Today I did my ‘Kensworth and everywhere’ walk again, but in the opposite (clockwise) direction to that described on my web site – http://www.petes-walks.co.uk/Chiltern%20Hills/Kensworth%20everywhere/everywhere1.htm
I chose to put the camera in my rucksack rather than hang it round my neck, and in the end it stayed there, I didn’t take a single photo. Consequently I did the walk much faster than usual, taking just under 4.5 hours to do the 15+ miles – considering how muddy the paths were, which usually slows me down, this was probably 45 minutes shorter than I’d expect. I felt good as I got home, as if I could carry on walking quite easily, but once I’d got my boots off I suddenly felt very tired – this was the first time for a long time that I can remember feeling very tired after a walk.
The only wildlife sightings were a Buzzard, just at the very end of Dedmansey Wood as I approached Markyate – I’d heard one over Byslips Wood a few minutes earlier – and then a Red Kite, while I was eating my lunch by the car park on Bison Hill.
It was quite bright and very warm to begin with – I took my coat off just after Byslips Wood, only putting it on again when I stopped for lunch. The day gradually clouded over, and was very grey and overcast by about 12.30pm. The grey conditions rather limited the views from Dunstable Down, but they were still pretty good.
I really enjoyed the walk – I think it’s only the second time I’ve done it in this direction, and it may be even better this way than in my usual anti-clockwise direction.