Feeling Famous On Today's Walk...

Today was a bit of a special day. It was Mr GundogandGirl's birthday so, with snacks in our rucksacks and Storm by our side, we headed off to one of our very favourite places...

Not too far from our mundane little corner of Berkshire is the gorgeous Hambleden valley. This picture perfect slice of England is just outside of Henley but seems to be miles from anywhere and it's TV location heaven. Hambleden itself and Turville, another village a little further up the valley, will both have you saying 'Oh, isn't this where they filmed...' and they're great places to walk.

Today, we started in Turville itself, parking alongside the village green and oh my goodness, they we were parked right next to the Vicar of Dibley's cottage...

But, let's not linger in Turville right now because we have a brisk eight and a half miles ahead of us. Climbing out of Turville and up the slopes that surround it, we were soon walking across open fields and through wooded copses. Red Kites fill the valley skies and they swooped and soared with the gliders that were out, spiraling in the clouds, enjoying the thermals rising off the hills. This is beautiful countryside and the best bit was, save for the ewes and lambs sunning themselves in the fields, we had it all to ourselves.

Not sure if the wellies were lost but they were just left in a hedge!

We zig-zagged down the hill into the tiny hamlet of Skirmett. Immaculately manicured cottages sit alongside the road and the village noticeboard advertises the forthcoming 'mixed doubles' tournament. The pub sits right in the centre of everything, keeping a watchful eye on all-comers and goes by the name of The Frog (yes, that's Skirmett's Frog!). Luckily, we were still to early to call in otherwise there would have been every chance we wouldn't have got going again, staying in the garden, watching the world wander by.

Through Skirmett and we turned onto The Chiltern Way and followed it all the way along the valley floor to Hambleden. The Hamble Brook was crystal clear today, fed by the water oozing from the chalk slopes around it and Storm was very keen to dip a toe (or indeed her whole body) in the cooling water. Crossing the last field before Hambleden itself, we passed a bona-fide yummy mummy (wearing a silk top of enviable styling) walking with her Boden-tastic daughter. "Look Mummy, a big dog. Ooooh, it's a shiny dog." cooed the little girl. Storm trotted smugly past like someone who has, finally, been truly appreciated.

In Hambleden, we sat on a bench outside the church and nibbled our snacks (well, devoured is probably more accurate) and decided that this is somewhere we would all like to live. Storm was most taken with the brook and the fields, Mr GandG and I just loved the village, the cottages, the village store-cum-teashop and everything really. Hambleden is also quite the location scout's favourite and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Witches, Nanny McPhee, Sleepy Hollow and 101 Dalmations have all been filmed here along with Midsomer Murders and the brilliant Band Of Brothers. With me happily dreaming of the delectable Damian Lewis in uniform, we explored a little before heading onwards...

Another climb out of Hambleden had us heading back towards Turville through woods alive with pheasants. Time after time, they ran across the path in front of us like school children playing chicken by the road. Storm was quite happy to see them as you can probably imagine.

Eventually we popped out of the hedgerows back in Skirmett and took a slightly different path back to Turville. Here, crossing Hamble Brook again, Storm finally got the chance to leap into the water and she splashed about happily for a while with the happy look of a toddler in the surf.

Back in Turville, while Mr GandG sat in the boot of the car with Storm, dangling his legs while munching our final apple, I had a little mooch around the village. The church (not really called St Barnabas as in Dibley!) has such a serene air about it. Not for this church the unkempt and unloved look of a graveyard left to run wild. No, the lucky souls buried here are well looked after.

Something you probably don't know about me is that I'm a bit of a military history buff and, thanks to my RAF pilot Grandfather, the Royal Air Force in World War II is, should I ever be on MasterMind, going to be my specialist subject. So, it was inevitable that this gravestone would catch my eye...

I sat for a few moments on my heels in front of this plot, thinking about the 19 year old Sgt Hazell and wondering about his life and death. I'm happy he returned to this beautiful place and I'm so so pleased that he's obviously not been forgotten. Next time I return, I'll bring something for this boy.

Turville, aside from being home to the fabulous Geraldine Grainger (oh Dawn French, you are fabulous) has also had starring roles in Goodnight Mr Tom, The Avengers, Foyle's War and Midsomer Murders. Up on the hill above is Cobstone Mill, or, as you might know it, the home of Dick Van Dyke's mad inventor in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Toot Sweet anyone?!

Our little star-studded walk in the countryside was so enjoyable. We didn't get rained on, we had lots to look at, hills to climb and fields to cross. It was a perfect walk with a perfect backdrop. If you get the chance to walk here, you really should, it's marvellous. But now, if you'll excuse me, I must go and swoon over houses for sale in Hambleden...