Walking in March 2015

March was another chilly month but I did manage to find some sunshine along with a large amount of mud. Walks this month include London Loop, East London and Bedfordshire

London Loop section 14 -  Moor Park to Hatch End (somewhere in north west London)

Mud!!!

I'm now three-quarters of the way round the Loop and this leg turned out to be the most dramatic since 5, when I fell in the path of an oncoming vehicle. This was a fairly short walk (3.8 mls) between two outposts of the tube. It is also a very green section with very little road walking, taking in a golf course, common land and finally Oxhey Woods. It was also a very muddy section and having managed to stay upright for most of the way, I came to grief in a waterlogged field and emerged plastered in mud from toes to shoulder.
Walk directions
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Touring Bedfordshire 1

Stotfold Mill nature reserve

This tour consisted of some fairly aimless driving around following brown tourist signs to closed attractions, checking out the parking for future walks and enjoying a splendid walk on a day  that felt spring-like once out of the wind. The walk was 6.8 miles near Turvey on good paths in undulating countryside with some fine views. I also had strolls at Marston Vale Millennium Country Park and Stotfold Mill nature reserve.
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Walking in London 2: Mile End to Stratford

My alien friend

Katharina and I spent a Sunday afternoon strolling from Mile End to Stratford, about four miles or so. Points of interest are Mile End Park, Regents Canal, the Arts Pavilion where we were abducted into an exhibition on Spirituality in Modern Art, Victoria Park, the Greenway, tea at the View Tube, finishing up in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park at sunset.
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Touring Bedfordshire 2

Willington Dovecote (NT)

At the end of March I spent four chilly days touring the villages around Bedford with a very accommodating friend. We did enjoy a very enjoyable walk (4 miles) from Houghton Conquest to Houghton Hall (EH) and back via King's Wood.  Other places we visited were; Willington Dovecote (NT), Stevington Windmill, Bronham Water Mill, good spot for a picnic, Harrold Odell country park, another good picnic spot. If you are a fan of churches don't miss St Margaret of Antioch Church in Knotting and transport yourself back to the seventeenth century.

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Discovering Bedforshire: the Shuttleworth Collection

The Swiss Garden

The Shuttleworth Collection is must for aircraft enthusiasts due to variety of very old aircraft and the fact that most of them still fly. You can also visit the Swiss Garden, recently restored at vast expense. Children get in for free and there is a very large playground that you can access for free.

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