Saturday 28 March 2015

Come walk with me ...


Yesterday dawned bright and sunny so we decided to take a morning walk in the village of St. Mary Bourne. This village has strong personal associations for me as it is the village where my Mum spent her childhood and was married and a place where I used to spend a lot of my school holidays staying with my relatives on their farm.


Have you got your walking shoes/boots on?  Then come and join me as we start our walk through The Rec (recreation ground) and then turn down beside the lake.














before turning uphill towards Derrydown Woods






where there are lovely views as you look left of the river wending its way down towards the viaduct.





Let's look back to see how far we have climbed.






 No spring lambs in this field at the top of the hill today, perhaps we are too early in the year.





We continue onwards walking along the ride at the edge of the woods





as far as the corner where we turn right back into open countryside







with lovely views across the fields.





and stop to photograph these lovely wild primroses





which have always grown at the top of the hill near the five lanes junction.





We then cross over and continue down the hill where a donkey comes to say hello to us





before turning right to walk along the byway to Haven Hill.







How lovely to see the school children playing outside and thinking that since taking semi-retirement I don't need to go to school every day. I still have this guilty feeling that I can go for walks in the countryside on school days!





We turn down Haven Hill and then walk through the meadows back towards the Rec.










but stop at each gate to read these signs that the school children wrote when this pathway was upgraded and the old stiles removed (probably about 10-15 years ago now).





We have now reached the road and instead of going straight ahead back to The Rec we turn left down towards the main street and the war memorial stopping on the way to take photographs of these lovely celandines and violets.







I also stop awhile at the war memorial to pay my respects to the fallen of the World Wars which include my Great Uncle - Hector Frederick Hibberd, who died in France in September 1918.






We turn down the main street with its beautiful thatched cottages 




past the alms houses





to the stream that meanders down through the village





past the Old Plough and over the bridge





and on towards the Church passing many other beautiful cottages









before walking through the Churchyard to take a photo of this lovely porch




and then turn back towards the Village Centre past The Summerhaugh





and back across the bridge to take the turning to the Rec and the carpark.





I hope you have enjoyed taking this virtual walk with me. One day soon I will invite you to share another walk with me.




10 comments:

  1. Hello Jan

    Thank you for taking me on your walk, I've enjoyed so much.
    It's lovely to see the area beside you. Your photos are brilliant,
    especially like the ones showing the water, love them.
    Oh to live in a thatched cottage, the poems by the children are priceless.

    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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  2. Love the photos, especially the church porch.
    Continue taking us on your walks
    Linda

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  3. Looks like a fabulous walk! Love the thatched cottages - so pretty!
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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  4. WOW,what a Stunning wallk,love those poems too.My maiden name was Hibberd !!

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  5. Beautiful scenes - a lovely day for walk and a lovely place to walk too!

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  6. What a pretty village, and a lovely walk - thank you for sharing! I love the primroses, and haven't yet seen any violets. I do think you can't have enough poetry whilst out walking - the children's poems are very sweet :)
    Cathy x

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  7. What a lovely walk today, Jan--that village is so beautiful. Just how I imagined a small English village to look :) Love the thatched cottages--I do hope to see some in person some day!

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  8. Very pretty pics Jan, but it would be hard to take a pic that wasn't pretty in St Mary Bourne. Such a beautiful area, one of the many close to where you live.

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  9. I so enjoyed coming along for the walk with you. I love the children's poems and those thatched cottages are divine. Enjoy your Easter weekend. x

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  10. Thank you again for taking me on your walk, such a beautiful place and looks so peaceful. Chris xx

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