Pete's Walks - Caddington 'figure-of-eight' walk (page 3 of 3)
I crossed the road in Slip End and continued ahead on another path. Beyond a section of a huge green field of corn, I passed along one side of Limekiln plantation. I then turned right, following Half Moon Lane along the far side of the wood - here I saw my first Comma butterfly of the year. It was a lengthy section along this track, which thankfully has been cleaned up since I first walked it when it had clearly suffered from a lot of fly tipping. There was the usual sound of gunfire as I passed Broomhill Leys wood on my left, where paintballing takes place.
Near the start of the path between Slip End and Half moon Lane
Half Moon Lane
Half Moon Lane
Half Moon Lane
Half Moon Lane
Looking back - the path from Slip End runs along from the left and behind the wood, then the curving line of trees shows the route of Half Moon Lane
Half Moon Lane
At the end of Half Moon Lane I followed a proper lane for a few yards, then turned half-right on a footpath across another green corn field. The footpath then went through a metal kissing-gate into a meadow, where I followed the left-hand hedgerow to a gate, then turned sharply right to cross the meadow to another kissing-gate. The path then followed a headland between two corn fields to reach the road between Markyate and Slip End.
The short lane walk after Half Moon Lane
The path from the lane, with Markyate to the left in the Ver valley
Meadow on the edge of Markyate
The path heading back to the Markyate-Slip End road
I turned right, and followed the road for about a quarter of a mile. A footpath then went half-left, going diagonally across a huge field containing about 20 horses and ponies. through a couple more kissing gates, the path went through a much smaller field with around four brown horses in it, and then turned right through a small meadow to emerge at a lane close to a chapel in Aley Green.
The huge horse field
Approaching the far corner of the huge horse field
Approaching the chapel in Aley green
I turned left and followed the lane for a few hundred yards, before taking a footpath on the right. This went uphill, initially along a hedgerow before continuing across yet another corn field. Across another lane, the path was enclosed between fences as it ran around the edge of a sports field (a football match was just coming to an end). On emerging in another corn field, I turned left, and in the field corner returned to the path past the school that I'd been on earlier. I then retraced my steps back to my waiting car.
The path between Aley Green and the football pitch in Caddington
Path beside the school in Caddington
The whole walk took just over four hours, I'd forgotten that it was so short. Once again I'd found nowhere on the route suitable for lunch, so I took my sandwiches home with me. It had been a very pleasant walk on another nice day for walking - the stiff breeze had kept the temperatures down nicely. Once again the colourful splashes of wildflowers along all the paths added to the pleasure of the walk.