Click on the photo to enlarge
We set off from the pub shortly after mid day 11 walkers which was quite good for the first walk of the year and not a very good forecast. when we started out the sun was shining and it felt quite warm, so much so that I began to think it was looking like the forecast was wrong and I might get to make a start on my all over tan. A short distance into the walk and the clouds came and bought with them a cold wind and hail stones making the terrain very wet and muddy. At first we picked our way round the edge of the puddles but eventually the only way to make reasonable progress was to go through them. By the time we got back to the pub it was about 7.45 and we were wet and muddy up to our knees and in need of a drink and a hot meal. Ava thought the wet and mud was wonderful and is looking forward to the next walk come rain or shine.
While we arrived in Charlbury
in warm spring sunshine this was just a memory after drinks at
the Bell Hotel. As the company - about fourteen strong - passed
through the Cotswold stone houses the sky was milky grey and
a chilly wind blew in our faces. Once out of the village Bill
led us into a lane with high hedges on each side and evidently
there were just enough green leaves to block off the wind as
initial apprehensions about walking nude evaporated. Then as
we emerged into a wide open field the sun blazed suddenly, raising
our spirits The Oxfordshire Way extended before us as we pressed
forward, most of us in earnest conversation. At one point the
village of Stonesfiled appeared so close in front of us that
it seemed that we would have to dress, but then Bill led us sharp
left across the pasture and away from the houses.
Lunch was taken along a hedgerow facing the early afternoon sun;
we kept a low profile as one or two horseriders passed by.
After lunch found us approaching Ditchley Park along a wide tree-lined
avenue evidently laid out centuries ago. The windows of the huge
mansion pressed towards us but then Bill led us off to the right
away from any prying eyes.Ditchley Park was chosen by Winston
Churchill to receive a senior American diplomat in 1941 when
he was working to persuade the United States to enter the war
in Europe.
We did have to dress for
a time as we skirted the estate and its outbuildings but we were
soon nude again in open countryside with no habitation in sight
. After some miles a halt was called to allow the walkers a late
afternoon rest. Clothes began to go on as the sun lost its strength
and when we resumed our walk, houses and a road appeared. Bill
then led us off to the right back into open countryside and some
of us resumed our nude state until just before the first Cotswold
stone council houses of Charlbury came in sight.
A lovely day out and well worth the long journey there and back.
The Leith Hill walk is a firm favourite with a mixture of pretty wooded valleys, impressive views from Leith Tower, but this year it did have its 'moments'. They started at Dorking station where those travelling by train were met. It was obvious that there was another walking group also meeting at the station. That did not cause a problem until one of their walkers approached us looking to join a new walking group in the area. We mentioned that we were a 'Special Interest Group' and that he probably would not be interested. But he was not deterred and was still keen to join us. Eventually we had to tell him that he was happy to join us, but that we were a naturist walking group! All of a sudden he lost interest!
We started the walk at
the Wotton Hatch pub. Despite the poor forecast, 15 turned out
including three new walkers. We set of in grey cool conditions
with the promise from the weather man that 'it would brighten
up later'. After about 400 yards we got to the secluded spot
where it is possible to strip off, and despite the cool conditions,
three hardy souls braved the elements and exposed all their goosebumps.
The rhododendrons in the
tiny hamlet of Friday Street put on a splendid display for us.
We stopped at our usual place for lunch, but although the meadow
was sheltered from the cool breeze, it was a textile lunch. Once
we got on the move again and warmed up slightly a group at the
front stripped off. The group got a bit strung out and it was
not long after when somebody observed that our number had grown
from 15 to 17! We had been caught up by two lady textile walkers.
Fortunately the nude characters were at the front of the group
and the ladies were totally unaware. The nudes covered up, and
as we let the ladies pass us they did comment that we were very
brave to walk in shorts in such cold weather.
Soon after that we had a shower of rain and some how managed to lose Mike, so we were down to 14! By the miracle of mobile phones we did manage to contact him, but he decided to retreat back to the pub and a warm bus to Dorking.
We arrived at the Tower
and as it was Wednesday, the tower was closed. That, combined
with the indifferent weather, meant that we had the tower to
ourselves and it was not necessary to cover up, but the wind
was quite strong and cold on the exposed summit.
The walk continued and
we descended back down towards the valley. As we joined the old
smugglers road, we stumbled across a discarded pile of old coins,
which looked as if they had been left by a thief who was only
interested in pound coins! We collected about £5 of bounty,
before moving off.
Our walk took us past the Tillingbourne Falls, but nobody was interested in going for a swim. We got back to the pub at about 6pm and the warm food was very welcome! As we left the pub to make our way home, the sun actually put in an appearence!
