also an abundance of holly trees,
but they all lacked berries.
We joined the Forest Way at
its beginning - west of the Wake
Arms and just north of the A121.
Passing Woodredon Farm, we skirted
a ploughed field - our first of
many experiences during that day
of walking on heavy rain-sodden soil
which clung to boots and made
walking more difficult. The Way
turned northwards and we passed
Oxley Wood on our right. The ground
began to rise sharply. At the
top of the hill we walked across
a green through the village of
Upshire where walls and houses
displayed many notices -
"No MI6 here". We turned onto
the road for a short while and
found a dead grey squirrel on the
verge. At Copthall Green we turned
north again onto common land and
gradually got clearer views of
Copped Hall. Only the shell of
this imposing house remains. It
was built in 1753 to John Sanderson's
designs, but was enlarged and added
to c.l895. On our Forest Way maps,
which we had all been given at the
beginning of the walk, a viewpoint
is marked and we had a splendid
view of the Hall.
We continued generally northwards
until we came to Cobbin's Brook.
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