June Evening Walk: Wheathampstead
Watching the herons
Sixteen members gathered in Wheathamstead to take advantage of a beautiful summer's evening.
Leaving the Bull PH car park the group made its way along the high street over the River Lea Bridge before turning east along the Lea Valley Walk towards Marford Farm Ford.
The sun was low in the sky, but still very bright and warm, giving an extraordinary glow to the freshly cut hay. Young foals gambolled with their mothers and a heron stood watching us from the field.
Leaving the Bull PH car park the group made its way along the high street over the River Lea Bridge before turning east along the Lea Valley Walk towards Marford Farm Ford.
The sun was low in the sky, but still very bright and warm, giving an extraordinary glow to the freshly cut hay. Young foals gambolled with their mothers and a heron stood watching us from the field.
Enjoying the shade at Marfard Farm ford
From Marford Ford we entered the Devils Dyke where Caesar supposedly defeated King Cassivellaunus in 54BC. Here we benefited from the cool shade given by the canopy of trees as we walked along the ditch as far as Beech Hyde Farm. From here we walked to the Wicked Lady pub, through the woods on Nomansland to the Elephant and Castle.
'And Caesar was about here ...'
At Weavers Cottages we took the footpath and we walked the southern boundary of a golf course. Entering Pipers Lane we walked north to pick up the Lea Valley Walk again and returned to Wheathamstead. Our final steps took us through the lovely churchyard of St. Helen's Church and at the Bull PH we enjoyed a refreshing drink whilst the campanologists 'tolled the knell of parting day' -- a perfect end. Ray
