After Rain

Wednesday 20 to Friday 22 November 2024

The predominantly dry weather of this month, up until a week ago, has made for some particularly colourful vistas here in the Chilterns – up in the skies, across the fields, and within the woods: perfect conditions for some wonderful ‘cornflake’ rambles. The eventual arrival of the rain last weekend and at the start of the current week did little to dampen this spectacle, and indeed the moisture has added an autumnal aroma to the mix, a fragrance of earth and leaf. I am writing this during a windswept afternoon, courtesy of Storm Bert, whilst reflecting on three days of super walks in the hills close to home – with, as ever, some pictures to share.

The Ashridge Boundary Trail, a varied and scenic 16-mile circuit, just north of Berkhamsted, was the challenge for friend Mark and myself on Wednesday

. . . through the Ashridge beechwoods . . .

Heading for coffee time now, at the Bridgewater Monument café . . .

. . . with an excellent apricot flapjack for sustenance

Northward back into the golden forest . . .

. . . on a wide and wonderful two-mile drive . . .

. . . before emerging into open country on the approach to Ivinghoe Beacon . . .

Very exposed and chilli on the ridge – unless you have a woolly jumper!

. . . and then finally, as dusk fell, back to the start-point at Ashridge House

Next day, Thursday, and a murky start for myself and brother Tim, as we made our way up the Chiltern scarp from Chinnor

Near the top now, as the sun burnt through the cloud . . .

. . . we had some Belted Galloway cattle for company

After an excellent lunch stop in The Boot, looking down from Bledlow Ridge . . .

. . . back down into Chinnor, as the sun set on a fabulous Chiltern day

Friday, and a group walk from Potten End over to St Margaret’s took us past this ‘insulation foam’ fungus on a decaying cherry tree . . .

. . . up the sunken ‘Roman Road’ from Nettleden to Frithsden . . .

I suspect that the next time I write a Blog we will be into December, at the beginning of our meteorological winter. From a walking viewpoint the winter season is not ‘bleak’ so much as rich with possibility, at least on the days when the low sun casts long shadows on crisp ground. Exercising on a frosty morning is one of the seasonal pleasures of UK walking, so once Bert has passed let us hope for some more brightness as we head towards the solstice!

The song title ‘After Rain’ that I have adopted for my Blog heading today is taken from a composition by veteran folk artist Ralph McTell. The number appeared on his 1995 album ‘Sand In Your Shoes’ and includes the lyrics ‘the earth smells sweeter after rain’. On Wednesday evening McTell (who turns 80 next month), backed by bassist Dave Pegg, launched a short UK tour just up the road from me in Tring, and I was lucky enough, through Mark, to get a ticket. The duo played ‘After Rain’, and McTell explained that his inspiration in writing the song came in Australia after hearing the word ‘petrichor’ that refers to the fragrance of rain on dry earth – a pleasant experience familiar to us walkers. The word petrichor itself comes from the Greek ‘petra’ meaning stone and ‘ichor’ which is a mythological reference to ‘the golden fluid that flows in the veins of the immortals’. This little link affords a pleasing connection between the music and the autumnal landscapes that I have experienced over recent days.