Another lovely day and another thirteen enthusiasts on our long walk. Very good to see Veronica back and walking well. Everything has grown so prodigiously so that grass along the ridge and through Rainsborough Camp is very long and thick. We crossed through Camp Farm and down towards Croughton but took the path that enters the village by the Village Hall grounds. Big Mistake! The path was completely obscured by five foot high stinging nettles. We all waded through with arms aloft but those in shorts were badly stung. Once across the village we observed that sheep had replaced cattle in yet another field. Something we had already remarked on earlier. Once across the ford beyond Croughton Mill we turned towards Warren Farm. To our surprise the field that had always been pasture for the famous Aberdeen Angus herd was now arable with a crop of what we took to be late planted wheat. No path was marked out but experience took us in the right direction. Down through the woods in Upper Aynho Grounds and then with earlier permission, we walked along the lower edge of the lakes. A heron took off as we approached. The swan’s nest we had seen the last time we walked there was no longer occupied but we soon passed the mother with her three delightful cygnets swimming towards her. She hissed at us and then watched our progress closely. There were two flotillas of ducklings hurrying across the lake in formation, one set very tiny. Further along a scattering of white feathers and lots of swan droppings. Had a fox had one of the pair?
We walked on up through the central area and on to the B4100 which we crossed without incident. A pheasant took fright as we continued through a field of strikingly coloured wild flowers. Soon we were on Portway and back at the pavilion a few minutes after midday. 6.48 miles and a welcome coffee, tea or cold drink to cool off.