Thursday 20th July Whitwell > Stagenhoe > Bendish walk led by Tony P.

This 7.5 mile had 18 walkers and started from the Recreation Ground in Whitwell, carrying on through the village before joining the Hertfordshire Way, crossing the river Mimram we made our way up to large house,The Bury part of the Bowes-Lyon estate.
Continuing along the tracks we passed All Saints church before walking on towards Stagenhoe
Walking through Foxholes & Park Woods, we then made our way down past the farm at Stagenhoe bottom, where some road walking brought us onto the path at Church lane.

As the ford was in flood we had a detour over the wooden bridge 

Reaching the top of Church Lane, we all stopped in the shade for a well earned coffee break 

Suitably refreshed we passed Pickering farm that looked more like a scrap yard.
Passing Bendish we continued along to Holt Farm 

Coming to the first of four styles, we carefully made our way through the fields where a couple of frisky horses followed the group

 

 We passed through Horsleys wood where a picnic lunch was taken in the glorious sunshine
Crossing the road at Cuckolds cross we walked through the wheat fields bringing us back towards Whitwell 

 

Before returning to our cars for the end of a thoroughly enjoyable walk, on a hot sunny day with a slight breeze keeping us cool at times.

Track of walk, walked in anti-clockwise direction