Day 195 - July 13th

This afternoon we went for a walk exploring the waterways near Tring in Buckinghamshire.

We started in the village of Marsworth and followed the path between the Grand Union Canal (Aylesbury Arm) and Marsworth reservoir.

On our walk we passed lots of locks and in several, there were canal boats passing through.

We passed several very pretty former 'lock keepers cottages'.

At Bulbourne Dry Dock we turned onto the Wendover Arm of the canal. This arm opened in 1799, but has been largely unnavigable since 1897. It is currently being reconstructed with the first phase being completed and opened in 2005.

After a bit of a walk, we turned away from the canal through woodlands and fields.

Eventually we re-joined the canal. It was much narrower than the Aylesbury Arm.

After a short walk through more woodland and fields, we found ourselves on the edge of Wilstone Reservoir which is regarded as one of the best bird-watching sites in the south of England.

There were hundreds of geese on the edge of the reservoir and when we reached them quite a few of them took off in convoy along the path in front of us.

Whilst the antics of the geese were quite amusing, we were soon distracted by a sign at the side of the path advertising a Farm Shop and Tea Room, and so we detoured slightly for a rest and to enjoy drinks and rather yummy cakes!

Feeling refreshed we then re-joined the route around the reservoir and by this time the geese had retreated to the water.

Shortly we turned away from the reservoir and walked through the village of Wilstone until we once more reached the Aylesbury Arm of the canal.

Many of the locks we were passing were very narrow with only one gate at each end.

Another stunning former 'lock keepers cottage'.

At Marsworth Wharf luxury new build properties stood right on the water edge.

Eventually we found ourselves back where we had started our walk.