Another hot sunny day. 6 assembled at the station. Another 2, on the same train, were doing a shorter walk from Ashwell and Morden. So that’s 8 innit?

The big star of today was the cow parsley. There was lots of it. So much that perhaps this should be the officially designated SWC cow parsley walk.

Mostly dry underfoot except for Park Wood which wasn’t. But it did have cow parsley.

Ashwell was reached and a pint of cider quickly downed in the Three Tuns. Others had food. One a sumptuous Sunday roast. Others had more modest fare including chips. Mmmmm chips.

The Morris dancers were making a bit of a racket but we survived. Three sprightly walkers sped on. The rest stayed for a look in the church and to watch the historic dancers. But not for much longer .The searing heat was getting to us and, soon, we too were on our way. We looked in Caldecote church - needs dusting.

The not-a-footpath bit was traversed without incident. There was an unsuccessful attempt to shake off Mr Tiger in the Ivel nature area. Then to Baldock where a kindly benefactor bought me a Guinness, there being no cider. (Gasp).

Another grand day out.

If there’s any bother with the 9:41 due to Saturday’s strikes, there is a later train from Kings Cross at 10:03 reaches Baldock at 10:57. (If you miss that, take the 10:12 from KX and change to the one above at Stevenage.

8 and a small dog today. A warm and sunny day. Mostly mud-free (something Park Wood made up for in buckets). The ways were adorned with cow parsley and Park Wood itself was particularly resplendent.

2 left us in Ashwell to meet friends. Another 2 and the dog went to the churchyard for a picnic. The rest to the 3 Tuns where morris dancers were in full jingle. After eating and drinking, it was off to the church to look at the graffiti. There was a spinning demonstration (wool not dervish). The al frescos had gone on ahead and weren’t seen again.

Caldecote’s abandoned church was open and we had a look inside. It needs dusting. Curiosity satisfied, we made our way to Newnham and looked in the church there. It has barely discernible wall paintings. The diagonal footpath from Newnham hadn’t been reinstated since sowing and it was easier to skirt two sides of the vast field. Ditto the next field.

In Baldock, a quick drink in the Engine then home.

8 on a sunny day. Big fields, big skies, lashings of cow parsley.

Mr Tiger was slightly behind by the time we reached Ashwell. He did eventually find the others in the Three Tuns but only after a tour of the other establishments and the consumption of some cider. Only a half mind you. Three had split off to connect with folk-dancy chums. But the remaining four had ordered food which they seemed to enjoy. The two with carbonaras were unable to finish. Too generous? Too heavy? You decide. Mr Tiger considered taking some back with him to glue his boots back together. (He himself did not eat but was fed chips by a kindly benefactor).

After a brief look at the plague graffiti in the church, it was time for some entertainment. First, the Historical Dancers. Mr Tiger was itching to jig about with the Tudors but, sadly, his attire was considered too modern, too contemporary. The others might have got away with it, though. Then cake. Then Morris dancers. Then off.

The second half was more big fields, the abandoned church, and the return along a permissive footpath that, judging by a sign at the far end, is not as permissive as it used to be. Through a nature reserve and into the Engine. An alarmingly noisy pub with a limited range of drinks. We sought respite in the garden. At the station, a long wait on the platform thanks to a broken down train but, otherwise, a grand day out.

10 gleeful souls turned up, including two first-timers. The weather started grey and got sunnier No rain unless you count the 300 yard dash between the pub and the station.

The ground underfoot was largely firm but there were some claggy bits.

Cow Parsley provided a frothy fringe all the way round. There were also a few rapefields and a smattering of cowslips. Sadly, the cow parsley in Park Wood had been knocked back, diminishing the display there somewhat. In Ashwell, the usual favourite, the Rose and Crown, was barely open and not doing food, so it was off to the Bushel and Strike where four ate.The church was shut so no chance to view the famous graffiti.

After Newnham, the diagonal path across the ginormous field had not been reinstated after ploughing, so we had to plod our way round the perimeter.

Lovely walk. Interesting above - the big skies and varied cloudscape - and below:the rich rape fields and endless long views. Aside from the SWCers, I don't think we saw one other walker all day. Very good coffee at Days Bakery in Ashwell. Locals here very friendly. We got an impromptu speech, mid-street, promoting the famous St. Mary's(open at that point),from a church volunteer. Two of us dined at the cosy Delizia Trattoria, and got the 5.48 back.

Yes. An enjoyayable walk, as ever, despite my list of the (minor)disappointments.

9 walkers did eventually get to Baldock after the first train was cancelled and the next left 20 mins late when a driver turned up. We were joined in Ashwell by a late riser who came by bicycle – not sure if that makes us 10.

It was a sunny day and the group proceeded to Ashwell pausing briefly to admire the famed Dunghill of Bygrave – a permanent feature probably visible from space – where the two new walkers were able to christen their embarrassingly clean boots in the puddles of effluent.

With lashings of cow parsley and a scattering of brimstones and peacocks, this walk is firmly on my list of favourites. It's NOT boring (well, most of it isn't) I quite like the long vistas across open fields and hills.

And then of course there’s Ashwell, with its open day. The Rose and Crown was busy so the group broke with tradition and decamped to the Three Tuns where 6 ate in the sunny garden. They seemed to enjoy it, if service was a little patchy. The beer was said to be good. And then a chance to explore the sights and sounds of the village, check out the plague graffiti (still there), and head back to Baldock.

9 on a sunny day. 2 did the whole walk, others as far as I know, stayed in Ashwell and got the train back from there. An enjoyable walk despite, or even because of, the big fields. Big fields means big skies. In Ashwell, I had no sooner finished my first pint of Abbott when I got called back in to have a second. Such is the burden of being a popular walk-poster. It was in such an inebriated state that I chanced upon the re-enactment of a medieval mystery play and I have to say they had me convinced. God really did speak to Noah from an upstairs window of the museum. I saw his hand. And the animals did go in two by two. Those weren’t children wearing paper plate masks. No way. Then it was off to the church for a quick look at the plague graffiti and off back to Baldock. The floral star of the day was the cow parsley, fringing just about every path.

Hi there,

How can I join this walk, do you have to be a member?

Best, Helena

Hi You don't have to be a member. Just look for other walkers at Baldock station at 10:30. Theres no leader, all are responsible for themselves, so be sure to bring a copy of the walk directions. There's an introduction to our walks here http://www.walkingclub.org.uk/swc/index.shtml

A walk of small pleasures, but plenty of them, we thought.

Long, meditative stretches along field boundaries (almost all non-bumpy) or between fields on good tracks, soothing rolling fieldscapes, rape oilseed fields in abundance, an iron age hillfort site, lovely Ashwell, its streets abundant with Morris Dancers, music, espresso van, and plenty of pubs to chose from; rolling hillocks in the afternoon, some Chiltern views (Sharpenhoe Clappers and Pulloxhill Water Tower), a lovingly restored church without a congregation, and some well-cleared arable field crossings, the Ivel Springs Local Nature Reserve, the pretty-ish centre of Baldock.

All that on a hot day with a breeze .

No wonder 18 people turned up.

All headed home happy (despite some more km than advertised).

One drink - for some - at the pub just b4 the station, while a music festival was being held in their huge garden tent, with music that I thought had died out decades ago: melodic hard rock...