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

Clifton (Track Walk)

This time me and my sister Jennifer went to take the

dogs out at Clifton. We drove towards the railway

bridge and parked up in the lay-by just in front of it from Aynho. After we parked up I got out of the car to get my boots on and there was a very bad smell in the air. After I got my boots on we went in to a VERY muddy track next to the embankment with the railway on and a thin amount of trees between us and the railway. A bit further on we found the viaduct I wanted to find. We walked up to it to take a closer look looking along the side of the arches it looks like it stretched infinitively. Looking at the arches we saw through the holes leading to the end of the viaduct. We walked along the side and saw the arches are numbered and a bit further along found a bit of rail and had a look round the forest on the other side quickly. We saw some ivy through one of the holes and it looked picture perfect when we went as far as we could because we was stopped by a fence and turned back and went the way we came in and carried along the foot path and saw a very nice little river we came up to a 3 point junction in the foot path. Then Jennifer wanted to turn back so we did.When we got back

 to the car I decided to carry on to the Great Western Arms pub (OX17 3PB) great service and very nice people and bit further down the drive to GWA you can buy an ice cream just outside the wharf. Great Western Arms website http://www.great-westernarms.co.uk/contact.html

Google Maps: 51.988597,-1.273304

GPS: N 51 59.316 W 001 16.398 

OS Grid Reference: SP 500 325 

Lighthorne (Forest Walk)

We parked on a grass verge and looked at the entrance thinking it would be fine to just let the dogs loose so we did, they almost got to the stile but decided instead to have a sniff around. When we got into the forest over the stile and

along the bridge we saw it has had some work done because of the pile of logs and deep muddy tyre tracks we managed to get over them and go straight through the middle of the forest which is where the footpath sign pointed it lead to more muddy tyre tracks and a fence. We followed the fence round for about 2 minutes and ended back where we started so we went off into the forest and went in a different direction where my mum got her foot stuck in a bit of marsh the only bit of marsh in the entire forest unbelievable, after she pulled her foot out we carried on and we called Floyd back because he disappeared we saw a glimpse of him running back then a very sudden loud yelp but he kept coming back we couldn't work out why he yelped because he looked fine nothing wrong with him I said to mum "He must have trod on a thorn or twisted something". We carried on looking around at the beautifully creepy forest with its brown leaves on the floor mixed with the bright green grass and moss covered branches. The tree trunks also had moss climbing up it.After a bit more walking Mum said to me "Look over there" so I did after about 15 - 20 seconds I realised what she wanted  me to see there's sheep in the next field

and no fence in between us and them we thought about calling the dogs back and putting them on their leads but mum said they probably won't notice which we carried on and headed back to the car. We were getting close to the car and we heard trumpets and I then saw horse and riders across the road from us it was "The Hunt" because the noise of the trumpets was spooking the dogs we got to the car and left.

52.191272,-1.514091 (Google Maps) 

N 52 11.475 W 001 30.842 (GPS Co-ords)