We decided a Winter Picnic was Good Idea

And it was! 14 of us turned up at Ampthill and walked the short distance to Houghton House via Ampthill Park.

Here we are admiring Katherine's Cross which is an early example of a Gothic Revival monument erected by Capability Brown in 1773. In the 1530s Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon stayed in the castle which was originally here.

Although the floor is damp and it was a grey day we didn't get wet and it was very mild for December. This was classed as an active social (i.e a short walk to enjoy the company of others and such things as food and drink!)
Houghton House today is an English Heritage property which is the shell of a 17th century mansion commanding magnificent views, reputedly the inspiration for the ‘House Beautiful’ in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.

This is a view from Houghton House which is NE of Ampthill.

This is us enjoying our picnic and hot mulled wine and various nibbles for which we gave donations to this year's Bogtrotters charity, Keech Cottage Hospice, which we had in the grandure of Houghton House.


Another view of Houghton House, good job it was dry as although it looks impressive, unfortunately there is none of the roof left at all!

We then walked back to Ampthill where many of us enjoyed the warmth and Christmas Cheer of the Albion which is a fine Banks and Taylor public house.

OK so its now December and there have been no more posts. This doesn't mean nothings happening, its just been too busy to do blogs, just check out out "Programme of Events (past events)"!

We are still doing a long and a short walk every weekend plus mid week walks, usually on a Thursday and we have been away on weekends, which I shall give you a taste of below. We have been to both Yorkshire and Norfolk before in previous years, but different areas. The gallery gets updated on a regular basis, and there is one for Norfolk and Yorkshire and not forgetting the Scenes not too far from Dunstable and the More Reasonably Local Photos. You can access the photos by clicking on Gallery or by just going straight into www.picasaweb.google.com/dunstablebogtrotters.

We went to an independant hostel called Deepdale farm, in Burnham Deepdale in North Norfolk in mid November, where we had glorious weather. As usual one night we all took food and had a cheap slap up meal, and on some of the others most of us went out to eat.

This is the exterior of the backpackers hostel . It was well run and user friendly. The backpackers hostel is centred around a partially covered old stable courtyard and the buildings date back to 17th Century. They’ve been restored in the traditional Norfolk style, and where possible used green technologies to reduce the environmental impact.

This is just a taste of some of the coastal scenery.

We could have stayed in Deepdale's, Yurts or tepees which were at the back of the hostel!

Our group enjoying a walk in the autumnal sunshire
There are also some huge sandy beaches in Norfolk. This one included some pirates who also happened to be enjoying the band at the local pub when we visited it one evening!


A bit more Norfolk Coastline.

At the end of November some more of us went off to Nidderdale in Yorkshire. We again used an independant hostel but hired the whole establishment this time. Once again after the 1st days rain it was unseasonably sunny and mild. The autumn colours had to be seen to be believed, but again look at the album to see more.

As usual with our walks and weekends away, some people did longer walks ( about 18 miles or so), others did some long and some not so long ones, ie the first 7 or 8 miles and then decided to take a shorter route home, often including the pub just down the road from the hostel.
The exterior of Studfold our home for 4 nights. Airy, spacious with hot showers and good heating and cooking facilities. Sylv and Sandra organised this weekend and insisted on giving us all an excellent 3 meals a day, including snacks and three course dinners. We probably should have walked even more after all the food they provided. Well done and thanks from everyone.
This was taken just along the track from the centre where we were staying not far from Lofthouse.

Some idea of those colours mentioned above............
One of the views along the Nid Valley. This is probably Lofthouse below.

Gouthwaite Dam as far as we can remember.

This is the run off from one of the local dams, the one above. It started out misty on most days but then the sun came out to show off the scenery. Yes there were some substantial hills to climb, but the views across the dams and valley were well worth the effort.
Yes it was warm enough to take off our jackets and picnic in a field and admire the views.

However ones below were taken locally in November. Which proves you don't have to go far to enjoy the walks and countryside.



Grand Union near Berkhampstead.


Studham Middle Common
Alpacas in a field in Hockliffe!

Grand Union Canal

Just ready to set off from Berkhampstead Castle. Again see the albums for more.....

Trip to Port Eynon, S Wales August 2011

13 of us went to Port Eynon, on the Gower peninsular in South Wales. 3 of us camped in the field next door due to lack of space in the hostel, which used to be an old lifeboat station right on the water's edge once the tide is in. See below.


As usual with our trips, some did all the walks and some went out for meals most nights, others self-catered or used the chip shop (except we all had one of our huge first night 3 course dinners made by members of the group).
No one is expected to do everything anyone else does. If you want to do nothing, its OK, if you feel the urge to do an 18 mile walk, thats OK too. Most of us did the 12 mile Sunday walk to Rhosilli, the longest most amazing sandy beach on the Gower, some people caught the bus back rather than walk, and next day several of us did a 9 miles walk to Oxwich, another bay with a beautiful sandy beach. Pity it wasn't a bit warmer. However, some of who could stay in the Gower for a bit longer got to swim in the sea! Some of the hostellers went straight home, after the weekend and others went off to other places.

This a path leading back to the hostel. It is the grey building on the end of the campsite.

Something we found on one of the footpaths, self-service fridge and freezer with honesty box.

Another find, a gloucester old spot just having a mud bath in the middle of a footpath.

Again on a footpath leading to Port Eynon. You can see the sandy beach in the distance.

In the churchyard, of St Cattwg's Church, Port Eynon is a memorial to three of the lifeboat crew who lost their lives at sea in 1916. The lifeboat station was closed in 1919 and is now the Hostel.


