The weather was perfect for our walk, brilliant blue sky with quite a cold wind, a lovely late October day.

We still hope for the elusive thirty hound count, but were delighted to see twenty-four hounds together with their owners, all eager for the ‘off’.

Although we had a lot of rain in East Sussex on the day before, Ashdown proved quite firm; and not ankle-deep mud as we have had sometimes.
The party stopped several times for everyone to catch up, and to look at the beautiful views of the Forest at its best.

The Bassets all seemed to really enjoy the walk, and it was lovely to see both young and older hounds chasing one another, and generally having a very good time. We appreciate that some of our members really have to travel some distances to attend our walks, and we would like to hear any suggestions for walk venues in other areas.

(Ed. It was certainly a wonderful day to be out with the hounds. It was also good to meet some new members - I do hope that they enjoyed being part of the group. I am always impressed at how the new hounds are so readily accepted by the ‘regulars’ and how quickly they integrate into the ‘pack’. Admittedly, to some youngsters this sometimes ardent attention from the regulars can seem like harassment - it quickly resolves itself after a few walks. We certainly have some very well-behaved hounds - though, this is not to say that they are always totally obedient. Bless ‘em!).