Two Dogs and an Awning

Tag: Cobstone Mill

  • Hanger Wood Dew Pond

    Hanger Wood Dew Pond

    After almost four weeks at home I am away again in the caravan, this time it is for my annual fortnight trip to Cholsey Grange Farm CL.  Lynnie is staying at home for the first week so Crosby and I will be on our own.  The injury to my ankle is gradually improving and in the last week at home I managed a sixteen and fourteen mile walk in my walking boots so I am hoping I will be fully fit for our upcoming trip to the Yorkshire Dales.

    The beauty of returning to the Chilterns is there are some good hills to test my ankle and build up some stamina in my legs.  I intend walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks towards the end of September so I definitely need to build up the muscles following on from over two months of recuperation. 

    After pitching up yesterday I went for a short walk in the woods below the site but today I plan to get out for a couple of hours.  There are many potential routes from the site but the one I choose will take me into Hanger Wood, this is a walk I have done a couple of times previously but I am particularly interested to see if the Dew Pond in the woods has any water in it after such a prolonged dry spell.

    I leave the caravan site by going through the gate at the far end and turning left onto the footpath to head downhill into the woods.  

    At a junction of paths I turn right to follow the clear waymarked route through Twigside Bottom.

    I keep with the path through the bottom of the valley ignoring footpaths that head to the left and right.  It is a cracking afternoon, sunny but not too hot.  I am not looking forward to next week when the temperatures look set to soar again.

    I stay on the path until I reach Chequers Lane, a minor road at Gravesend, here I turn right and then within a short distance take a footpath on the left which heads uphill towards Hanger Wood.

    This ascent is a good test for my legs and I maintain a good pace as I head up the hill. As I near the woods there are  fine views down the valley over Fingest.

    After going through a gate the path continues to ascend into the woods.  Soon on my right is the Dew Pond that would have been dug into this woodland to provide water for livestock.  A dew pond has no water running into it, so only gathers rainfall.  After such a lengthy dry spell I fully expected to see it dry, however, remarkably there is water in it and evidence that it is being used by animals as a source of refreshment.

    On reaching a junction of paths I turn left and then at the next junction almost double back on myself following a path to the right.  This footpath follows the edge of the woodland.

    Staying on the path I am soon above Hanger Farm, here the path sweeps to the right and descends steadily towards Fingest.  I ignore a footpath on my left leading down a track and go through a gate to enter the edge of pastureland.

    This leads to a fenced and then hedged path that emerges back onto Chequers Lane near to Fingest church.  I turn left towards The Chequers Inn, in the church wall is a post box dating from the reign of King George V.

    At the junction I meet two women who are walking along each carrying a pint of beer. I comment on how it is a novel way of keeping hydrated when out walking and they explain they are on a walking pub crawl.  They started at the Stag and Huntsman in Hambledon, then visited the Frog at Skirmett and now in Fingest they are going to pop into the Chequers for another pint.  Just to ensure they keep topped up they are leaving each pub with a pint to drink along the trail.  They are American and are very enthusiastic about the countryside and the quaint pubs.  Apparently they are going to end their walk at the Bull & Butcher in Turville and then get a cab back to Henley-on-Thames for a night out!  

    I enjoy a pint and like a walk, but I never mix the two.  I am not sure what state these two are going to be in come 10.00 tonight.

    I now turn right and head past St Bartholomew’s church.  This Norman church has an unusual tower with a double gable, apparently it is the only one of its kind in the Country.

    As the road sweeps to the left I take a footpath on the right leading besides a property to reach a junction of paths.  Here I turn left and soon cross a minor road.

    Now the path continues under Turville Hill.  After going through a kissing gate I keep straight ahead across the Downs. On the hill to my right is Cobstone Mill which has featured in a number of films including Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang.  The two Americans I met earlier were very excited at the prospect of seeing this windmill.

    At a junction of paths I turn left into Turville and then turn right to walk by the church and then stay on this minor road as it heads out of the village.  Shortly before reaching Turville Valley Farm I join a bridleway on the right that runs through woodland parallel to the road. 