Rhossilli Bay, over 3 miles of sandy beach used by Surfers as frequently has excellent breakers.
This is some of Oxwich Bay as taken from the Oxwich Bay Hotel where we partook of refreshments.


Just admiring the breakers rolling into this gully.


As you can see the heather and gorse were in full bloom just to add to the beauty.

This is Worms Head at Rhossilli which you can walk down, but only during a short window when the tide allows.
Sylv didn't have enough hands for putting on coats and eating apples!


We thought this stile looked like a guillotine so persuaded Clare to give it a go!


The old salt house just along from the hostel. Originally used for extracting salt from the sea, it is thought that the business was also run as a cover for smuggled goods.
This was taken later in the week further up the Gower on a glorious day looing towards another of its popular beaches called Langland.
To see more of the beauty of the Gower try http://www.the-gower.com/beaches/beaches.htm

OK its been a busy few months, and one without blogs! There is usually a short and a longer walk every weekend, plus a walk during the week and the odd social! Hopefully something for almost everyone. Obviously before deciding which walk to do its advisable to look at the mileage involved and how long it is likely to take. If it says something like 15 miles it will be a fairly fast pace. If it is an 8 mile all day walk it will be more leisurely and probably a few stops including a tea shop or pub. In fact one week we had something on 6 days out of 7! ......
Here is a sample.

Saturday 16th July and Sunday 17th 2011

Festival of History. Held over two days this is an excellent event not to be missed.
Over 2,000 years of history, and over 1,000 re-enactors make this the ultimate historical adventure at the Festival of History at Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire, presented by English Heritage. A full selection of living history encampments displayed stretching from an authentic Roman camp through to World War Two. The event featured everything from falconry, jousting displays and battle re-enactments to music, dance and ale.

Just a few of some of the Festival of History reinactments.

Friday 15th July 2011

A short walk to the Hunters Lodge public house at Whipsnade for a meal or just drinks. 3 miles.

There was a casino night on in the Hunters Lodge.The view over Dunstable downs at night on way back the pub.

Thursday 14th July 2011

Day Walk to Aylesbury via Totternhoe, Eaton Bray, Edlesborough, Ivinghoe, Marsworth and the Aylesbury arm of Grand Union canal. 16 miles

Wednesday 13th July 2011

Toddington to Harlington Stations A short circular walk covering the attractive countryside & views of Toddington & Harlington. 5 miles.

Tuesday 12th July 2011

Aylesbury Circle Day Walk A circular walk around Aylesbury starting at Bierton. Most of the route to the North of Aylesbury was on footpaths and grassland, also a riverside walk from Haydon Hill. 16 miles

Sunday 24th July 2011

Visit to Redbournbury Mill an Active Social.

There were four floors of the mill museum to explore and displays on how the mill works and the machinery was working producing flour. We went for a short circular walk, some walked less than others, but no more than 5 miles!

These are just down the road from Redbournbury mill itself.

Some of us have come back from Norway. Not for the fainthearted this trip! There are some amazing photos though, check out the album. https://picasaweb.google.com/117786250921657920836/NorwayJulyAugust2011

A small taste of the Norway trip. Try the videos below.

Someone has pointed out that there seem to have been no blogs since April!!
so here is three in one

We are still here and walking about 3 times a week. You can always look at the Programme of Events (Past Events) to see what has been happening and there are always updates into the Gallery http://https//picasaweb.google.com/dunstablebogtrotters so that you can see photos of what we have been doing.

These are just a few of our trips since the last blog - Brecon Beacons in April, glorious Welsh scenery.

Saffron Walden YHA which was built in the 1500s visited in May as we decided we had to visit before it closed as a hostel.

Saffron Walden YHA as was.

This was one of the dorms in Saffron Walden

Our most recent trip Bulgaria in June. Click the videos at the bottom to get an idea of some of the views we encountered on our trip.

This is the war memorial known as "Mother Bulgaria" in Veliko Tarnovo a major city.

The amazing Tsarevets Fortress which overlooks VT, see the video taken from here below.

Bulgaria was amazing, 8 of us visited Central Bulgaria near Veliko Tarnovo staying in Resen Lodge, run by a very amiable Scotsman called Ronnie who looked after us admirably and arranged transport in his bus where ever and whenever we wanted to go.
This is us with the bus admiring one of Bulgaria's numerous statues.

Resen village was rural with lovely mountainous countryside full of wildflowers, birds, butterflies and other wildlife. There were also numerous churches and magnificent monastries. Most of the villagers kept a few cows or goats which were collected in the morning and taken to pasture and then on their way home the animals just seemed to peel off from the herd and made their way home.....
The food portions were generous to say the least and a salad lovers paradise, ie 15-20 different salads on every menu, the local alcohol was also very good and up to 80% cheaper than at home. We had a few dramatic thunder storms, but we managed to avoid them and they soon cleared up leaving the atmosphere clear and cooler - otherwise it would probably have been a little too warm.

We did several trips out which included walks of varying lengths, mountains, caves, an eco forest and usually a bar or restaurant.

This is Etar which is a preserved working village museum of buildings and life as it would have been in the 1800s.

Resen Lodge, complete with en suite, rooms with air conditioning, bar, swimming pool and 2 resident rabbits!

Generally I think we can say a great time was had by all (even those who could possibly say if you could describe what that bar looked like at the end of the afternoon you probably weren't there!)



This is Shipka monument, a huge memorial with this glorious panoramic view.



Another glorious Bulgarian view taken from near Resen where we saw the Eagle Owls. See the Bulgaria Album.

The view from above Veliko Tarnovo taken from the Tsavarets Fortress site