Sue Aldridge writes: We were fortunate to have a more comfortable temperature walking, so were able to really enjoy a variety of landscapes around the Tring area. It was good to have some cloud with light breeze to shield us from the sun. Just four of us headed out west from the station, ascending ‘The Ridgeway’ into Tring Park, a diverse green area of mixed broadleaf woodland and chalk grassland slopes, with fine views across the town and vale beyond. This park used to be owned by the Rothchild family from 1872 to 1940s, being part of the estate connected to their mansion nearby. Once over the noisy A41 footbridge we were soon walking passed the Natural History Museum (originally started from Walter Rothchilds collection of specimens), and ambling along the old roman road ‘Akeman St.’ into the heart of old Tring. We had our morning break in the tranquil Memorial Gardens (part of the old mansion gardens) that commemorates the victims and events of WW2. We sat at the side of the Lily pond admiring the magnificent Wellingtonia giant redwood tree (Photo 1). On leaving the centre, we had a brief look inside the large church, then walked a mile along a green corridor to join the Wendover Arm of the GU canal. The fields nearby were splendid with the very light golden sheen of the barley gently blowing in the breeze, one field showing one solitary tall sunflower towering above the barley! However, we had to watch our footing along the narrow and partly overgrown towpath. A prickly bramble did leave it’s mark on one of our walker’s legs, so two of us delved into our First Aid kits for a suitable plaster which helped a lot. We ate our sandwiches on a shady bench alongside the dry channel of the canal, then walked a short way to Wilstone Reservoir, using the newly reinforced embankment dam pathway, admiring the view (Photo 2 Group), then straight on to Meads Farm Café for a relaxing tea break. On leaving, we couldn’t resist a quick look round the well- stocked Farm Shop, with its tempting natural food and drink products, but had to restrain ourselves from buying, as still had 4 miles to walk! Soon we were walking across a few harvested fields, giving a few docile cows a wide berth, onto Marsworth, where we joined the G U canal. My goodness! I’ve never seen the canal side look so busy… almost congested with the continuous line of barges moored along the sides. We were particularly interested in watching a cruise hotel twin barge taking a family of 8 on a 9 day cruise from Warwick to Tring (Photo 3 Group). It was quite a tight fit for the wide twin barge to fit through the lock, with several more locks to come. (Photo 4 barge into lock). Five minutes later we spotted a heron opposite, looking like he was giving assistance in pushing the lock gate open!! (Photo 5 Spot the heron). Not long after that we paused again, watching a line-up of Canada Geese, perhaps wondering why the canal was so busy, pondering whether to jump in or not!! (Photo 6 Geese line-up))
We had a lovely walk, completed with friendly company and plenty of chatter, laughs and stops along the way to admire and appreciate the variety and wonders of this area, not that far from home. Thank you to the three who joined me on my walk.
