Robert & I took the dogs for a Sunday afternoon walk around Aldworth, starting at the sensational Bell Inn. The route should have taken about an hour. Firstly we took the footpath between the beer garden and the cricket pitch (where I took 2 wickets, about 3 weeks ago), then across two fields. Then, turning left onto a byway, we trundled along with a magnificent long view to our right. Suddenly, we found the byway was barred by tape between two gate posts, and a home-made sign reading "Private - no public footpath". So, after hunting around for a few minutes to see if there was another way through, as the byway was clearly marked on the OS map, we gave up and turned back.
I wasn't happy about this, because there is something distinctly satisfying about a circular route that leads back to one of the best pubs I've ever encountered. The day was saved by a spectacular sight though.
One of the fields we'd had to cross was full of stubble, which was being ploughed in. This had obviously stirred up enough bug, grubs and worms to attract the attention of half a dozen red kites. I've never seen them on the ground before, and hadn't appreciated just what a 5 foot wingspan looks like in take-off. These lumbering giants rose into the air like the nazgul of Middle Earth - great, slow, heavy-looking wings raising their bodies in jerks off the ground, until they reached 30 feet or so, and then just soared effortlessly to the treetops. Normal service resumed.
A pint of Maggs Mild and a smoked salmon roll in the beer garden rounded off what turned out to be a better walk than I'd hoped. The dozen or so sparrows hopping around within 5 or 6 feet of us were rather fun too. Now to try and work out a circular route that has the Bell halfway round. That would just be perfect. Sunday lunch, anyone?
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