A walk with the bluebells

I have an assortment of shoes in my car, including fuchsia pink wedges, leopard skin kitten heels, black patent peep toe stilettos and my sturdy Berghaus walking boots; you could call me the Imelda Marcos of Cambridgeshire!

It was the stout, thick heeled boots that I laced up tightly this morning in search of an abundance of glorious bluebells in the historic Hayley Wood led by Cambridge Rambling Club.

Despite the persistent drizzle of rain and a grey overcast sky, I was determined to do this walk as last year I dozily failed to meet up with my walking group as I arrived at the wrong meeting palce, foolishly ending up in the village of Little Eversden instead of Little Gransden.

There is also something magical about the words “bluebell woods”; they conjure up images of fairytales and nature at its best, of unspoilt beauty, innocence and purity, and their appearance always uplift the spirits.

The conversation was convivial and deliciously gossipy, with many walkers comparing adventurous stories of travel to South Africa and beyond, while others shared personal tales of family rifts and woes, of divorce battles and internet dating.

A walk in the woods is an exhilarating way of connecting with nature, free of the internet and social networking sites. I am reminded of those words which Louis Armstrong sings so beautifully, “What a Wonderful World“, which I would like played at my funeral.

*This walk was about 7 miles long, though it is not all shown on the Everytrail link. We finished at the same starting point, but my iPhone battery died on me which is why the full walk was not tracked.