    After crossing a minor road I continue through Turville Wood and when the path forks go right to head steadily uphill on a track.

    This is another steady ascent and a good test of legs and lungs on a warm afternoon.   The path bends to the right and continues through a fine avenue of beech trees.

    Eventually as it starts to level out the path reaches a tarmac lane and I follow this back to Ibstone Common where the preparations are underway for the village fete tomorrow.

    At a junction I cross the road and return to the caravan down the driveway of Cholsey Grange.  It has been a cracking afternoon to be out, my walk has covered just over seven miles and my leg is showing no ill effects.  So tomorrow I will venture a bit further.

    You can view this 7 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here

    To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 171 – Chiltern Hills West

    5th August 2022

    © Two Dogs and an Awning (2022)

    All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it.  To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
    Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk.  It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.

  • Skirmett’s Roman Bricks

    Skirmett’s Roman Bricks

    On our travels I am always keen to find something interesting in an area which might not be a major tourist attraction but provides an insight into local history.  Around Ibstone many local villages have featured in films and TV programmes and I am sure keen followers flock to identify where scenes were shot.  Not being into TV or modern films I have little interest in these, but I do enjoy passing Cobstone Mill which features in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

    My interest lies in the slightly more obscure, and often the place or building I am interested in is identified by chatting to a local or looking at websites developed by local people.  The other evening I was looking at the Hambledon Parish Council website and discovered that a few buildings in Skirmett contain Roman bricks. I have previously walked through Skirmett but haven’t noticed the bricks, so today we are off to explore.

    We leave Cholsey Grange by heading along the farm driveway to reach Ibstone Common, we cross the road and continue along the lane (Gray’s Lane) until we reach a footpath on the left just before a white cottage.  This path leads steeply downhill into Parsonage Wood.  It is a cracking afternoon and this is a stunning bit of Beech woodland to be walking through.

    We stay with the path until we reach the edge of the churchyard of St Nicholas’ Church.  According to the church’s website there has been a church here for over a thousand years, the current building dates from about 1125. Unfortunately the church is locked so we can’t look inside.

    The church feels separated from the village, but apparently, until the time of the Black Death, the village of Ibstone was mainly located at the top of the lane.  Following the plague the main centre of the village moved a mile or so up the road towards the Common.

    From the church car park we turn left and then almost immediately right to head steeply downhill on a lane.  Within a few hundred metres we take a footpath on the left leading along the edge of Park Wood.  Sections of this woodland have been cleared recently opening up views into the valley.

    At a fork in the path we keep right and the path now follows the edge of the woods with a fence to our right.

    After passing through a kissing gate we head downhill on a clear footpath through trees and bushes.  This brings us to a gate onto access land where we go right to reach a gate into an arable field and cross this heading towards Turville.

    Following the footpath we reach a road in the village and turn left to pass the church and then take a right at the green to join School Lane.   

    Turville is one of those villages popular with film crews, amongst the programmes filmed here was the Vicar of Dibley.  Not something I watched but its popularity still draws people to this attractive village.  

    After passing the old school, which is now a nursery, we reach the end of School Lane and join a footpath.  After going through a gate we go straight on ignoring a path on the left and then soon pass another footpath on the right.  We then cross the field to our left on a path that leads diagonally across towards a minor road and woodland.

    After going through a gate we cross the road and enter Poynatts Wood.  We soon reach a field where we ignore a path to the right but keep straight on to re-enter the trees.  The footpath goes to the left and follows the contour line through another cracking bit of woodland.

    On leaving the woods the path descends towards Poynatts Farm.  To our left there are extensive views up the valley.

    On reaching a minor road in Skirmett we turn right and walk through the village passing the Frog pub and a number of attractive cottages.  We pass Stud Farm House and the road bends sharp to the right, but we turn left into Shogmoor Lane.  The barn to our left is one pf the properties in the village where roman bricks were re-used.

