A Summer Guided Centenary Walk was led by Deb, Clare, David and Diana on Sunday 7th July, introducing people to the centenary circuit. Work is progressing on getting the walk completed in time for 2020, with a new bridge, waymarkers and path repairs along the route.
We met at Stanborough South Lake for a 10.00am departure on a lovely fine, dry day.
The lake was looking beautiful with swans, ducks and geese serenely gliding on the water. Heading towards Mill Green the surrounding country side was looking beautiful with fields of corn and majestic trees in full leaf reaching high on the horizons.
With new people joining the walk it was a great chance to talk along the way and to introduce them to areas of Welwyn Garden City that they hadn’t walked through before.
It is easy to whizz past places in the car and not know of the peaceful hidden pathways tucked away in the countryside and the life that has gone on before in these places in the past.
We reached Tewinbury Farm, passing by the gentle river Mimram, in time for our lunch. It was great to be able to sit in on the lawn and eat our picnics, a marked contrast from our last walk in February when we were pleased to take a break from the cold and sit in the shelter of one of the Tewinbury Farm barns kindly offered to us.
After a good break we set off towards Digswell going past more beautiful farmland, then following the route under the viaduct. No matter how many times one looks at it, it never fails to impress.
Gradually making our way past Digswell House up past the ancient chestnut trees and on into Sherrards Park Wood we were well on our way to completing the 12.5 mile circuit.
The sun was hotting up by the time we were passing through Brocket Golf Course, onto Lemsford Mill and crossing the road to go through the farm and the final stretch to Stanborough. New steps are on place to take walkers down on the footpath going under the A1 bridge where the River Lea flows. Sometimes the path is flooded as it was today so walkers had fun getting through on stepping stones to avoid getting too wet!
Back at where we started ice creams from the cafe were a fitting end to a lovely day.
Thank you to everyone who took part.
