The chase

The Chase was stunning this afternoon. Walking through the Chase is like walking through a magical realm, a walk through time and space. For nearly two millennia people have taken the route I chose up onto the chalk ridge, today it's a picturesque coppiced hazel lined path, although its course is defined by a much earlier Roman road. People have, of course, walked this landscape for far longer, the land here bears testament to thousands of years of human activity through layer upon layer of archaeological monument and fieldwork. The top of the chalk ridge is exposed and the chill wind bites hard, but, man, the views, from up here you can see for miles, you can see so far you're looking into other counties. Above there are only a few smudges of cloud in a halcyon blue sky, and they're swiftly dispatched by the piercing winds. Flocks of birds resting amongst the ridges naked canopies, occasionally take flight in unison, swirling around before disappearing back in to the canopy, whilst high above larger birds circle and soar, gracefully following the contours of the terrain out of view. Throughout the afternoon the young sun tried valiantly to warm the world, and in the hollows he made some headway, though on the hills, no chance, here the hatches required battening down, the cold could not be overlooked. Along the sunken trackways the hedgerows rustle and every copse you pass is filled with the sound invisible activity, clearly not all the land's as asleep as you'd imagine. Now down around the base of the hills, shining threads weave through the valley, the Ebble, a glistening crystal clear chalk stream which bubbles and gurgles as it rolls over its gravelly bed. I love chalk streams, to me they epitomise the waters of life, they're always so clear and inviting, they've a magical quality. I follow a tree lined drove back up from the Ebble Valley towards the ridge, it winds its way slowly up the hillside through the warren of valleys and hollows. The day is drawing on now, the shadows were beginning to lengthen, and as they do darkness spills over the land consuming knolls and woodland as it spreads. It made for a lovely world of contrasting rich green hues. Soon the Roman road came in the view and the walk neared its end. What fantastic walking though. I'm the only human in this expansive landscape, I saw not another soul. The Chase was stunning this afternoon.