This is a favourite walk of mine, it is varied; has fantastic views across the Forest; and has an adventurous halfway section - which l involves negotiating a small wooden bridge which crosses an often muddy stream - a potentially great photo opportunity.

The Club usually has this walk in November, so offering the chance to rest at the Airman’s Grave - this is not an actual grave, but a simple stone memorial - and seeing the numerous Remembrance poppies left there.

We were lucky that the rain held off, though it was windy and the sky was very overcast. This freshness seemed to infect the hounds who seemed more excited than normal. They chased each other playfully, splashing across the many puddles - there would be several very wet hounds on the journey home.

Given the conditions, the walk was uneventful - save for an elegant slip in the mud by dear Hugs - and even when two sets of horse riders converged upon us the hounds behaved impeccably, allowing them to pass by without a murmur.

Everyone on the walk appeared to have a really good time.