A variety of stiles to suit your fancy

London is fantastic. The city has so many personalities and moods. One day it's cosmopolitan, the other is a simple lager. Occasionally you need to step outside zone 6 for a little ramble in the country. That's exactly what I did on this beautiful Saturday: a little stroll though the fields of Amersham.

Friday nights out usually mean a lie-in on Saturday morning but since I made a commitment I knew I had to leave the social gathering a bit early and chug back the aqua. I can honestly say that I left right on time and awoke with a clear head and ready for the journey to north-west London, to Buckinghamshire ('Bucks as the locals call it.) Once again, you know know where a footpath will take you:

Today's theme was stile. No, that's not a spelling mistake. Stiles are all the rage in the fields of Britain. What is a stile you ask? "A stile is a structure which provides people a passage through or over a fences or boundary via steps, ladders, or narrow gaps" (source: Wikipedia.) Me being me, I will now share the various styles of stiles:

Wobbly stile:

A fresh new stile, hot off the press:

In addition to stiles there are also kissing gates that provide access across fields:

Our ramble from Amersham to Chalfont St Giles took us through several fields, and even across a local golf course. The people on the course were a little surprised to find such young lovely ladies venturing out on a ramble (typically it is older individuals that ramble as a hobby) but everyone was really friendly. An older gentleman tending his garden near Coke's Farm engaged in a short conversation with us and even shared the fact that a few quakers are buried in his backyard (they weren't allowed to be buried in church yards.)

As is typical of most rambles a pub lunch was in order. We popped into a small pub in Chalfont St Giles for a tasty burger and even caught a glimpse of an adorable country church. Even the church had a stile (but I'll save you from that photo):

I highly recommend taking a break from the city wherever possible. Whether you're in Vancouver, New York or London, take a break from the city and find a footpath. Grab a friend or family member and get some fresh air, move your legs, exercise your sense of adventure. You never know where it will lead you:

And don't forget your camera! And keep your eyes open for stiles!