Saturday 31 May 2014

One Day International, Sri Lanka versus England, Lords Cricket Ground, Northwest London


Smartly-attired England fans take their seats in the shaded Grand Stand at Lords. The space age media centre looms over the Edrich and Compton Stands 

Monday 19 May 2014

Walk from Chartwell to Toys Hill, Kent


A three mile circular walk through a timeless stretch of the North Downs, barely changed from the 1940s, this route takes you from Churchill's former home up to the nearby village of Toys Hill and back again via French Street Farm.  If you park in the National Trust car park at Chartwell, you can follow a footpath through the woods around the east side of the estate and, at the corner of the lake, pick up the bridle path south east. It threads its way between some rolling fields up to Puddledock Lane, which climbs gradually up to Toys Hill. As you enter the village, you get glimpses of the green, green Kent countryside laid out far below you. You then take a footpath off to the left into the oak, beech and birch woods at the top of the hill. Among the trees, you'll pass the odd idyllic glade and footpaths leading off in all directions. Unless you want to explore, stay on the Greensand Way, which heads north west in a straight-line. Unfortunately, the undulating route is mostly enclosed by forest, so you are robbed of what would be fine views.