Arborfield (Carter's Hill and Barkham Brook) 3

St Bartholomew's Church, Arborfield

A family walk for Mother's Day and one of our local favourites, originally described in this blog in April 2007.

A lovely day, trees just nearly coming into leaf, a few butterflies on the wing. Ideal for a pre-lunch walk.

I realised that I hadn't hitherto photographed or mentioned Arborfield church. Another Victorian one - 1863.

From: Rambling for pleasure around Reading (first series) by David Bounds for the East Berkshire Ramblers.

Map: Explorer 159 (Reading, Wokingham and Pangbourne)

Rating: three and a half stars.


Reflections

What is different between doing the same walk for the fifth or sixth time and doing a new walk? I think a new walk is probably always more exciting - who knows what delights you might meet, especially in a unfamiliar area of the country. So perhaps novelty should be included in my list of factors that make for a good walk? On the other hand, with a familiar walk you don't need to worry about directions and navigation and you can continue to enjoy the usual things you like, plus perhaps seeing new ones in the different seasons or as random wildlife cross your path.

Another thought concerned walking as an opportunity for deep conversation. It is generally seen as desirable to build rapport with someone you are talking to by maintaining eye contact, and of course this is impossible when walking. However, walking side by side, in step, seems to make it easier to address emotive or personal topics - perhaps precisely because you do not have eye contact, although you are in rapport at a more basic level.


Sightings

A Peacock and three Commas. How wonderful that the butterflies are back! No Brimstones today for some reason.