For all the bright lights and fine things in the city, it’s the countryside I love most.  And of all the countryside in the world you can’t beat the English country scene.  Staying in Herefordshire there is some of the finest countryside anywhere in Britain.  It has gentle rolling hills and miles of orchards and hop fields which give the landscape a more human scale than other parts of England.  In Oxfordshire for instance has more intensive arable farming so the fields are bigger with fewer hedges and bigger vistas.

I’ve really enjoyed seeing the different country views as we’ve travelled across the countryside.  It’s been handy though having a splendid view over the hedge from where my parents live.

Country views

These pregnant cows have been grazing their way across the field.

Black cow

They pace themselves across the field nibbling only the best bits of grass.

Brown cow

It seems that when one cow finds a rhythm they pair up and start to move across the field together.

Cows

In formation.

Formation cows

If you watch them for long enough it becomes a bit hypnotic.  I have to admit to spending rather more time watching the cows in the field than is healthy.   But I’m a sucker for a country scene and I’m making the most of the English countryside whilst we can.