Chilterns and Thames Valley

Testing the boots

Distance: 3.66 miles
Ascent: 94 metres
Duration: 1 hour 17 minutes

Walk 3: Watlington Hill

The revelation came in a branch of Cotswold Outdoor: when it comes to walking boots I may to go up a size. Coincidentally that's the size of both pairs of boots that Emma has struggled with over the years. So the goal of today's walk wasn't to get any distance under our feet, but rather to go up and down a hill to test how Em's old Scarpas fit my feet.

The answer is: not bad, but not perfect.

As for the walk, Watlington Hill was pleasant enough. From the car park at the top we headed down to The Ridgeway which skirts the foot of the ridge. After a short distance we climbed back up through the beech woods to the top.

Everywhere there were signs of nature bursting back into life: buds on tree branches and shoots tentatively poking their heads out of the earth. Spring may not be here yet, but it's certainly on its way.