5 in very warm mostly without a breeze weather. The 8-car train was pretty full, although not quite rammed (an event at Silverstone may have had to do with that, walk poster!), and at Cheddington we found the start of the walk off the Station Approach blocked by a high Network Rail metal fence. Seeeing that this was deemed to be a text-review outing anyway, the work for the walk author started there and then, by finding an alt. route.

Some grassy margins and narrow paths were quite overgrown, mostly with nettles, so much so that we filled a fair amount of time talking about nettle soup, nettle pesto and all kinds of other things one can do with the little annoyances. Else there were fantastic far views, about a handful of drink-and-rest stops under shady trees and - annoyingly - several closed pubs. The targeted lunch pub The Unicorn had perplexed us already by not answering the phone despite the website giving the impression of a thriving business, and once we got there, we were greeted by a chalkboard informing the world of a "closure up to Wednesday". Pingdemic? Combined with there being no water tap in the churchyard opposite, that put pressure on one of us who had packed very lightly, to say the least (i.e.: nothing at all but a teenie weenie water bottle). But the nearby village cricket club kindly allowed refilling of said bottle.

In Wing, The Queen's Head was also closed, despite a large chalkboard proclaiming opening hours of 12.00-18.00 on Sundays. Thankfully, at least the Cock Inn down the same road was open, so we had lunch there, at 15.45 hours. The lightly packed walker then bused it to LB to get back to London for an evening date, and the rest of us just about reached the much-delayed 17.53 (just as well, as the following train was cancelled due to staff shortages).

I arrived from the unwashed North a few mins after the scheduled train but there was nobody in sight at Cheddington, perhaps because of the rain or the rugby (I did consider wearing my South Africa woolly hat). The rain soon stopped and a curious golden orb briefly appeared in the sky, but the wind never relented. The Unicorn (1pm) was closed so this habitual early eater gutsed it out till 2pm and the Cock Inn at Wing. The rain returned with a vengeance. I had a few minor route problems owing to ploughed fields, but nothing serious. Lots of mud!

1 very windy and sometimes very wet ??

9 on this walk of small pleasures: undramatic if slightly rolling countryside with some pleasant villages and some nice views, although those were curtailed today in dry weather with low clouds . So much so that The Chilterns were obscured almost all the time. But mysteriously it never rained - until we were on the train home, result! There was a fair amount of mud after recent rainfalls, complemented by overnight downpours, and some of the arable fields (mostly pre-lunch) led to mud assemblages on boots. But for every arable field there were at least two pastures to quickly get rid of the mud again. We made good progress and got to The Unicorn just before some large groups arrived, so the 3 lunchers' orders were reasonably quickly executed. And fine food it was. All picknickers joined us inside for their teas/coffees/cakes, and on we went as one group. We then lost one of the usually fast guys to him falling behind (taken a wrong turning?) and the rest of us got to LB just before 5 o'clock, for the 16.59 train.

Planning to do this walk.

coming with all my neighbours, maps, gps and most importantly a current bus timetable in case we get sleeted/snowed/hailed/rained in, or rather out. I know rather weak.

There are a couple of amendments to be made after passing All Saints Church in Wing. Firstly, the sharp left turn is into Church Walk (not Church Lane). Secondly, the allotments at the junction of High Street and Stewkley Road no longer exist. A new housing development is being built there. The new directions should read, "In 130m reach a junction with Stewkley Road and follow the main road round to the right. Take the first road on the left (Dormer Avenue). In just over 100m, veer left into Castle Close"

16 cold wind with occasional hail

Two first-timers amongst the 16 walkers, only equipped with summer footwork, but gamely lasting the distance as far as can be ascertained (they shuffled off from the lunch pub with the fast sandwichers). Muddy in places, but not too bad, some of the field crossings left the boots with clingy mud, but mostly the soil was firm and easy to walk on. A bitey wind at times, especially felt on the middle stretch when we ventured North, straight into it. Leaden skies, with patches of blue, the sun at times threatening to break through, but not quite making it. Interesting cloudscapes therefore. And some fine-ish views to the Chilterns and Aylesbury Vale.

1 walker then succumbed to a mixture of bugs & hangover and called a taxi from the lunch pub. Food service was exceedingly slow, they were clearly understaffed on the day, both front-of-house and kitchen. Food was tasty though when it eventually arrived. 2 hours at the pub for the first arivals...!

At the end of twe walk 4 of the group stayed on in Leighton Buzzard to search out the CAMRA Pub of the Year and the micropub mentioned in the posting, and that proved a worthwhile excursion. 21.something train, followed by one more drink in London: the Euston Tap was packed, so off we went to the Bree Louise, mentioned in the recent Welcome Collection post (Turkish Delight Ale anyone ? Tasting nothing like Turkish Delight, unfortunately...).

Several route changes, as outlined by the previous blogger and - a bit further along the route - where a wood had newly been opened to the public, will be included.

excellent walk with glorious views over the Chilterns, and indeed much better weather than predicted and therefore the hardy 16 who came out had a deserved treat and great walk as a result. luckily our leader had timed the hale to descend during our longish lunchtime - with customary German precision. Bravo!

unwell walker exceptionally well looked after by various members and, I can faithfully report, has returned to her usual spring chicken feeling today. That's what neighbours are for.