Pete's Walks - Marsworth canal walk (part 2)
I soon reached the old A41 on the edge of Aston Clinton, where I turned left for a few yards then took a road on the right (at a roundabout), heading for the nearby village of Buckland. A few hundred yards down the road, I turned left at a crossroads and soon entered Buckland. As I paused to check my map to see where I needed to turn right, a gentleman kindly asked if I needed help and pointed to where the church was. I turned right (Peggs Lane, I think) and after a few yards turned left into the churchyard. Just in front of the church porch I turned right and followed a path through the graveyard. The path then continued across a couple of meadows or pastures. Here I saw some Black Poplars, this part of the Vale of Aylesbury probably being the best place in the country to see this rare tree.
The old A41 entering Aston Clinton - I turned right here towards Buckland
Looking across fields to Buckland
Buckland church
Path through a meadow at Buckland
Path through a meadow at Buckland. The large tree is a rare Black Poplar - the Vale of Aylesbury is the best place to see them
Path through a meadow at Buckland
After the second pasture the path turned left along the edge of a larger field. It stayed close to a hedge on the left through the next field to reach a gate, where it turned left, running alongside the embankment of the A41 dual carriageway on my right. I soon came to a lane, where I turned right and immediately crossed the main road. The Aylesbury Ring goes a bit funny here (it caused me a bit of a headache when I did this section - basically things got fouled up when the new bypass was created), one waymarked route soon taking a field path on the right while I continued down the lane to reach the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal, where a finger post indicated that I was still on the route of the Aylesbury Ring!
The lane leading to the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal
I turned right along the Aylesbury Arm, the towpath being on the right (south) of the canal. It was very pleasant walk alongside the canal, in the gorgeous Spring weather. The blue flash of a Kingfisher flew past me, and disappeared from view on the opposite bank. Further on another (or the same) Kingfisher flew past, this time settling on a branch over the far side of the canal. I finally managed to get a photo of this incredibly colourful bird (not a good photo, but at least a 'record shot' to show I've seen one). As I was watching the Kingfisher, a Red Kite appeared over the far hedgerow, turned along the canal towards me, and swooped and dipped its talons in the water! It looked for all the world like an Osprey fishing, but I don't think it had anything when it flew off.
The Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal
The Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal
The Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal
I stopped and ate my lunch on a seat by a lock, with only a mile or so to go to Marsworth. A little further on I came across another Grey Heron, that was quite co-operative in letting me take photos.
Heron, bridge and lock on the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal
The Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Union Canal
Just before I reached the end of the Aylesbury Arm, where it branches off the main route of the Grand Union Canal, I saw a sign warning of swans nesting on the towpath - it said they might bite! Sure enough, a few yards further on, a male swan swam next to the towpath, with the female on the right on a nest against the edge of the towpath. I had to nervously squeeze between them - the male watched me carefully, but didn't become aggressive.
Signpost where the Aylesbury Arm branches off the main route of the Grand Union Canal
Looking back to where where the Aylesbury Arm branches off (left) from the main route of the Grand Union Canal
Road bridge at Marsworth - the walk starts and finishes at the car park on the other side of the road
When I got back to the car park at Marsworth, it had taken me almost four hours to walk just eight miles! But this was understandable, as I'd taken just over 200 photos and had spent a lot of time looking at various bits of wildlife (UPDATE 9/02/2016: I've done the walk again since, and it took three hours and 5 minutes!). In terms of wildlife, this had certainly been one of the best walks I'd ever done. To get my first photos of both Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail was great, and the sight of the Red Kite dipping its feet in the canal will be a lasting memory.