26 December. Cambridge to Heathrow. Walking a bit of the Icknield Way at Pegsdon

For most of our holidays, transit day (moving from hotel to hotel or city to city) is a zero-day; nothing much is accomplished other than the odd rest-stop shopping.

So it was a pleasure to find that we actually managed to slot in a mini walk in the Chilterns. Or to put it mildly, we touched the Icknield Way.

Our check-out at 65 Regent Terrace, Cambridge proceeded as planned. 9.30am we locked up and left the city. We walked more than 4 rounds of Cambridge and it was time to move on.

We had a lunch reservation at The View Hitchin , Pegsdon, an one hour drive from Cambridge. Just as well; we reached The View at 10.30am. It was too early for our reservation so we did a walk from an access point near the inn. It was supposed to be a nature reserve with a public path that goes to Icknield Way. 

We were glad to be there early. Everything was closed on Boxing Day so the entire town was there to walk. We did not attempt the Deacon Hill but we did a respectable elevation and distance from The View. The plains was a delight to see, esp when the sky was blue and clear.

An hour of heart-healthy hill walk, we were back at The View for a very good meal of fish/chips and olive pie with latte to follow (35 gbp). That was after we decided the day would start with a light meal! We were stuffed!

We took the M1 route to Staybridge, our launchpad to Heathrow for the night. It was an hour's drive but a massive jam at M25 with a predicted delay of 20 minutes made us do a detour towards Maple Cross. We wormed through Uxbridge, Hillingdon, Harlington and finally to Staybridge Heathrow. There was many roundabouts and twinned roundabouts we had to negotiate it was mind-blowing.

We made it to Staybridge without incident. For 115 gbp, it rivals some of the hotels we stayed this trip. Parking for the night was 16 gbp we put on the tab.

Staybridge is located in an industrial/hotel strip across the airport

Our last base

Heathrow

Staying opposite the runway but without the noise due to the excellent sound proofing

Sufficiently awed by the suite, we did a mini walk to Macdonalds and then back, just to burn off the restlessness caused by too much food.  

We watched Netflix on the excellent entertainment system. The AC instead of the heater was on; the room was too cold and we decided to seek help after dinner.

6.15pm, we went down to Hi Pizza in Holiday Inn next door for pizza and cannelloni, all excellent (45 gbp, with service charge)

It would be packing time, a chore only Pat can do very well. Our last night in a suite with full facilities and all we did was watch Netflix and chill.