare subject for the camera in East Anglia so I always make the most of this little bit of hillier country. And some of the best viewpoints are around Clothall.

I've visited the little church at Clothall in the past and wrote a whole post about it: "A Special Place". This time the weather's too good to go poking around in old medieval buildings so we'll make a turn around little streets of Clothall and head back by a different route.

The path we're following on the return journey is part of "The Hertfordshire Way" and leads you through some of the best scenery in that county. Like most of these designated routes it's merely a linking together of the existing public rights of way into a longer route.

That's not to say you'll find a paved way to follow, but the local authorities do cut back the vegetation once a year or so and there'll be little arrows nailed on to posts where there's any doubt as to where the path goes.

It's all very pleasant. Very pleasant indeed.

And before you know it we're back on the edge of Wallington, passing by the farm.

There are even a few sheep around here, though most of the land is under the plough.

Wallington today is prosperous and well cared for, with several quaint cottages, but it wasn't always so scenic. Long-time readers might recall that it was once the home of the writer, George Orwell, when he was writing "The Road To Wigan Pier".

He rented the little cottage above, which at the time was in a very tumbledown state. If you want to know more about Mr Orwell at Wallington you can read about him in this post from 2015: "A Writer's Residence".

Take care.