If February 20 is here, can Spring be far behind.... ?

Winter....an opportunity to walk some of the local walks which, in Summer, tend to be sacrificed for walks farther afield.

Today’s walk starting at New Farm Drive in Abridge, was one such walk.  Only about 7.5-8 miles but full of variety and interest for the ten intrepid EFOG walkers.

Our first point of note was the small airfield at Stapleford, with plenty of private flying activity on this bright Saturday morning. The ground is surprisingly high here above the River Roding, with a distant view of, but thankfully little noise from, the M25. In chasing a hare, Katie, the Greyhound, found why she’d never made it to racing dog! Thankfully the hare won!

Tea break/elevenses at Stapleford Church (with outside seats as a bonus!) and still beautiful bright clear weather with blue skies. On to Curtismill Green then to our lunch stop on a convenient wooden bridge, where by now our boots were so covered in yellowed grass stuck to the mud that they looked like traditional ‘thatched boots’. Onward to cross the B175 at Stapleford Abbotts. from where we had to contend with some more awful mud before reaching the Lambourne End /Stapleford Abbotts road at Crown Park Farm.

A three-quarter mile road plod into Lambourne End was soon over, and we set off down a bridleway to the pretty Lambourne Church, through the woods, and finally back into New Farm Drive, leaving a couple of hundred yards back to the cars. We just made it in time for ‘tea and a bun’ at the Log Cabin Cafe.

A super day, if you didn’t go you missed a treat!

Duncan, 25 February 2010