Ashdown Forest
The
weather forecast was very indifferent. It was due to start off
wet and brighten up later. The weather man got it about spot
on! When we arrived at the pub it was raining, however the landlord
opened up early for us, so we were able to sit in the dry and
sample the Shepard Neame beer. We did linger over our beer, but
the slight delay paid off. As we emerged from the pub, it stopped
raining and in no time at all the sun was trying to break through.
The route through Ashdown Forest takes in some of the quieter areas, but the route does cross a few roads, some busy and some quiet. It also skirts around some dog walker car parks. Consequently it is quite possible to cross some of the roads and do much of the walk as nature intended. Its quite fun crossing a quiet road without bothering to cover up! We only got caught out by one dog walker who we bumped into while crossing a path. She was curious but not offended as we melted away into the woods!
We started out with 12 walkers and one dog (Ava). By the time we got to lunch, the sun was shining, although a bit cool, but that did not deter most of the group from lunching nude.
Although the walk dips into and out of the woods, being on top of the weald, it does give splendid views of both the North and South Downs.
After lunch the weather slowly degenerated, but stayed dry until we arrived back at the pub. After a fine supper, we emerged from the pub into a heavy shower of rain, but by then it was too late to spoil a rather pleasant days walking in good company.
Quainton
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After the cold or wet weather walkers experienced in April and May, June 7th greeted us with sun and cloudless blue skies over Buckinghamshire. It was a cheerful group then that quaffed liquid refreshment outside the George and Dragon waiting for the departure signal including some new faces; one new SOC member had driven from Manchester that morning.
At about 12.30 Richard led 21 walkers plus Ava the dog in the
direction of Quainton Hill and before long we were nude and climbing
steadily. To our left a broad expanse of green countryside appeared
and an early lunch break was called to enable us to enjoy the
view while we ate.
Early afternoon found us down from the hill and having to dress briefly to cross a road. Then we were off again past fields and woods at one with nature. Richard announced a change of itinerary from previous years so we did not pass Finemerehill House ,a mysterious isolated farmhouse that many of us remembered although its chimneys appeared in the distance. Instead we followed a cinder track through Romer and Sheephouse woods for some distance and then crossed the old Great Central Railway. No trains appeared although the line still carries London's rubbish to a nearby landfill site.
We followed a rough track the length of a large ditch - built,
Richard said, to prevent pollution of watercourses by the rubbish-filled
clay pits. Then another road - which in the past we managed to
nip across quickly without dressing - but this time we took a
different route and had to dress briefly. There followed a long
walk through an affforestation area with wide avenues through
the trees. Richard allowed us a late afternoon rest while he
surveyed us from the top of what may have been a firewatch platform
- looking like an umpire at Wimbledon with no clothes on.
Then out of the trees again and again a change of itinerary -
we were not to jump from sleeper to sleeper a along a disused
railway line as in previous years as it had become too overgrown.
Instead we had a long walk in the late afternoon sunshine over
green fields with an audience of fascinated cows who came as
close as they dared for a better look. Richard led us along a
disused railway embankment to the point where he had arranged
for cars to be left to take us to the village - to save us a
dreary clothed walk along a busy road.
Back in the village it was drinks again at trestle tables in the sunshine. It had been a lovely day with temperatures that were just right - neither too hot nor cold. No textiles had appeared to disturb the magic of nude walking. Richard commented that perhaps the countryside we had crossed was not perceived as walking country - very different from the Chilterns just on the horizon and the scene of other walks.
We were blessed with a spell of fine summer
weather for this walk, but alas the leader Rick who devised this
walk was not with us in consequence of vehicle problems en route.
Richard stepped in and led us from West Marden along uncertain
paths to our usual picnic place - a south-facing slope on the
edge of the South Downs. After lunch we climbed steeply towards
the South Downs Way where we were rewarded with views over a
wide expanse of West Sussex to the north and as far as the sea
and the Isle of Wight to the south.
Richard warned us of the possibility of
textiles being encountered and to be ready to dress quickly on
this busy cross-country path, but no one appeared and we continued
climbing nude, admiring the sun-drenched countryside all the
while. A quick cover-up as we approached a car park but once
across a road and past a parked car and we were back to naturist
walking. Then a left hand turn into the woods and we remained
on the woodland path for a considerable distance. On reaching
some houses, another quick cover-up but Richard then led us off
to the 
right into cornfields and out of sight.
