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.

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.....