    Apparently the Romans had a number of villas along this valley as it was an important link between the River Thames and the Icknield Way and Ridgeway long distance routes.  When these villas fell into disrepair the bricks were incorporated into new buildings.  They can be identified by their thin irregular shapes.

    We now follow this lane for 250 metres to reach a bridleway on the right which we take to head uphill towards Hatchet Wood.  As we enter the woods there is a fork in the path and we keep to the right to head towards St Katherine’s Parmoor.

    This estate was once owned by the Knights Templar. In the 16th century it was the home of the Saunders family and in 1603 Mary Saunders and her husband Timothy Doyle extended the property. In 1860 Henry William Cripps QC purchased the property, this later passed to his son Charles Alfred Cripps QC who in 1914 became Lord Parmoor of Frieth.  His youngest son was Stafford Cripps the post war Chancellor of the Exchequer.

    When Lord Parmoor died in 1941 the house was let to King Zog of Albania, he had been forced into exile when Mussolini invaded his Country. In 1946 King Zog left for Egypt and the house lay empty for a while before the second Lord Parmoor sold it to the Community of St Katharine of Alexandria who had been bombed out of their home in Fulham.  In 1995 the last remaining member of the Community, Mother Christine, gave the house to Lady Ryder of The Sue Ryder Foundation, it has remained a separate charity providing a spiritual retreat.

    After passing the edge of the retreat we reach a minor road which we cross and turn left to join a path on the other side of the trees which runs besides the edge of a field.

    We stay with the path to go through gates and pass farm buildings and then at a junction of paths keep heading in a northerly direction towards Frieth.  In the village we turn left along a road and then very quickly take a right to follow a lane (Innings Road) towards Little Frieth.  At a junction with Spurgrove Lane we continue straight on along Innings Lane which soon becomes a track.  

    We ignore a path on the left leading to Adam’s Wood and continue along the track to reach Mousells Wood.  Here we stay with the track, not entering the woods, to reach a gateway into a field, joining the Chiltern Way to head across the field.

    On the far side of the field we enter Fingest Wood.

    The clear path leads us through the trees to a stile beside a gate.  From here there are fine views down the valley and in the distance we can see the caravans at Cholsey Grange.

    We now follow the Chiltern Way as it heads downhill into Fingest.

    At a minor road we turn left and walk through the village to pass the Chequers pub and church and then take a footpath on the right.  This goes through a gate and continues besides a wall to reach a junction of paths where go right to walk through Mill Hanging Wood.

    On reaching a junction of paths at Gravesend we turn left and follow the path through the bottom of the valley towards Twigside Bottom.

    After a mile and a half on this path we reach a junction of paths at a clearing and turn left to head uphill towards Cholsey Grange.

    It has been a cracking ten mile walk through some stunning woodland and we achieved our aim of finding some of the Roman bricks in Skirmett. 

    You can view this 10 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here

    To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 171 – Chiltern Hills West

    15th August 2021

    © Two Dogs and an Awning (2021)

    All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it.  To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
    Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk.  It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.

  • Another Stay At Cholsey Grange

    Another Stay At Cholsey Grange

    When we sit down to plan our caravan travel for a year we like to ensure we visit some new sites and explore different areas.  However, there are two sites that always feature in our travel plans: Brigholme Farm in Giggleswick and Cholsey Grange.  It is August so that means it is time for our annual trip to Cholsey Grange CL.

    As usual we are here for a couple of weeks, but I am on my own for the first week and then Lynnie is joining me for the second, so on arrival I set up solo and then wander out for a few miles.

    Today I am heading off with no set route planned.  I like walking in this way, when I reach a junction of paths I make a choice .  I often just choose a path because I have never walked it.  But over the years I have walked most of the paths around this part of the Chilterns.

    I leave through the gate at the far end of the caravan site.  Joining the footpath I turn left and walk downhill into the bottom of the valley and then turn right to walk through Twigside Bottom.  

    I follow the footpath through the bottom of the valley which is clearly marked with white arrows on trees.