We took our afternoon rest on a path amid the corn just in sight
of the last hill before our destination West Marden. Then we
were off again and after a quick dash across a road we were climbing
the hill, cornfields giving way to a forest of tall thick tree
trunks .From time to time the evening sun could be seen over
cornfields through the cool of the forest Fatigue was beginning
to set in and there were some stragglers on this last lap but
those at the front waited for them just before the village. As
they arrived a whispered warning of horse riders approaching
and everyone was duly dressed for them. We greeted them 
warmly - of course- but
they were evidently surprised to see so many people
Back at the Victoria Inn at West Marden new owners Bob and Julie welcomed us to their non-smoking establishment. There was a big turnout for dinner at trellis tables in the garden, Julie and her cook making innumerable trips to and from the kitchen to serve us .As the light faded we lingered over our food and drink not wanting the dayto end and two of our number persuaded our hosts to let them stay the night!
Broad Chalke
There had been a spell of cool and indifferent
weather prior to this walk but at the end of our long journey
- this is the furthest walk from London - sunny warm weather
greeted us. Twenty-nine people set off out of the village and
all were nude within five minutes of leaving it, After a brief
cover-up as we passed a farm we were soon climbing nude in the
hot midday sun towards the top of the down dividing the valley
of Broad Chalke from that of Compton Chamberlayne. A welcome
breeze appeared as we crossed a field of corn and when eventually
we were rewarded with a view of this valley with Salisbury in
the distance.The heat haze which we have usually encountered
in the past was missing. Field, wood and village stood out in
clear bright colours.
Picnic lunch was taken in the usual place
- a tumulus offering shade under trees for those who wanted it
. After a short photo opportunity Richard got us all to our feet
again and we set off westwards. There was evidence of new pig
farming in the area and the route we usually take was not available
to us. After a detour round a barbed wire fence and a crop of
rapeseed we got back on track, still with the view of the valley
to our right, This section of the walk involves walking across
sloping terrain and is always difficult but this year we negotiated
a pernicious undergrowth of sundry grasses which clung to our
boots as we tried to lift them for each step. Thistles of various
sorts found their way into our socks and pricked our skin. Within
an hour at least six of our number had had enough and left the
walk to return to the village by the quickest route. All the
time the sun poured down and there was much application of sun
lotion to deal with it. By the time though that the walkers turned
south towards the village the light was mellowing. It is a lovely
walk in the late afternoon with the Broad Chalke Valley in full
view and all the time we met no one. There was no need to dress
until just before the village was reached.
Back at the Queens
Head the air remained warm and dinner was taken outside It had
been a lovely day notwithstanding the hard going.
Shepherds Rest
Tuesday 2nd August found
perhaps a record number of walkers gathered at the Shepherds
Rest public house, Wanborough on a brilliant warm summer day.
Tony, our leader counted 33 as we set off up the road shortly
after midday. A right turn up a track past a radio mast and we
were free to undress and let the August sun go to work on us.
Before long the M4 motorway came into view and as we were wondering whether speeding drivers might be distracted by the sight of us Tony led us down a path and out of view. He explained that he would ask us to dress and walk along a section of country road to avoid crops and the overgrown pathways which often present walk leaders with a problem in summer. Once off the road and undressed again we were confronted by livestock which took a close interest in us. Then a large agricultural vehicle hove into view and we began to dress, but word then came that we need not as the driver had been spoken to and was happy with the situation. Indeed he looked very happy as we helped him negotiate his way through a gate and fended off the livestock some of which had seen their opportunity to make a break for the next field.
Pangs of hunger
began to strike but the lunch spot was an ancient fortress up
on a hill and we still had a long climb to it under the broiling
sun. We passed Ashdown Park stately home on our right and finally
came to Kings Alfred's castle - an earthwork with a great view
over Wiltshire to the south and west. We settled down on it in
a long line but a few of us made for what tree cover and shade
there was as the glare of the sun was very strong. A short after
lunch doze for some and Tony had us on our feet again and up
to the Ridgeway - an ancient east-west track. We turned to the
west and made our way towards our starting point, enjoying fleeting
glimpses over the countryside
to the north on one side and the south on the other. We skirted
the odd agricultural buildings and hopefully startled no one.
At one point we split into two groups - one headed for the cool
offerings of the Shepherds Rest and Tony led the other into a
deep V-shaped bowl in the chalk where we rested and speculated
on what process in history had created it. Back on the route
to Wanborough there were rapid cover-ups as we encountered a
few active locals setting out for an early evening jog or walk
but most of us reached the wooded lane just before Wanborough
nude. Regretfully we dressed but were glad to get our cold drinks
at the Shepherds Rest .We studied the dinner menu but few of
us stayed to eat, the rest deciding to head for home or look
out for a chippie somewhere rather than pay the landlord's prices.
Thanks to Tony
for a great day.
