Like the previous book, Five on a Secret Trail, the Five’s sixteenth outing starts well but then sort of flounders about in a big swamp of blah. Frankly, I couldn’t wait to get to the end of this one.

          The Five decide to bike to Billycock Hill, where Julian and Dick’s school friend Toby lives on a farm. Toby has all the camping equipment the Five will need, so they can camp high up on the hill overlooking the countryside—and a nearby secret airfield. The Five set off and travel six miles along country lanes before they stop for an ice cream. After ten minutes’ rest they set off again and have lunch around one o’clock. Blyton is once more in her element describing the countryside along the way, and this is a very pleasant start to the book. The Five arrive at Billycock Farm before four o’clock, and Timmy—bless his little cotton socks—is tired out by now, having run alongside them all the way!