Last month I spent a few days with our daughter Louise, near High Wycombe. I had planned a number of visits to local places of interest, but plans had to be changed at the last minute, because of the very hot weather. !st July was one of the hottest July days on record in the UK, so instead of a long walk, I did a shorter one which involved a lot of forest tracks.
The part of the walk illustrated here was through the grounds of Chequers, the official country residence of the Prime Minister. The building dates back to the 15th century, but has been much altered since then. Chequers was given to the nation as a country retreat for the serving Prime Minister by the Chequers Estate Act 1917, by the childless couple who then owned it, and it has been used since then as a country retreat for the serving Prime Minister.
The monument on the hill in the background commemorates the Boer War, and the hill on which it stands, Coombe Hill, has a panoramic view from the edge of the Chiltern Hills over the Vale of Aylesbury.
This shot looks better on black, if you have the time.
Thank you all for your lovely comments. It was really nice to spend a few days last month with Louise and her family before they moved back to Yorkshire. It was fascinating to see places like Chequers, and villages familiar from being used in TV dramas.
Thank you all for your lovely comments. It was really nice to spend a few days last month with Louise and her family before they moved back to Yorkshire. It was fascinating to see places like Chequers, and villages familiar from being used in TV dramas.
Ian