News: Alphabet walks

From Boots, Banter and Breweries to the Grand Huit, CWW is known for its inventive collections of themed walks, but Anne Kimber’s Alphabet Walks have taken us on the group’s longest series yet.

The prolific leader came up with the simple but brilliant idea of putting on a walk pegged to every letter of the alphabet.

“Around the end of 2023 I starting thinking about doing a walk every other week to fill gaps in the programme,” explained Anne. “There are 52 weeks in a year so every other week makes 26 walks. In a sudden flash I realised there are 26 letters in the alphabet and that I could do 26 walks, each beginning with a different letter.

“It seemed like a good idea for a theme and it really focused me on the task at hand. I also felt really excited about it.

“I had a lot of work to do in thinking of a start point, plotting the walk, doing the recce and then putting it on, so I had to keep on top of everything.”

The 156-mile marathon began with walk A from Ashridge College in January 2024, amid intrigue over how Anne could possibly find routes to go with the problematic letters, X and Z. At that stage, Anne admits that not even she knew the full line-up.

“I didn’t plan too far ahead at first as there was so much to do, but at some point I did make a list of potential places for each letter. Some letters were harder to find so I had to be creative, as there isn’t anywhere in the Chilterns starting with Z, for example.”

For Anne, one of the joys of the alphabet series was discovering new places.

“I had to look look far and wide for prospective start points so I’ve ended up exploring the Chilterns in far more depth than ever. A lot of these walks start in a village or hamlet and it’s been very interesting finding out so much more than I ever knew about these places and their history.

“One of my favourite but most challenging walks was from Quainton which was only really chosen because it starts with Q. It was probably the furthest journey for me and it ended up needing two recces.

“Recce one was in blazing heat and involved dodging cows and cutting down undergrowth on an almost impassable stile. Recce two was adapted to avoid these and also to pass through the only woodland in the area for miles. It was done on the day of a storm and I got soaked and blown to bits.

“Quainton is a gem – somewhere I had never previously been. There’s so much of interest with great views, a windmill, village green, old almshouses and a café no less. I’m so glad I did this one.”

The Great British weather took its toll on three other walks. Walk N from Naphill had to be put back a week because of rain. Walk T from Taplow went ahead in the face of Storm Bert, and Anne says walk E from Eythrope was affected by both flooding and intense heat.

“Flooding caused the postponement of the walk for a few weeks, and then on the day we did do it, it was blazing hot with no woodland to give us any shade. It seems to be a feature on the north side of Aylesbury.

“Another walk that didn’t go quite to plan was J for Jordans where a frisky horse took a bite out of a few people and caused a rumpus, but no-one was hurt in the end.

Walk W from Wigginton near Tring was another of Anne’s favourites. “I really enjoyed this one in an area little known to me with the lovely ancient iron age fort of Cholesbury camp. Our lunch stop in St Nicholas church was a really nice unplanned extra on a very cold day.

“Other highlights were Downley Woods, Naphill and the beautiful Piggott’s Wood; Russell’s Water with the Warburg Reserve and ruined chapel. Also, Weedonhill Wood from Old Amersham towards Hyde Heath. It’s interesting how varied woodlands can be.

“It was nice to hear several people commenting that they thought they knew an area well but that my walk had taken them on paths new to them. I love finding new and lesser trodden routes.”

After 13 months and 156 miles, the series came to an end on a cold and foggy day in February 2025 with walk Z from Cowleaze Wood near Stokenchurch.

“Finishing Z at Cowleaze seemed a bit of an anti-climax and it would have been nice to have a bit more of a celebration afterwards,” said Anne. “However a good number of us did end up in the Fox & Hounds for a drink which was very nice.”

CWW chair Tim Axten, who completed 17 of the walks, hailed the series as: “A – ma – Zing! What a great series of walks meticulously planned and led by Anne. The 26 walks throughout the Chilterns have been much enjoyed and appreciated by all of us who joined them. What an achievement in just 13 months. Thanks so much, Anne.”

The alphabet series has unexpectedly caught the interest of a senior Ramblers figure. Board of Trustees member Joerg Kasprowski read about the walks in our annual report while preparing to address the Bucks Area AGM. He said:  “It was great to learn about CWW’s themed walks, such as the Alphabet Walks, Boots, Banter and Breweries and the current mills series. These are creative ways to inspire people to join our walks, adding purpose, interest and some fun to CWW’s walks. Being a walk leader and walks programme coordinator myself, I am aware that such walk features, accompanied by interesting walk titles and descriptions, encourage more people to come out on walks. CWW have taken it to another level.”

The combined turnout for all the walks was 428. Including her recces, Anne walked 318 miles. Reflecting on CWW’s longest ever series of walks, she said: “I’ve enjoyed it so much and I’d like to thank everyone who joined me. But now it’s over I’m feeling rather lost and wondering what to do with myself. I guess I will lead some of these walks again in different seasons and maybe in reverse.”

The Alphabet Walks won’t be forgotten. Anne says she’s been inspired to investigate publishing the routes in a book for others to enjoy.

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