A lovely first day of Summer saw eighteen of us set off down Green Lane. There were still a few puddles lower down the track, but they were easily navigated. A fox crossed unconcernedly in front of us towards the bottom of the descent. The rape seed had lost its flowers and was now tall and thick and green as we crossed several fields of it beyond Lower Walton grounds over the ridge with the muddy copse and on to the badger setts at the top of the far ridge. We paused here for a swig of water in the shade. We continued through Barley and more rape along very well marked paths to the old stone pits and out onto the road at the top of Charlton Village opposite the school. A slight blip here as six walkers at the back took a short cut up to the Rose and Crown, which fortunately was not open. We continued down through the village and up towards Rainsborough Camp before following the ridge back to Green Lane and the pavilion. We were rather warm so were pleased to sit and eat our refreshments in the shade. Five and a half miles.
