9 at the station.

The day was cloudy with occasional sun

Off to a bad start when we found the path blocked by a large construction project. We had to double back and follow a track along the railway line till the paths met.

After the Clappers, the onward path was concealed by a forbidding gate at the entrance to Ruby Farm. But it didn’t fool us.

Pulloxhill is too far for a lunch stop and the approach to it was hellish. A long - and I mean long- stretch was overgrown with shoulder-high brambles briars and nettles. Of course, it didn’t stop us, we’re tough.

Those who ate were complimentary about the food. Beer aficionados were unimpressed by the choice of beer. I had cider, as is my wont.

On the way back I was mildly disappointed to not go past Bunyans Oak. I had the impression the walk took us directly past it but apparently not. Or perhaps we were adrift . Most went straight to the station. Yours truly had a thirst to quench

I should add, all opted for the circular walk.

IF tube strike goes ahead..may be some difficulty in the morning?

Just 3 today. Perhaps others were deterred by the erratic underground after yesterday’s strike. Or maybe the prospect of a rainy day?

The rain was never heavy but the slightly damp conditions lasted all day.

Off we went skipping gaily over the hilltops, singing merrily, birds tweeting , flowers flowering.

Well, not exactly. Flowers were flowering – violets – but, can’t tell a lie guv, today was a bit of a slog. Apart from a few merciful stretches of tarmac or pavement, a patina of slippery mud covered the whole of the route. This slowed progress. We contemplated taking “shortcut 1” but weren’t confident we would spot the intersect with “Alternative route back”. So we pressed on to Pulloxhill, arriving just before 3 when the Cross Keys was closing. We had our sandwiches in their smokers’ shelter and, rather than face 4 more slidey miles back to Harlington, we opted for the infrequent bus to Flitwick, which, after an anxious wait, did eventually come.

A walk best attempted in drier conditions.

Ah, the warm and inclusive welcome for which the SWC is justly renowned......

Sounds like the title of an Enid Blyton novel...

The childish 'warm and inclusive' comment: SWC people are far warmer and more welcoming than the average Rambler, in my experience. Start some conversations. Dazzle us.

The Swack is Back, and so is the dreaded anonymous grovelling and sniping, no surprise there! Who'd be a Walk Poster with an opinion?

As for the substance of the comment by Anonymous on Saturday at 23.10 hours:

If the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is consistently to be found near the bottom of the tables across Europe for Covid infections and preventable deaths, then - in my opinion - that has a lot to do with its plentihood of citizens (almost) all taking liberties with (at least some of) the rules and restrictions, judging by themselves that they are allowed breaking them. And looking back over the time between the SWC re-start in June and now Lockdown II, my judgement would be that the SWC has been as much part of the problem as part of the solution.

From selected walk posters 'trusting' that punters will break up into small groups quickly "because that is what always happens in the SWC" (it doesn't), to trusting sub-groups to be taking contact details amongst themselves (they don't), to walkers happily mixing and mingling between sub-groups and often exceeding group sizes of six, hardly anone can say they've followed spirit and word of the law at all times.

So, with (at least) 4 more months of a tier system or lockdown looming, to me it seems important to get off to a decent start, to reinforce the message that the SWC wants to be seen to be following the law at all times. Otherwise the whole of the SWC walk posting process may cease to exist under Covid.

So, personally I will try to make sure that the SWC stays within the spirit and letter of the law, where I have some influence. You don't like that? There will be other walks posted by other people, some of whom - so I'm told - are less bothered...

I have no experience of Ramblers groups, but I have always found SWC to be welcoming. I was (tongue in cheek) voicing my annoyance at being finger-wagged in BLOCK CAPITALS when the case for keeping safe can be better made by encouragement than by judgmental hectoring. Having said that, I very much appreciate the work put in by walk posters, and the necessity to abide by the rules, and if my flippancy has upset anyone, I apologise.

”SWC posting process may cease to exist”...WOW!!

BLOCK Capitals removed

What about a Wednesday walk? I’m going spare walking round my garden!

Signed. Captain Tom.

According to the Wednesday walk poster, they will start next week. couple more loops around the garden...

