Aynho Long Walk: 2nd June 2016

Thirteen walkers set off down Green Lane today under heavy cloud and in a strong chilly breeze. As we reached the bottom of the valley we continued across the bridge over the stream and followed the track round to the cottages. We carried on across the fields up to the copse where there is always plenty of mud, and down the far side towards Kings Sutton, but turned sharply back across the next field up to the badger setts. On this part of the walk we saw a partridge, a pheasant and a skylark. Most of the crop in all the fields seemed to be barley with a few wild oats scattered about. From the top of the ridge low cloud reduced the view back over Banbury, Deddington and Adderbury, but we could see across to Rainsborough Camp. We continued towards Charlton along the strange curving path through the barley until we reached the old stone pits above Charlton. here we passed through a field of buttercups, although they were not as striking as last year. As we walked down through Charlton village the sun made a brave attempt to emerge from the cloud cover. The cloud won though, and was back to its dull cover as we climbed up through the fields to Rainsborough Camp. We skirted along the bottom of the camp field and took the path up to the ridge back to Green Lane and on to the sports field and the pavilion for the usual welcome refreshments.