Hanwell (Forest Walk)

We walked from the house today instead of driving to this walk which we done almost every day before I got my driving license. We got to an overgrown field and found the gate locked which it has been for a while because gypsies kept breaking down the fence and camping here but they don’t come here anymore. So we followed the fence round and found a tree with a swing which Floyd likes playing with and a little further on we came to a gap in the fence and turned left towards the small wooded area with small trees be careful of low branches. When we got in to the field and walked along the forest it was quiet a foggy morning and looking through the trees and a gap in the hedge at the back it looked as if the world just stopped. Carrying on we went through a gap in the corner of the field and into an empty one walking along the edge we got to a another gap in the hedge on our right and followed it through into another field and carried along coming up  to a split track we took the one heading to the woods on a slight angle and came to a metal gate we went through and into the woods the slope in was a little slippy but when you’re on the level ground it’s not too bad we got to a small bridge with bits of wood nailed on top so be careful you don’t trip on them it’s very boggy underneath and on either side so don’t let the dog in there unless you want to give them a bath later on. A bit further is another bridge crossing a small stream after crossing that we turned right and followed a small path leading to the valentines bridge stood on top of it looked like it was about a 4-5 foot drop but Floyd still decided to go down the bank and play in the water after he got out we carried on up and saw a fallen tree we got a bit closer and realized it landed on another smaller tree and I thought it was fascinating how the tree shredded almost (Better off looking at the picture of it lower down). Following the footpath we got back to the track and headed back. All around the forest there was peaceful silence and soft chirping from birds. 

Google Maps: 52.080731,-1.360784 

GPS: N52 04.844 W 001 21.380 

OS Grid Reference: SP 4390 4267

Glympton (Church Walk)

We parked in the lay-by along the A44 and got myself and the dogs ready. We headed towards a small gate with a footpath sign and got a little way in before we saw a steep hill to walk down covered in ice and snow so we decided not to and turned back towards the car because my mum spotted a another footpath on the other side of the road so we followed that one instead after crossing the busy road we saw a long wide track covered in snow with trees on either side. We let the dogs off their leads and followed the track to a field and a couple of barns with lots of logs piled up we carried on pass and came to a gate which lead on to a road and on the other side of the road we saw a building with a gate going through the middle. We crossed the road and went through another gate under the middle of the building on the gate we saw a sign saying

FOOTPATH ONLY 

ST. MARYS CHURCH 

GLYMPTON 

We walked down this long tarmac drive of Glympton Park looking round enjoying the view and spotting how many CCTV cameras there are (Lost count in the end) we found the church and carried on round past the church and followed the tarmac and found a

wooden staircase which we followed and walked a long a verge and into another wide open field. We then decided it was too cold and turned back after we crossed the road into the track and the little dog Lucy decided to go through the fence and loose her coat so I had to put my coat over the barbed wire and I climbed over to retrieve it and then carried on back to the car when we got to the A44 we had a bit of a problem trying to see round the corner so if you do this walk from the A44 be careful crossing.

Google Maps: 51.885767, -1.392050 

GPS: N 51 53.146 W 001 23.523 

OS Grid Reference: SP 419 210

Little Wittenham (Viewpoint Walk)

We parked up just outside the entrance gates and had a look at the impending hill ahead. After we sorted out the dogs and put them on the leads we headed off through the gate and along the field and up the hill we had to keep the dogs on the leads for a bit because of the sheep but enjoying the views as we went. Looking to the right we saw Didcot power station billowing smoke out of the chimneys and behind us looking at the Thames River with 2 bridges going across and winding along the landscape. We made it to the top and went into the circle of trees which had a fence round so we could let the dogs off while I took photos of the surrounding scenery. Poor Lucy found it so cold and windy up there Clare had to put Lucy’s coat on. Still in the trees we went in search of a geocache called “Cuckoo Pen” (GC16P2H) after along search we found it and left heading back to the car.

Back at the car we saw an army helicopter fly over us very close from RAF Benson. It’s very nice out there and from what we saw many different routes to walk you can go through the woods or along the river or just go straight up like we did. 

Geocaches: “Cuckoo Pen” (GC16P2H) 
Google Maps: 51.636526,-1.183434 

GPS: N 51 38.192 W 001 11.006 
OS Grid Reference: SU 566 934