Perhaps because it is half term week, only twelve of us set off on a warm sunny day through the village and down to Millers Lane and the ford, which we skirted round before climbing up to Souldern Village. The ground was muddy underfoot from previous day’s rain but we avoided the worst of it on grassy if squelchy paths. We crossed further fields on our usual route towards Nancy Bowles Wood, and were delighted by the plentiful daffodils and snowdrops. The track up to the wood was still quite firm although some ice remained under the water in puddles and this proved quite slippery. We cut across to the Fritwell road and followed it back into Souldern and continued right through the village. Rather than experience the very marshy ground on the Portway route, we continued and returned the way we had come via Millers Lane. It was good to sit outside in the sunshine for our coffee.
