Icknield Way: Royston to Great Chesterford, 23/9/22

Описание: A decent offering from the Icknield Way Association today; this being Day 5 of their walks along the path that this walker started at Royston station, Hertfordshire, and ended at Great Chesterford station, Essex, so 14miles. It was undertaken on an overcast afternoon, with sunny intervals later, and a NE breeze, which gets onto the commentary at times.
After the first mile of road walking, the walk enters a woodland belt beside the busy A505, but the nose dissipates once the the walker starts to traverse the byways of the large fields that follow. This is pretty much the landscape as the walker ascends into the Cambridgeshire village of Heydon, at a lofty 441 feet. Lunch is had in the churchyard.
Thereafter, the interesting Essex villages of Chrishall, Elmdon and Strethall are seen, with the latter having a very old (1010!) and remote church.
The remainder of the walk is more quiet lanes, field edges and crossings, byways and a footbridge over the M11! The station is reached shortly afterwards.
A good day's walking on paths that could be followed at most times of the year. Wind exposure on cold days is more likely to be an issue.
(The 'Carrier Inn' in Elmdon closed in 1972, apparently, and the other former pub in the village was called 'The King's Head')