    Then just before reaching a road at Gravesend I turn right on a footpath to head uphill.  Within fifty yards at a fork in the path I go left to follow the path through the bottom of Mill Hanging Wood.  At a junction of paths I continue straight on to reach a minor road.

    After crossing the road I follow a footpath which leads to a kissing gate onto the downland of Turville Hill. 

    Soon to my right I can see Cobstone Mill, built around 1816 the mill was used for grinding cereal until 1873.  It then fell into disrepair before being cosmetically restored in 1967 for the filming of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  Apparently in 1971 the actress Hayley Mills and her husband Ray Boulting purchased it and restored it.  The mill is a popular venue for filming and has featured in a number of films and TV programmes.

    The path across the downs leads to a kissing gate which I go through and then immediately turn left through a metal gate and walk into Turville where I turn right and follow the road out of the village.    I soon reach a belt of beech trees on the right and follow a well-used footpath to pass Turville Valley Farm and then cross a minor road.  When I reach a fork in the path I go left.

    The footpath now ascends besides Holloway Lane and then as it starts to level out the route continues along a minor road to reach Northend where I turn right on a track close to the village pond.

    This track leads to a gate into Wormsely Park.  This estate was acquired by Paul Getty in 1985 and has remained in his family ever since.   

    From this track there are fine views over parts of the estate,  in 1992 Paul Getty constructed a cricket ground on the estate which has attracted celebrity matches and has been used by overseas touring teams.  In 2013 it hosted a women’s test match between England and Australia.

    The track soon leads downhill to an estate road which I cross and continue along a track.

    At a crossing of tracks I ignore the option of turning right to return to Ibstone on the Chiltern Way, instead I keep with the track to reach a junction of paths near a clearing and turn right heading uphill.

    This is a long steady ascent through woodland but eventually the path levels out and reaches a gate which I go through and turn right to reach Ibstone Common.  I now cross the common, passing the large standing stone which was erected to mark the Millennium year in 2000.

    I continue across the common and then the village cricket pitch to reach the entrance driveway to Cholsey Grange.

    You can view this 8 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here

    To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 171 – Chiltern Hills West

    6th August 2021

    © Two Dogs and an Awning (2021)

    All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it.  To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
    Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk.  It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.

  • Fawley and Stonor Park

    Fawley and Stonor Park

    Last year whilst staying at Cholsey Grange CL I did an interesting walk from the site which took me to the deepest well in the Chiltern Hills in the village of Fawley.  When Lynnie saw the pictures she asked if we could do the walk together this year.  So today we are heading off to Fawley, we will vary the route so we can go through Stonor Park, a place I have previously walked  but Lynnie has not visited.

    We leave Cholsey Grange via the entrance drive to Ibstone Common.  We cross the road and join Gray’s Lane and follow this minor road past the Cricket Pavilion and  continuing along the lane besides the common.  Reaching a house on the left we take a footpath that descends steeply into woods  to follow the well-worn track through the trees.

    We ignore footpaths off to the left and stay with the path until it reaches Ibstone Church where we head through the graveyard to the church car park.  

    From the car park we turn right to head downhill on a minor road and then take a footpath on the left along a clear path on the edge of woodland.  We ignore a footpath on the left and then within a few hundred yards take a right and follow the path between a fence line and woods.  The path sweeps to the right still following a fence line to reach a kissing gate

    Through the gate the clear path heads steadily downhill through trees and bushes to reach a gate on the edge of Access Land. We turn to the right and walk a short distance to another gate leading to a clear path across a field towards Turville.

    On reaching the road in the village we turn left and pass the village church to turn right on a lane between cottages.  This lane soon becomes a track and we ignore a path on the left and then one on the right before taking a way-marked footpath on the left cutting diagonally across a field.

    On reaching a tarmac lane, Dolesden Lane, we turn right and walk along it for a few hundred yards and then as it sweeps to the right continue straight on to follow a broad track through the base of Poynatts Wood.

