A perfect day for walking, warm sunshine and a cool breeze. We welcomed Thitima to the group and hope she will become a regular walker with us. We set off down the much improved Green Lane – all those deep ruts now filled in – crossed the footbridge beyond the Lower Walton Grounds farm buildings and followed the track round past the row of houses to the Kings Sutton lane. Here we took the narrow path through to the fields and climbed the ridge with its view over Kings Sutton village. The muddy section through the copse at the top was still not dried out but easily passable. The path goes diagonally down the next field, passes through the gateway in the hedge and rises diagonally up again to the top of the ridge. Good views in all directions from here and a good excuse for a short rest after a strenuous uphill walk. All the fields so far still had stubble from the harvest and the path was easy to follow. As we continued we came to a recently harrowed field where the route was much more difficult to see. We knew the gap in the hedge to aim for so it was not too much of a problem. The route through the old stone pits at Charlton was much easier as the electric fence borders the path all the way through to the stile. In the last field before Charlton village a herd of cows lay quietly at the far end and took no interest in us. We continued through the village, cut up through Rainsborough Camp, enjoyed the views from our own ridge and got back to the pavilion in time for coffee and a delicious lemon cake, or jacket potato if ordered before we set out. Ten walkers, ten kilometres.