10 off the train (incl. 2 first timers), with one car driver waiting, so 11 at the start, ever so neatly (for Rule of 6 purposes) splitting into 6 picnickers and 5 pub lunchers. The lunchers overtook the picnickers when they had a 'take a layer off'-break (it was very sunny) and we got to Pulloxhill exactly on time for the pre-booked sitting in their extremely impressive garden marquee (thanks to RJ for the booking). The pub Covid-protocol was absolutely meticulous and was well followed by all customers: top marks. Food was pretty good and those drinks... Some had 'puddings' as well, so all in we had 75 minutes at the Cross Keys! How much have we missed pub lunches?!

The glorious views of the morning from the Sundon Hills and the Sharpenhoe Clappers were now followed by fine views of those hills and us lunchers eventually caught up (at distance) with one of the picnickers and a late starter (he had missed the train, taken the shortcut and lunched in Westoning at The Chequers, and was full of praise for food and Covid-protocol there as well).

We reached Flitwick just as it was getting dark, found that the pub by the station was not allowing drinks to be consumed outside without a substantial meal, so went for the 16.46 train instead.

Random stuff:

I hear 1 of the picnickers walked the short circular walk back to Harlington.

We saw deer just 50m away on two occasions.

There was copious mud, especially but not exclusively around gates and along fenced paths.

sunny 12

Fun muddy day out

5 off the scheduled train met up with 1 early starter just before lunch, so 6 in all on a calm overcast but dry and fairly mild day. The morning stretch over the Sundon Hills, Sharpenhoe Clappers and hill fort was delightful, though the more distant views were restricted by a slight mistiness. A riot of blazing leaf colour was more evident on the ground than on the trees. One walker took the first short cut, aiming for Harlington rather than Flitwick. The rest continued to Pulloxhill, where the three picnickers joined the other two in the Cross Keys (the roast was considered mediocre). All took the fairly short return route to Harlington, reached by around 4pm after slogging through two or three ploughed fields of cloying, boot-adhering mud on an otherwise pleasant amble through rolling farmland.

I've just noticed the clever punning walk title. Nice one Chris.

At London Bridge it was foggy, at St Pancras sunny, at St Alban's foggy again, then a little foggy further north, but when the train broke through the Sundon Hills into the plain, it was sunny. You could practically see the last remnants of the fog being burnt off, and so it stayed: gloriously sunny and warm all day.

16 assembled on the platform, one was already on the overbridge, half-way to the exit, looking in, one other had travelled down from his new home in Northamptonshire and was waiting at the exit, 2 first-timers were too shy (presumably) to join the customary SWC-huddle and had already walked across to the exit, so 20 in total. All walked the full walk, as far as I could see.

Fewer than half had a sit-down pub lunch (outside in the sun), most of the picnickers (having had their nourishment on some randomn pub benches placed on a sloping hillside with great views) joined briefly for a drink though. In the p.m., 5 faster walkers strode away, the other 15 stayed more or less together until Steppingley. There 9 of us entered The French Horn for imbibements. Those 9 were later to be found on the 17.30 train.

From the weather follows: glorious views from the Sundon Hills and the Clappers, dry paths, dry pastures, effortless walking.

Else: plenty of chat and one or other looking a little sunburnt at the end...

A small but very select group on this walk, lets call them the pre-fab 4 , set out in fine sunny weather which soon deteriotated. During the day it was sunny then cloud then sleet so a fairly typical February.

As a winter option this walk variation is a bit of a curate's egg: the lovely and dry ridge trails across the Sundon Hills and the Sharpenhoe Clappers balanced by the "Hertfordshire slog" across waterlogged fields and "claggy" arable land plus a slippy and steep stepped descent where you have to take care.) (One 500m slog across a field in the afternoon left your boots weighing about 4 times their weight. Still all good for building stamina!)

Three of us had brought sandwiches but we all popped into the Cross Keys which was packed and had a drink and crisps before the short 3.2m afternoon stretch which frankly is a bit dull. Having done one before the options to Flitwick would make excellent autumn choices.

We got back to catch a 4.20 fast train and here I must congratulate my companions on their post walk boot cleaning whilst waiting for the train. I was my usual muddied oaf self whilst the others all looked as though they could go on to a night at the theatre. Excellent work which I need to try to emulate!

I like the titles of your walks. Sorry I don't usually walk on Sundays.

Planning on doing the long walk...

