AAC Walk, Crondall

Storm Darragh was raging - not as violent here as further west, but still it had rattled the windows all night and there were flurries of rain keeping everything wet. I had registered on the latest southern AAC walk - a shorter one as there were mince pies and mulled wine to finish the day. Essentially it was the same walk as last year, and I half expected a phone call cancelling the day on account of the wind and delays to trains and roads.

However no such call came, and I made my way over to Crondall to meet up with the others. With the latest weather the numbers were down and three people had cancelled this morning, so there were only six of us in total today as we gathered in Joanna's kitchen.

Out into a fierce wind and muddy paths, out of the village past the church and into the fields. the paths were all muddy with standing water - I was so glad to be wearing my wellies. Past the winery at Croft and onAt Lee wood the path was blocked by a fallen tree and we skirted aroudn the edge and along to a back lane. 

At Travers farm, we moved back into the fields and crossed over to a sunken lane (this was more a river here and once again I was thankful for the wellies). The water was coming out of a field drain and it was drier after we passed that. Opposite Quern farm we left the lane and crossed a field to the edge of Horsedown Common.

The trig point on the top of the hill ahead is not normally accessible, however Joanna had gained permission for us to climb up the hill. This was the turnaround point for the morning walk.

On the summit the wind was brutal, and the rain was like daggers if you faced into the wind. We hurried down to the saddle and up to the lower top before dropping back down to the public footpath. the return path followed the edge of more fields, first to Park Corner farm then Pencroft Business Centre. This came out onto Well road and back into the village.

We stopped at the Plume and Feathers for lunch, and a bit of a dry out (although it could have been warmer).
After lunch we had a shorter loop over the disused Oak Park Golf Club heading for Dora's Green. Just before the farm we crossed the ploughed field and into Lawn copse crossing a stream through two flooded kissing gates - once again thankful for the wellies.

Back onto the golf course crossing to the club house, before turned across to the exit onto Heath lane mad back to the house. Mulled Wine (coffee for me) and mince pies waiting. then all packed up and ready for the drive home.