New Year’s Day was a bright, shining morning and our walk was supported by 36 equally bright shining people and assorted dogs. We gathered in the village hall car park; the days beforehand had been very dank and mirklesome so we decided to tramp solid ground and headed out up Howe Lane to the start of New Barn Farm lane followed the footpath through to the old airfield turned off at Smithwood Green, then back past Clipt Bushes, over to Earl’s Hall Lane, onto  Bruff’s Line and back via Perrydown Lane to return to our starting point.

It really was a beautiful morning and, whether it was this or the start of a new year, people seemed imbued with cheer and a genuine sense of goodwill and when we arrived at the village hall, things were made even more cheerful by the provision of refreshments in the form of Tea, Coffee, Bacon Rolls and a super array of cakes and buns.  Thank you, Julie and Kylie, for a feast for the returning hikers.

All in all a splendid couple of hours to get the year off on the right foot.

Thanks to all who organised this event,  and may I take this opportunity to wish everyone all the best for this New Year.

RW.