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

Something Different - a Murder!

Jo hosted a Murder Mystery night for us which included an excellent 3 course meal.

It was 1848. The Dowager Lady Withering is found dead at the stately home Withering Depths on the Yorkshire Moors, run through with her late husbands sword. The dinner guests were.

Lord Selby Withering, 24, a bohemain poet who is heavily in debt.

Sir Clifforde Heath-Clifforde, 4th Baronet, an unmarried 38 year old rake.

Suzannah Heath-Clifforde, the 26 year old, wild gypsy half-sister of Sir Clifforde.

Emily Lloyd Bridges, an 18 year old ward of the Dowager Lady Withering.

Lady Caroline Mouton, the lively widow of Lady Withering's husband's best friend.

Reverend Adam Brethren, an austere minester and cousin of the late Lady Withering.

Jane Eyrie, a 26 year spinster and governess to Emily.

Carlos Chickensi 24 year old Spanish Count, spending a year on a Grand Tour.

See if you can spot any of the characters below! They may look a bit like people you recognise.

As usual there was more than enough food to go round, great company with plenty of dramatics and laughs. If you would like to participate in the Murder Mystery, look for this event to pop up in our programme (or ring Jo to book your interest) as we are intending to do it again with a different cast...... No one is allowed to tell anyone who did it or it will spoil the evening (bit like the Mousetrap),

Who needs to travel out of the 3 counties?

Who needs to travel, we have had Spring Walks in some of the best weather over some of the most glorious countryside over the last two weekends within a few miles of Dunstable! I am adding a few photos to give you an idea of what is on our doorstep!

Last Sunday we started from Edlesborough and walked to Ivinghoe where there is an excellent little tea shop, up on the Ridgeway to Aldbury (where there is a pond and 2 pubs) up Pitstone Hill and Ivinghoe Beacon and back to Edlesborough, The view were magnificent and we saw belted galloway cattle, new born lambs and red kites. It makes you feel good to be alive with the sun shining, fellow walkers and such views!
A traditional Group Photo, however not compulsory, if you don't want your mugshot turning up in out photos just let us know!


You can see how close we are to home by the White Lion in the background!


On our way back towards Edlesborough


We have some quite dramatic quarries in our area as well.
Little friendly cows just ignoring us walkers.

Surprising what activity you can find on the top of Pitstone hill. This is Tai Chi.


Pitstone and Ivinghoe Beacon from Edlesborough

No not Derbyshire, the Ridgeway as seen from Edlesborough.

The Bridgwater Monument in Ashridge.Edlesborough Church as seen coming from Ivinghoe Beacon.


The next ones were taken on Mothering Sunday on our mystery walk which 18 of us participated in which started at Woburn Sands and went to Wavenden, again on a beautifully sunny spring day.


Spring has Sprung near Wavenden.

Walking near Wavenden House.



Another example of Bedfordshire countryside near Woburn Sands.

If you have climbed up from the bottom of the hill you appreciate the views more, like this one from the trig point at the top of Ivinghoe Beacon.

Trip to Sheen Bunkhouse in Derbyshire March 2011

13 of us had another enjoyable weekend away in March. The sun shone for the majority of the time enough for shirtsleeves some days.

As usual, some of the group did more walking than others, we took food enough for a small army I think, and there was an excellent choice for the Friday night's meal. On the Saturday some went to the pub for a meal and/or drinks and others stayed at the hostel and ate, drank and watched the tv. On the Saturday, again some did the peaks, whilst others did a shorter somewhat less strenuous walk, and others just went for a bus ride and met us with their car in Hartington. There are always options.......... However some sort of hill climbing is recommended to see the very best views.

If you climb a Derbyshire peak this one of the sort of views you can expect.


A few of us congregating in Hartington (not far from the pond, pubs and tea shop)


Just a taste.
There are lots of photographs of our trip to Sheen in Derbyshire in the Gallery, or use https://picasaweb.google.com/dunstablebogtrotters to see photos from our trips and local walks.
This is a very small panoramic view video taken just down the footpath from the Bankhouse.