4 off the train. 3 set off on the truncated long walk. 1 on the circular. Quite muddy underfoot in places. After climbing out of Harlington, up to the Ickneild Way, the circular 1 (who by this time was on his own) looked round and noticed that what had been mist was now fog. Having gone adrift in the area once before and being averse to doing so again in worsening visibility, he thought “sod this” and retraced his steps to the station. Hardly the Cairngorms but hey. The Flitwick 3 will have to report separately. cold damp cloudy misty turning foggy

Sad to hear this. Us other three were led by the walk author, who led from memory, inevitably taking a wrong turning here or there, but not to worry. We indeed walked Shortcut I, by-passing Pulloxhill, to ensure we could lunch at The Chequers in Westoning, rumoured to be a nice gastro-pub. As we arrived, there was nobody at the tables, but the bar was crowded, so we were sceptical. But it turned out to be very nice indeed. Competent roasts (I was assured by the other two), an interesting menu, quick and friendly service and a choice of good beers.

On to Steppingley for tea at the marvellous The French Horn, and then through Flitwick Wood to the station. No views due to the fog, but still a good day out, especially in the morning on freshly snow-covered ground.

7 dry sunny cool breeze patchy cloud pm

Yours truly trailed behind the others and managed to get hopelessly confused in the fields at the start and miss the turn into Sundon CP. Went up plenty hills alright including some of the Sundon Hills and the Bunyan Trail but never in a way that seemed to be heading for the Clappers. So, with Giant Despair’s thunderous footsteps getting closer and closer, I gave up on the Delectable Mountains and headed for the “prominent water tower” in the distance. At Sharpenhoe, I re-found my place in the directions and followed them to Pulloxhill. The Cross Keys denied all knowledge of a previous group of walkers - so where did they go? Did Giant Despair get them? I know where I went. Back to Harlington as planned.

The core of the Harlington group made it uneventfully to the Cross Keys pub, where the roast potatoes were agreed to merit a score 3.5 out of 5.

Alone among the customers, we ate outside, which is why we might not have registered in the minds of the bar staff consulted by Ian T.

And alone among the group, I followed the posted walk back to Harlington, wondering all the way how I came to do a walk identical to one I'd done in perhaps November; the others preferred to go the greater distance to Flitwick.

And another on the trailing edge - I caught a later train so was 30 mins behind the group, but made it all the way to Flitwick. Small detour into some lovely bluebell woods near the Clappers. Also came across a lost walker in the same area and we walked chummily along to the Clappers car park. Only saw 2 other walkers all day, so I guess I either overtook the group while they were at the pub, or possibly more likely, I continued at the trailing edge in a leisurely fashion.

Actually, the previous posting of this walk was mid Jan.

9.48 St Pancras

11 on this walk, including one who got a slightly later train and caught up with us at lunch. Weather cloud with some sun and rain only at end - ie much better than forecast. Mud no more than might be expected on any walk - slippery in places but not squelchy.

This was a very pleasant walk, particularly along the ridge in the morning, which had excellent views and ended in the very atmospheric Sharpenhoe Hill Fort. Descending from it one half expected the lunch pub to materialise, but in fact it was quite a way across the valley to another low ridge before we had that pleasure. During this section, to everyone's great surprise, the sun came out for quite a time, and it was perhaps luxuriating its unaccustomed rays that made us miss a [!] in the directions, occasioning a backtrack of some several hundred metres. There was then something of a mad dash to get to the pub before it stopped serving food at 2pm (a deadline strictly observed: our later train person was refused food at 2.10pm)

After lunch some of us did a variant whereby we stayed on the main walk route (nice views and nice road walking) and then joined the alternative route to Harlington at a later stage. Only now, as darkness fell, did the rain start for about the last mile or so to the very cosy tea pub (which did nice puddings).

2 sunny initially then with some clouds

2 walkers off a later train, as the posted one was missed. And as we didn't encounter any other SWC folk at the lunch pub, 2 is probably the grand total for this walk. We waked the full walk ending in Flitwick.

A fine day for this walk with plenty of far views off the hills into the Bedfordshire plain all morning, with some acceptable fare at The Cross Keys in Pulloxhill and later a very good olive oil tart and a bevvie at The French Horn in Steppingley rounding off a less enterprising but very relaxing afternoon.

4

...as I've learned today, there were 2 further walkers, off the posted train, but as they were only equipped with an OS map (no printed directions, no route map, no gpx) all they did was go straight to Pulloxhill for lunch, w/o going up Sundon Hills or Sharpenhoe Clappers...and then back the same way.