    The footpath continues on through Kimble Wood and on reaching a crossing of paths we turn left and head uphill to cross a field to reach a minor road.

    We carry straight on to follow a country lane signposted to Fawley and Henley.  As we near Fawley we pass the site of the now permanently closed Walnut Tree Inn.  The pub was opened in the early 1960’s by the local brewing company Brakspears but closed in 2003 and now stands in a poor state of repair.  The local villagers have fought a long campaign to get the pub re-opened; sadly it still looks like there is a long way to go.

    We stay on the lane to reach Fawley Green where there are some convenient benches to stop for lunch.  At the east side of the green is the Victorian village well, it is said to be one of the deepest wells in the Chilterns.  I have read from two separate sources that this well is either 397 feet or 338 feet deep.  Quite deep, having lived close to Salisbury Cathedral for most of my life I judge height and depth against the Cathedral Spire, which as I was taught in school is 404 feet tall.

    From the well we go to the west side of the Green and continue on the lane through the village, soon passing the village hall.  A bit further along we come to St Mary’s Church with its attractive flint exterior.  Apparently parts of the church date back to the 12th century, but the tower was added in the 16th century and chancel rebuilt in 1748.  Further restoration work was carried out in the early 1880’s.

    In the churchyard are two large mausoleums.  One apparently dates from 1750 and was constructed as a family tomb by James Freeman of Fawley Court.

    The second is housed behind an iron fence and was apparently built out of Aberdeen granite in 1862 by the Mackenzies also of Fawley Court.

    From the churchyard we turn right leaving the village on Dobson’s Lane, at a footpath sign on the right we turn into a farm driveway and take a path heading by some life size models of cows. 

    Entering a field the path goes diagonally to a stile, I point out to Lynnie that in the fence line there is an Ordnance Survey trig point.  I have previously “bagged” it and Lynnie is content to claim a “bag” from a couple of hundred yards away.

    From the stile we head steadily downhill across a field and into woodland.  The path descends through the trees and continues on to reach a minor road.  We head downhill into Fawley Bottom and turn right and then at a fork in the road by an attractive cottage go left.

    This road leads through woodland before heading steadily uphill to pass the entrance to Coxlease Farm and then as the road sweeps to the right we take a bridleway on the left heading towards Stonor.  At a junction of paths we continue straight on into Almshill Wood and follow the path as it descends steadily through the trees.

    On meeting a road we turn right and follow it through the village to reach the entrance to Stonor Park.  Here we go through the tall kissing gates on the right and enter the deer park.  The ascending path is now following the route of the Shakespeare’s Way.

    Soon there is a fine view of Stonor House, according to the website for the estate this house and surrounding parkland has been in the Stonor family for over 850 years. Apparently the house was built on the site of the remains of a prehistoric stone circle.  Beside the house is a 12th century chapel, which is said to incorporate one of the stones from this circle.

    The path now enters trees again as it goes through Kildridge Wood towards Southend.  On reaching a minor road we turn left and then by Southend Common take a lane on the right towards Southend Farm.  Continuing along the track we pass through paddocks and then a gate to follow the track into woodland emerging on the far side to get a good view of Cobstone Mill in the distance.  Since our visit last year it appears to have lost it’s sails apparently they were lost in a storm in February during storm Ciara.

    After crossing a minor road we continue along the Chiltern Way to reach Turville.  In the village we take a footpath opposite the green to reach a gate, we go through and turn right immediately to go through a kissing gate and follow a path across a field below Cobstone Mill. 

    After going through another kissing gate we join a path going through trees to reach a minor road which we cross and continue to a junction of paths.  Here we keep heading north on an attractive path through the edge of Mill Hanging Wood.

    At a junction of paths we turn right and head downhill to reach a path in the bottom of the valley.  Here we turn left and stay on this track, ignoring paths to the left and right until we reach a clearing in Twigside Bottom.  Here we turn left and follow the footpath back uphill towards Cholsey Grange. 

