Beating The Bounds

It was a fine but bitterly cold day last Wednesday when the Hampstead Ramblers undertook a 7 mile circular walk around the perimeter of our "home" Heath.



The walk was led by June Craig, right-centre, with Mollie the Labradoodle.

There were 9 in the party at the beginning, with a tenth joining at the lunch stop, the historic toll-gate and pub the Spaniards Inn.



The warming lunch-stop was needed; some of the ponds had partially frozen over, somewhat puzzling the ducks.



The route back from the Spaniards provided splendid views back to Athlone House through the trees.



The walk concluded by passing the Ladies Bathing Pond. Jane Rosoux, the HR walks organiser who kindly took the photos above and below, comments

"I felt it impolitick to take the lady who went for a dip in the pond while we were there. In addition to a bathing costume she wore a hat and ear muffs on her head and rubber gloves on her hands!" We will have to leave that picture to our imaginations.

The view below shows the mirror-still bathing pond reflecting the trees above.



June and her granddaughters rounded off an excellent day's walking by providing tea, cakes and mince pies with clotted cream at June's house just a stones throw from the Heath.