In this period of unsettled weather, choosing what to wear for a walk was a challenge. Today’s walk illustrated that point with warm sunshine, cold wind, thunder and steady rain all being part of our experience. Even so, 15 of us gathered in the dappled sunshine of a woodland car park near the village of Ringshall for Richard and Alison’s walk. Within 5 minutes of setting off, rain coats and umbrellas were needed but the lush green fields and scenery glowed against the leaden skies. We negotiated the Hanging Coombe staircase, this time going cautiously down it after which the skies turned to blue and the sun came out. We made our way up the now slippery chalk slopes to arrive at the top of Ivinghoe Beacon. By this time the skies were darkening again and storm clouds were rolling around. We stopped for a brief time to have our morning break and admire the amazing views and could see the approaching storms. We heard a clap of thunder and since being at the highest point for miles around as lightning was threatening was not the best place to be, we didn’t linger and made our way to the safety of lower ground. The wide open vistas soon gave way to woodland and it wasn’t long before the monument at Ashridge came into view and our lunch stop by the National Trust cafe. With spots of rain starting again, the shelter of the large table canopies was very welcome as was a hot cup of tea.

The afternoon was largely dry with some welcome sunshine. Our walk took us through a field that is well used by skylarks and their delightful song accompanied us for quite some time. Before long we walked across the well-manicured Ashridge Golf Course and waited as various golfers teed off. Gordon paid particular interest and commented on one or two of the more impressive swings as the balls wizzed off into the distance. At some points it felt more like walking on fine carpet than a footpath. With the golf behind us, we entered the woods again and soon were back at our car park. We thanked Richard and Alison for leading us today. As quite often seems the way recently, once back on the road home, the rain started again.