Twelve Poly Ramblers gathered at Aylesbury Vale Parkway on a warm Saturday at the end of May for a walk to the north east of the market town of Aylesbury. This is an area we visit rarely and, according to Geoffrey, the first time we have used this station. After an initial walk alongside the A41 we were soon in a meadow of spring flowers alongside the River Thame, later passing the remains of a medieval village and some sheep shearing. Pam enquired and was told that two shearers were aiming to get through 250 sheep in a day.

We negotiated a field of lively and curious cattle and reached the delightful hilltop village of Weedon (village pond, thatched cottages and thatched pub). After an early picnic lunch and one of Stephen’s delicious cookies we continued. After a loop with views of the Chiltern Hills we headed east across a series of fields towards the village of Rowsham. Early on we encountered our second field of excitable cattle who enjoyed rushing backwards and forwards in front of us as we made our way across the field. Disconcerting, although they were not aggressive. Then we had a series of mainly arable fields, some with no discernable paths and a few overgrown and poorly maintained stiles. Eventually we made it to Rowsham and then through more meadows, an orchard, a nursery until finally we reached the prize of  Bierton Coffee House, delightfully situated in an old chapel.  Thankfully it was still open just after 4pm.  By that time we had done about ten miles.

After rest and refreshment, four people decided to catch the bus into Aylesbury. The rest of us continued past St Osyth’s Well through more meadows, the new development of Oakfield Park and eventually reached the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union canal. We managed to keep up a brisk enough pace along the canal and through the town to catch our train with 2 minutes to spare. Comparison of step counters on the train indicated we had done at least 13 miles.

Gillian.  Photos by Pam