25/05/19 - London Countryway - Stage 14 - Great Missenden to Berkhamsted

Distance - 13 Miles
Start - Great Missenden
Finish - Berkhamsted
Geocaches - 21
Pubs - The Blue Ball, The Rising Sun, Berkhamsted
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7, Stage 8, Stage 9, Stage 10, Stage 11, Stage 12, Stage 13


Officially, the London Countryway does not go to Berkhamsted but if you don't, you have a monster 21 miler to Kings Langley to pick up the train home.

When previously faced with a route choice, I've consulted the two on line oracles.   Des De Moor took his time.  Dick Bowman ploughed on through.   It can't have been good for him.   His domain name has expired since I started this long distance path at the end of 2017.

I suppose this means my blog moves into 2nd place for on-line resource on the London Countryway.

The book's author, Keith Chesterton, doesn't have too much to say about this leg - "..... with no buildings or places of particular note - it is just a jolly good walk".

Pretty much sums it up.   Its similar to the last leg, with a lot of ups and downs across the dry chalk valleys.  Agricultural walking through grass fields, occasional sheep.

Here's the views;

Great Middenden Church in Chalkdell Wood Nature Reserve

Country Walking on the Countryway

Another Up and Down in a Dry Chalk Valley

Stopping for a breather, having peaked another

Entertainment wise, there's plenty of Geocaching.   Having stared at the huge 100+ trail, appropriately named the Chiltern 100s, for many years - I finally get to knock a few off.  One day, I will complete the set.

And Keith was doing the architecture a disservice.

Too Early for the Bell at Chartridge

But the Asheridge Blue Bell timed to perfection - walked up on the scrape of the midday bolt

The Good Beer Guide was checked before setting off and Berkhamsted has a single entry - the Rising Sun.

Hot day and the water had run out at the little shelter on the Green at Ashley Green.   An understatement to say that I was parched. 

Its a tidy little canalside boozer.   Once fighting my way past some very stubborn but particularly talented bar hoggers, I was faced with 5 handpulls of previously unseen beers.   Deciding they might not be cold enough for the circumstance, I went for a Camden Hells Keg Lager.  It comes in a rather unique stubby glass that I would like checked by weights and measures to ensure it holds a pint.

The Rising Sun, Berkhamsted

Sun shining and legs weary, I can think of nowhere better to sit that a canal side beer garden.

Until the manky pleasure craft that was burning far to much oil choked us all out, as it pottered through the locks.

Berkhamsted has a nice little surprise waiting at the station.

The railway cafe is a proper chip shop. 

The other passengers were jealous as we waiting for the 16:12.   I could tell by the way they were looking at me and my open cone.  To be fair, there were plenty enough to share.