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Mereworth Woods
Last year we came to Mereworth
Woods in October and we shivered. This year in September the
weather forecast talked of thunder and heavy downpours and that
it seemed was enough to deter many walkers. Just thirteen gathered
at the Chequers Inn at Crouch on an overcast day but it was warm
and it stayed warm. At midday Peter led us off down the lane
and left onto a track towards the wood. It was a shock to him
and Bruce to see that a whole orchard on the other side of the
road had disappeared - two years ago they had once started the
walk in a different place and had walked nude through it. Now
any prospect of cover had disappeared with the emergence of a
ploughed field.
Out of sight of the village and it was off with all clothes and into the woods. In previous years leaders have lost their bearings in the first half hour and that happened this time. However Peter soon sorted things out with the aid of his map and once on the right path we headed downhill through tall trees to the meadow where our lunch stop is usually made. Here the sun shone fitfully and we ate, drank and dozed. Then Peter had us up and off again on a circuitous route through the wood. He recalled the occasion when he and Bruce doing a dry run were startled at this point by a cyclist coming up behind. On this day there were no cyclists and indeed we saw no one except a lady at the beginning - who may have got a view of us from afar - and a man near a farm on the other side of Seven Mile Lane, the one main road which divides the woods in two. Seventy mile lane might be a better name for it judging by the speed of the traffic when we crossed it - twice we had to take our lives in our hands.
After the farm we had one
steep slope to climb but this is a flat country walk compared
with those we tackle in Wiltshire, for example. Here we encountered
abandoned motor cars at intervals and we wondered aloud how the
people who left them there thought about what they had done.
Emerging from the wood we had a view to the north and east to
Bluebell Hill and the Medway Valley, the pillars of the new bridge
just faintly visible. A photo opportunity in the sunshine and
it was back to the woods, the track leading us westwards towards
our starting point. By now Peter was guiding us by satellite
and while he did lead us in the end directly to a stile on his
itinerary it would have needed a clairvoyant on the day to forecast
that the path had become overgrown with brambles at that point.
This slowed us down and brambles do not just scratch; they undo
bootlaces too. We crossed a field by Seven Mile Lane and dressed
by the hedge for the dash across it. Then a 'right of way' through
a garden and back into the trees and to a state of nature. Here
the military have created wide tarred avenues for us to walk
on; conversation revives when you do not have to negotiate brambles..
A few turns and all too soon we were approaching Crouch and it
was time to dress and repair to the Chequers. Here a friendly
and efficient barmaid reported to Peter on the state of the cricket
- which had been on his mind that day - served us drinks and
then out in the garden in the warm evening she brought us food.
It had been a lovely day - the right temperature for naturism
throughout - and good company.
Patching
This being the last walk
of the season I suspect that many, like me, had anticipated indifferent
weather and reduced numbers. Fourteen of us showed up at the
World's End where we were made very welcome. We enjoyed a quick
pint or half before setting off at 12:40 out of the pub left
along the road and almost immediately left into the footpath
that took us into Patching village. Then keeping the Church on
our right and Patching Farm on our left we headed west for quarter
of a mile before turning right to go north. The weather was kind,
overcast with little or no wind and a warm 19c so we were able
to strip off and traverse the woodlands of Patching Rough and
Michelgrove Park. After Beech Copse the pathway took us to the
fine vantage point atop the high ridge between the disused pits
and overlooking Lower Barpham. Here we sat with our back to the
pathway and took lunch while admiring the view. It was about
14:00 hours and the sun broke through the clouds. A lone textile
walked the path behind us too intent on his exercise to stop
for a chat! Peter took some photos and the sun retreated behind
cloud.
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Further along the pathway
we had a better view of Lower Barpham and thought that one of
the buildings with leaded lights may have been a chapel. Just
after this we reached the northernmost point of our walk and
turned in a south westerly direction. Scrambling down the hillside
we joined the pathway alongside the Gallop - we saw no horses.
After New Down we continued along Monarch's Way and then south
by Common Barn where we covered up while walking the tarmac road
past a small group of houses. Once clear of the houses we turned
left and picked our way through a couple or parked cars to find
the pathway and take us into South Fields where we could once
more enjoy the comfort of nudity.
By now we were in the long
home stretch walking east through The Isles and Poling Copse
before making a daring dash over the tarmac road into Sailor's
copse. The walk continued into and alongside Quakerscorner Copse
and thence through Butler's Copse and Hammerpot Copse. By now
it was late afternoon and as we came south from Selden fields
ands Surgeons Fields we encountered dog-walking textiles and
had to cover up. By then we were nearly home, had passed Jewshead
Wood and were walking through open pastures toward Orchard House
Farm where we turned left to join the road back to World's End.
Most of us stayed
for drinks and supper. My thanks to Bill for leading this splendid
walk and to Richard for his achievement in attending all the
walks this season and for his role as Walks Organiser.