![\"Following](\"https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume48/images/colne-valley-trail.jpg\")
On Saturday 4th May, Chris led an 11½ mile linear walk for us that mostly followed the Beeches Way from Langley to Burnham railway stations on the Elizabeth Line. Some of us parked at Burnham and got the train to Langley, in time for the start of the walk; some parked at Langley station and would get the train back from Burnham station at the end of the walk; while others got the train from near where they lived.
\nThere were fifteen of us, including a few visitors from other groups and a newcomer trying us out. We set off from Langley station and almost immediately crossed the Grand Union Canal, joining Love Hill Lane and the Colne Valley Trail, heading north.
\nWe followed a line of sequoia trees as we arrived at Langley Park, where the rhododendron garden was in full bloom. We walked through a maze of paths, admiring the spectacular display of different coloured flowers and stopping to look down a long avenue that focused on Windsor Castle in the distance.
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We left the park on a path lined with deep-red rhododendrons, following the Beeches Way, which is also the Shakespeare's Way along this stretch of footpath.
\nSoon we were in the mixed woodland of Black Park, with its fair share of beech trees. We walked around Blackpark Lake before heading out of the park on the Beeches Way aka Shakespeare's Way and into the village of Fulmer, where we stopped for lunch.
\nAfter lunch, we continued our walk, entering Stoke Common. Here, our leader took a diversion from the Beeches Way as it had been badly flooded when Chris had done the recce. The diversion was quite soggy under foot, too, after all the recent rain.
\n![\"A](\"https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume48/images/langley-park-and-castle.jpg\")
Crossing from Stoke Common into Farnham Common, where the paths were much drier and beech trees dominated the woodland. After a very pleasant walk through this common, we crossed the main road and followed another road to Burnham Beeches national nature reserve.
\nWe stopped at the Beeches Eco Café for drinks and cake, or ice creams, as the mood took us. Suitably refreshed, we left the café and the Beeches Way, heading south. In the woodland, we saw a Mandarin duck perched in a tree near Middle Pond.
\nCrossing Leys Farm, we left Burnham Beeches and followed footpaths of varying quality on our way southward back to Burnham railway station. Some of these paths were a bit muddy and overgrown, requiring us to take extra care.
\n![\"The](\"https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume48/images/langley-park-rhododendrons.jpg\")
This last section of the walk was littered with rubbish of all sorts and sizes, despite the frequent notices saying No Fly Tipping with warnings of hidden cameras etc. Why do people do this? Is Slough short of recycling centres and refuse collection services?
\nThe last bit of boggy ground was at Lynch Hill Valley and then it was plain sailing back to Burnham station. See our route on Google Maps. Chris kindly offered to lead an extra section of walk for those with some time before their trains arrived.
\n![\"Following](\"https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume48/images/burnham-beeches.jpg\")
![\"Leaving](\"https://www.berksww.org.uk/scrapbooks/volume48/images/lays-farm-east-burnham.jpg\")
Thanks go to Chris for leading this walk. (Photos and write-up by Rob)
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