2021 Annual Overview

This shows a summary of the longer walks partaken of this year. It does not include the daily dog walks, nor the local repetitive walks (for example the Saturday Bread Run, or the Surgery Visits, etc.)

Due to the reinstated "Lock Down" there were no ski trips this year, so this year was restricted to Local Walks until it eased slightly and we could go a little further afield. In addition we could visit the girls in their houses (Steph having moving into Newbridge this year, and Katie still in Nottingham).

As this was the first full calendar year of retirement I settled on a sensible target of 800 Km (or 500 Miles) and looked to see what was achievable. As it turned out this was completed and once Lock Down was lifted it showed I could upgrade it for the next year.

Cors y Llyn and back, Mid Wales

 We were at Steph's house for the New Year weekend, so Bertie and I went out for a walk to reach 900 kms for the calendar year. 

Walking back through the village to come out on the South (Builth Wells) end. Up past the church, and to the junction with the old road.

The old road was very quiet, with all the traffic now using the big new bypass road.

We followed the road as it undulated south.

At a junction marked for a garage, we took the singe track road heading in the direction of the lake, and after a confusing farm yard that straddled the road, we continued down the track until it turned right by 90 degrees with a parking area to the left.

Straight ahead was the gate into the nature reserve, with a map of the area.

The initial approach was down a leaf strewn lane before it ended at the lake

Through another gate, the boardwalks started, and the covid signs showed a one way circuit. After going around part of the lake the boardwalk turned away into a heathland/ wetland area.

As the boardwalk circled around it was occasionally submerged after the recent rain. Further into the reserve was a mixture of scrub and occasional trees.

At the furthest point on the boardwalk trail there was a circular seating area, and views back across the heathland towards the lake.

We circled around the boardwalk until we reached a track heading to the western edge of the reserve. We took this and exited through a gate into the field beyond. Picking up the footpath that circled the reserver we returned towards the south.

After circling the reserve to the opposite side of it, we picked up a path that headed back to the road though more fields. We walked back along the old road towards Newbridge, meeting up with out outward bound trail just after a junction onto the new road.

Looking towards the hills to the north of Newbridge as we followed the road back along the way we had gone out.

Back through the village to Steph's house. and some refreshment. 

We had more than enough kilometers now to pass my target for this year.

Old Winchester Hill Circuit, South Downs

 I was 15.6 kms short of 900 for the calendar year, and we were off to see Steph for the New Year, so I had planned a walk on the way - Another piece of the South Downs Jigsaw. The weather forecast was not good and it was raining when we woke up. Time for a rethink ...  so cutting the walk down a bit and following a well worn trail hopefully would avoid the mudfest like I had endured two days before.

Parking in the layby just outside Exton once more, only heading in the opposite direction to last time.

Crossing over the A road, and down the track on the other side. Immediately it proved to be flooded, with little distinction between the path and the ditch/ stream beside it.

Crossing the flooded river Meon, and continuing up the increasingly muddy and wet track heading for the meon valley trail (an old railway line)

The Meon valley trail was up up some steps, then we descended the other side to begin the climb up to the hill, on a thankfully dryer track.

The hilltop in the mist ahead, and looking back to the mist in the valley below, where we had come from.

Still climbing through the fields, a little slippery on the chalk tracks.

Climbing up through the woods below the hill fort, a spooky yew groves and elms (dutch elm disease impacted). Then escaping onto the summit plateau, climbing the outer ramparts.

The trig point atmospheric in the mist

All Round mist,

Across the other side of the hill fort and then back around the outside of the southern ramparts, however there was time to be distracted enough to fall over in the mud and get my trousers covered to such an extent I would need to protect the seat back at the van!

The return journey was a series of zigzags through the fields to the valley below on the south side. The first descent was steep and slippy, followed by a traverse alongside a pasture field.

Another less steep descent down the side of a turnip field, before a long trapse down a wet and muddy chalk track.

This chalk track - Mill End Lane continued until if met the side road - Stocks lane - at a converted farmhouse and barns. We then followed this single track road back towards the village of Exton.

One tricky section was recrossing the Meon Valley trail where the old rail bridge had a huge lake under it, some of which we later discovered (the signs were only on the far side) by going up and over.

Crossing the A road once more on the outskirts of Exton we could see beacon hill beyond.

Approaching the river Meon in the village of Exton. I am certain I would not like to live this close to the river, private island or not.

Past the pub, which seemed to have plenty of customers, and up the lane back to the van.

Refreshments before continuing onto Steph. Not quite the distance to make the 900 so I will have to find a short route in Wales.