Tag: Woods

Are there bears in these woods?

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14 October 2015

Now we had some breakfast inside us and supplies in the fridge Commando decided to go for a short run leaving me to my own devices. As I was itching to get out and explore the lake I didn’t mind one bit. Beside the row of chalets, some steep wooden steps led down a grass bank, turned to gold by the covering of pine needles, to the lake shore. At the bottom of the bank, below our balcony window, upturned canoes rested on a rough stone wall and some weathered boards. The tall pines turned the ground to a patchwork of light and shade and the air was clean and fresh. Continue reading Are there bears in these woods?

the unexplored path – first published 26 May 2013

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A sunny Sunday in late May, and a new pair of walking boots seemed like a good excuse for a walk, as if I ever needed one. Add to that a path I’d been meaning to explore for a while and you have a nice little afternoon stroll. As it happened it wasn’t quite what I’d hoped but at least I ticked it off my list. Continue reading the unexplored path – first published 26 May 2013

Interconnected woods and surprises

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Sunday 4 October 2013

Leaving my chilly perch under the stand of pines I ambled back down the hill beside the avenue of limes heading for the place I’d first emerged into the clearing on that wet July Day. Back then I had no idea of the extent of the woodland and the rain stopped me exploring further than the little park by the road that had first caught my attention. When I plunged back into the trees I soon found myself at the meeting of three trails where I’d sheltered from the rain that day and there were the steps I’d climbed, looking less treacherous in the sun. Continue reading Interconnected woods and surprises

Risking the rain to explore Hatch Grange

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4 October 2015

Back in June, when I was visiting the dentist, I discovered a new park, Hatch Grange. In fact, the park had been there since the fourteenth century when John de Hache lived there but somehow, in all the times I’d gone past, I’d never noticed it before. Unfortunately, a torrential downpour cut my exploration short and I promised myself I’d go back when the weather was better. It seemed as if the trip was doomed because every time I so much as thought about visiting it rained. When Sunday morning started off bright and sunny I thought I’d give it another go, even if I did risk causing a rainstorm. After all I needed something to take my mind off my Monday interview even if it did mean getting wet. Continue reading Risking the rain to explore Hatch Grange

a Beaulieuful stroll – first published 7 April 2013

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Sometimes, I set off on a walk with a clear objective in mind, other times I just wander and see where the trails take me. One Sunday in early April 2013, I started out on the former and ended up on the latter. It may not have ended where I’d wanted, and more than two years on, I’ve still not managed to get there, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t interesting. Continue reading a Beaulieuful stroll – first published 7 April 2013

The Wyvern 10k And a taster session on the Fair Oak trails

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12 July 2015

Commanndo’s running hijacked my Sunday walk this week due to the Wyvern 10k, which was also his first ever event running as part of a bona fide running club. As it happened I didn’t mind too much because I’d heard there were some interesting footpaths around Fair Oak and I fully intended to check them out while he was running. Well, if I could find them… Continue reading The Wyvern 10k And a taster session on the Fair Oak trails

Woods and rain

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7 July 2015

It was a disappointingly miserable morning, following a frustrating day where I’d spent precious hours sorting out an appointment that had been cancelled at the last minute instead of enjoying the sunshine. Originally I’d planned a walk along the river but the weather changed my mind. If I’ve learned anything in my years of walking it’s that the river is not the best place to be when the heavens open. Continue reading Woods and rain

The dentist, a new trail and some rain

A very damp Hum Hole
A very damp Hum Hole

22 June 2013

Not many people like going to the dentist, especially not for a filling but that was where I was headed on Monday morning bright and early, well earlyish. When I got up I wasn’t exactly impressed to see rain but, by the time I left, it had stopped. Unfortunately, as the first part of my walk was through Hum Hole where all the trees were slowly relieving themselves of the left over rain water, I still got wet. Continue reading The dentist, a new trail and some rain

If you go down to the woods today

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24 March 2015

My Tuesday walk was prompted by a post on the Southampton Heritage Facebook page about a strange brick structure in West Wood. There were lots of theories about what it could be and it looked so interesting I thought I’d try to find it myself and take a look. I do like a good mystery. Also, as last week’s West Wood exploration was cut short by an unaccountable bout of lethargy, it seemed a good plan to go back and finish what I started. Continue reading If you go down to the woods today

Clausentum, the beginnings of a city

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1 March 2015

Before the medieval town of Southampton was even thought of, or the villages of Hawick and Hamtun that came before it, there was a Stone Age settlement on a wooded bend of the banks of the River Itchen about three miles from Southampton Water. In AD 43, the Romans invaded Britain and, around thirty years later, built the fortress settlement of Clausentum on the spot.  The sharp bend in the river enclosing a promontory of land made it easy to defend the site with just a wall and two ditches and inside this enclosure wooden huts and wharves were built. On Sunday morning, I thought I’d explore what little remains of Clausentum, I didn’t have far to walk because my village grew up around it. Continue reading Clausentum, the beginnings of a city