Turville

The sun shone in an unbelievably deep blue sky as we met in the quintessential English village of Turville. This historic village, dating back to 796AD, has been the setting for The Vicar of Dibley, Goodnight Mr Tom, Midsomer Murder, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. On this November day a film crew was in the village again, filming an episode of Miss Marple. Unfortunately they didn’t require 40 ladies and a dog as extras, so we left them to film in peace as we passed the church and cottages at the end of the village, familiar to those of us who are fans of The Vicar of Dibley. With Turville nestled between Chiltern Hills, it came as no surprise to find ourselves climbing as we set out to explore first one hillside, and then the other. Throughout we were surrounded by autumn colour made more vibrant by the rays of the sun. The climbs rewarded us with outstanding views. Red Kites swirled around the valley below us – their reddish brown wings complemented by the russet of the beech trees. Before dropping back down into Turville, we passed close to the windmill featured in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, its white frame silhouetted dramatically against the blue sky. As we passed the village green we were transported back in time as actors, dressed in their old fashioned clothes, gathered beside vintage vehicles. We ended our walk with lunch in The Bull & Butcher – a typical old English pub, built in 1550. It comes complete with a 50 foot well in the dining room which can be viewed through a glass top, cleverly incorporated into a table. The name of the pub is said to be derived from Henry V111 and Ann Boleyn – ‘Bullen Butcher’ - with Ann Boleyn being known as Ann Bullen, and Henry V111, obviously, ‘the Butcher’!

Beechwoods around Cane End

We are so lucky to have many beech woods near Purley as they must surely be the prettiest woodlands in autumn with their orange canopy above, and orange carpet below. This walk set out to explore the beautiful beechwoods around Cane End, the first being Withy Copse. How lovely it was to meander along an orange path with sunshine reflecting off the trees in a warm orange glow. Our route continued along a lane with the attractive trees of the oddly named Nippers Grove on one side of us, and the sun streaming across the field on our other side. Hawhill Wood, the next woodland, proved just as pretty as the last, its trees allowing dappled sunshine through to make us all feel so good. We emerged alongside some of the thatched cottages of the hamlet of Nuney Green, then, cutting across fields, we were soon back at Cane End where we were made very welcome in The Fox for lunch.