From Blue To Gold

Hitch Wood, in Hertfordshire, is a well-known local beauty spot. It's so popular that it has its own small car park and a special waymarked trail to lead you through the best bits. But that's in spring, when the bluebells are in full bloom. What's it like in autumn?

We began our walk at the church in St Paul's Walden, which we visited back in May. A path then leads behind back gardens and alongside fields, reaching the road at the gate to Stagenhoe Park, a former manor house which is now an assisted living facility for those with long-term neurological problems.

Two impressive stags adorn the gateposts. From here we dodge across the road, go through a wood, across a meadow, over a muddy field, and then follow ancient tracks to come out opposite Hitch Wood.

Our very brief survey suggested that a lot fewer people come out to see the autumn leaves than the hordes who visit the bluebells. Not only that, but of the handful of folks we saw, one was talking so loudly that their thoughts must have been elsewhere and another looked puzzled when I commented on the beauty of the scene. But.....

I ❤ AUTUMN WOODS!

 A mossy heart-shaped stump sits like a coral atoll in an ocean of gold.

The paths were a lot harder to follow at this time of year, covered as they were by the fallen leaves. It's important to try to stay on the paths here, not only to avoid getting lost but also because trampling the ground where bluebells grow can harm the plants, even when the bulbs are lying dormant.

A Buzzard was crying overhead and though I didn't spot the bird I did notice (and photograph) the vaulted canopy.

We didn't quite follow our intended route, but drifted on to a parallel track which brought us out of the wood within a few yards of where we wanted to be.

A very English landscape unfolded before us, probably because this land is used for shooting pheasants which need the cover of hedgerows and scattered woods. 

Soon we were on a muddy path through Chalkley's Wood.

There were lots of small fungi in the wood - and then there was a line of these impressive forms. I think they might be what are called Trooping Funnels; they grow in straight lines and have this general appearance. But then again I'm no expert.

A walk beside horse paddocks brought us to a place where we could see over the rooftops of Whitwell in the valley of the River Mimram. Here we turned north towards St Paul's Walden Bury.

This is the house where the Queen Mother was born and lived part of her early life. We sat for a while on a tree stump where we were approached by a woman who told us she'd suggested putting a proper bench there, but in the end it was decided to site it elsewhere.

We are now on the country lane leading from the big house back towards the church. Big houses are OK, but this is the one that always fascinates me....

It backs on to the walled garden and is said to have been built about 1770 for the head gardener. In style it's a quainter and more restrained version of what is known as Strawberry Hill Gothick.

I particularly like those quatrefoil windows as they catch the autumn colours.

Then it was just a matter of following the lane back to our starting point.

Take care.