Stowe-on-the-Wold February 2011

We have been having our usual crop of weekend and midweek walks, but on the 2nd weekend in February 15 of us went on a Youth Hostel trip to Stowe.

Most of us travelled up on Friday and did a 5 or 6 mile walk before visiting the pub. A few volunteers cooked food for everyone for that evening's meal. No one was going hungry, there were 2 different soups, sausage casserole, vegetable bake, fish pie and 4 different vegetables followed by apple crumble and apple pie and custard, (all home made) and cheese and biscuits. Even after the afternoon walk I suspect no one lost weight that day!

This YHA is right on the Square in the centre of Stowe.

Some of us partook of a hostel breakfast, whilst others used the hostel kitchen.

Outside the hostel getting ready to leave on our walk.

In the afternoon the Hostel uses this room as a tea shop, you can see the square through the window behind.
The usual halt for a group photo, this time by the Well just outside Stowe.

What an idylic scene

The Saturday was beautifully bright fairly crisp day and we did a circular day walk to Burton on the Water via Lower and Upper Slaughter, which are very scenic villages despite the names.

Stowe in the distance in the brightness of a February day.

The river flowing through Burton on the Water.It was warm enough for most of us to sit in the sunshine by the river to eat our sandwiches (others found nearby establishments for refreshments and retail therapy).

Most of the group went over to one of the numerous local pubs for a tasty evening meal on the Saturday night and various forms of drink.

St Mary's Church and the water mill in Lower Slaughter.


The lure of the playground furniture was too much to resist.

Did we mention the spring flowers are starting to come into bloom?
The scenery was great, as was the company.

This doesn't really do the view justice, and the conditions were just perfect for walking.

On the Sunday we decided to visit the Rollright Stones, however the rain was like stair rods and the wind was bitter so the visit was short lived and the decision was made that home rather than any other activities was a good idea.
Investigating the stones in our wet weather gear.

Even in the pooring rain you can see the hills in the distance. (Wold means hill, so a trip to Stowe on the Wold does involve a few gradients.) It is true in the main though that the bigger the hill the better the view! Look at some of the Lake District and Derbyshire photos.

For more photos go to https://picasaweb.google.com/dunstablebogtrotters

January Social Activities

OK many of us worked hard at Studham, but we also enjoyed ourselves in January as well.

The photos above were taken at our Burns Night Celebrations, where we had Cockie Leekie Soup, Leek and Potato Soup, Haggis (including a vegetarian version), Inverness Cheese Cake, Oat Cakes with cheese, Oat Flapjacks, and Scots Whisky amongst other things accompanied by Scottish music, Burns readings etc. As you can see we also dressed for the occasion. A very enjoyable and fine evening. Many thanks to Lesley for her hospitality.


This was us walking up a bit of an appetite for our Post Christmas meal at the Plough in Wingfield. We made our way from Dunstable via Houghton Regis to the pub for our meal. (It was only muddy in a couple of fields).

Some of the group outside Houghton Regis Church after partaking of their very welcoming coffee morning with home made cakes (just in case we couldn't last out till we got to the Plough)!





These are a few of the 38 people who attended for the meal - many drove there and even more got a lift back instead of walking the 4 miles to the pub. Others feel very pleased that they tried to walk off at least a few of the calories provided by the hearty well cooked meals. Well done the Plough.

Of course there were the usual round of Saturday, Sunday and mid-week walks and a visit to our local Weatherspoons during the month as well.If you would like to join any of our socials, or better still organise one, or have some good ideas for things you would like to do, please email social@dunstablebogtrotters.co.uk or speak to one of the committee.....