On Sunday Donna and I took Poppy for a long walk in Wendover Wood, which is about 10 miles from Tring and on the northern end of the Chiltern Hills. The woods are named after the nearby town of Wendover, and are owned by the Forestry Commission.
Although there was a fee for parking vehicles, the facilities were excellent, with plenty of picnic areas and benches and tables. People can also walk, ride horses and cycle there, providing you have your own horse or bicycle of course. There was only one activity which cost extra money, and that was the Go Ape centre. There was an excellent cafe/restaurant. Quite a gold mine, I think, as there were a large number of people sitting at tables drinking coffee or eating food. Dogs were welcome, which helped of course.
Donna and Poppy ready to set out. Poppy looked very clean at this point.
The autumn colours in the woods were breathtaking, and I could easily have spent the whole time taking photographs.
The aftermath of an Australian bushfire? Almost looked like it, but in fact it was just very wet bark, mist, and glorious leaf colours.
A very large fungus. Identification unknown, but it looked stunning.
Donna and Poppy taking a rest. Poppy had a fantastic time, as she met lots of other Labradors, and spent quite a bit of time playing with them. She got very muddy.
Finally we arrived back at the cafe, after a couple of diversions and walking along the same path three times, due to taking the wrong turning. It would have helped if we had a map. We enjoyed a welcome latte, organic coffee of course. Then we saw the sign which informed us we were standing at the highest point in the Chilterns. No wonder we were walking in the mist.
On the drive back we went through this delightful grove of trees, on a road that was well and truly sunken, with the sun glinting through the trees. Magical.
We arrived back in time for lunch, happy and muddy. Walter had spent a leisurely morning reading, and Patrick had been busy re-organising his van. Walter informed us that he had gone outside to give Patrick some advice! And a cup of coffee. So they were both happy too.
Then it was back into our motorhome and off home via the M25, which was relatively clear. Amazingly.
A busy, but really lovely weekend.
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