Twelve of us set off today in optimistic mood in view of the weather forecast, and sure enough there was the occasional glimpse of sunshine. We took the Portway path towards Souldern, being careful to skirt the scattered stone from the collapsed wall. After crossing the two fields and stream into Oxfordshire we bore left, climbed the hill to the B4100 and crossed into Upper Aynho Grounds. Here ‘A Day in the Country’ was in full swing with hover cars and go-carts chasing around their tracks. The Red Poll herd grazed on our left and a couple of lively calves sprinted across the field.
The improvement to the path through the woods was very noticeable after the recent rain. it was no longer necessary to find a roundabout route as the water is now efficiently drained and the path free of boggy ground. The scene changed again as we emerged into the barley field of Warren Farm and then to the horse paddock. We reached Mill Lane and walked down to the ford and up to the wooded walk along the back of Croughton village. By the church yard we checked for the televison in the ancient tree trunk as usual but it had been covered by a bundle of hay. Once through the churchyard we walked up the lane to the main road through the village, and continued up past the school to the fields beyond and across to the lane linking Croughton and Charlton. At Cut Throat corner we took the bridleway towards Hinton for short distance before turning left on to the permissive path up to Camp Farm and across to Rainsborough camp. From there we followed the ridge to Green Lane and thence to the pavilion for rest and refreshment. A lovely varied walk of 6.3 miles.