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