    This has been a cracking fourteen and a half mile walk.  Although I have walked all the paths before it is the first time I have done this route and for much of the way it was new ground for Lynnie.

    You can view this 14.5 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here

    To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 171 – Chiltern Hills West

    20th August 2020

    © Two Dogs and an Awning (2020)

    All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it.  To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
    Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk.  It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.

  • Leygrove’s Wood and Cadmore End

    Leygrove’s Wood and Cadmore End

    A key feature of our caravan travel over recent years has been the annual fortnightly trip to Cholsey Grange CL to look after the site whilst the owners Ted and Jackie go away on holiday.   This is the sixth year we have  kept an eye on things and it’s always a trip I look forward to.  It is a great site and there are plenty of cracking local walks to keep me occupied and I rarely go far in the car, so it is a good opportunity to relax.

    I arrived a couple of days ago with Crosby, Lynnie has stayed at home for the first week with our older dog Dexter.  Since getting here the weather has been hot, so I have not been walking too far, the midday heat is a bit much for both man and dog.  Therefore we have been doing a couple of miles early in the morning and then heading out late afternoon for a longer walk.

    After setting everything up on Thursday I did a pleasant circuit covering a couple of miles which took me from the site into Twigside Bottom and then past Ibstone House, returning to the site via woodland and Ibstone Common.  It is a walk I have previously blogged and details can be found here.

    Yesterday’s walk differed, though I again went through Twigside Bottom but then continued to Fingest and Turville before returning to Ibstone.  Whilst here I regularly do this six mile walk details of which can be found here.

    Today it is another exceedingly hot day, so I leave it until mid-afternoon to head out for a walk with Crosby.  We leave Cholsey Grange through the gate beyond pitch 5 and join the footpath at the southern side of the site and then turn left following the path downhill into Twigside Bottom. 

    On reaching a junction of paths in a clearing  I turn left.  Within a couple of metres at another junction of paths I take a waymarked footpath on the right that heads steeply uphill through the trees.

    Emerging from the trees I follow the path as it heads around an arable field. At the next field the path goes across towards houses in the distance.

    On reaching a minor road, Chequers Lane, I turn left and walk to the junction of the B482, Marlow Road, and turn right and then very quickly take a left turn to join another minor road, Bigmore Lane.

    I stay on this lane, passing the entrance to Bigmore Farm on the right and then Gibbons Farm on the left.  As the road bends to the left I take a footpath on the right which is just off the entrance to Dell’s Farm.  This fenced path leads besides a house and then turns to head towards Leygrove’s Wood. After walking between fields the path briefly runs besides trees before entering the wood.

    At a crossing of paths I turn right to follow way-markers through the trees.

    The path emerges from the trees to cross an arable field towards Pound Wood.

    At a junction of paths in the woods I turn right to follow a track heading steadily uphill towards a tunnel under the M40. On the far side of the tunnel I follow the track up to the B482 and turn right to join the pavement and pass a school.  I now cross the road and walk across a green and follow the lane into Cadmore End. 

    After passing the Church I turn right on a footpath along a track heading out of the village.  At a junction of paths I turn left to stay on the track as it heads downhill to reach the edge of Hanger Wood.  Just as I enter the trees the path divides, I take the left fork which follows along the edge of the wood. 

    Staying on the path I am soon above Hanger Farm, here the path sweeps to the right and descends steadily towards Fingest.  I ignore a footpath on my left leading down a track and go through a gate to enter the edge of pasture land.

    This leads to a fenced and then hedged path that emerges back onto Chequers Lane close to Fingest church.  I turn left towards The Chequers Inn.  At the road junction in front of the pub I turn right and follow the church wall.  As the road sweeps to the left I take a footpath on the right that leads besides a property to reach a junction of paths.  Here I turn left towards a minor road.

    I cross the road and continue along a path through trees across Turville Hill.  After going through a kissing gate I cross a field of pasture, to my right is a view of Cobstone Mill.  This mill featured in that classic film; Chitty, Chitty, Bang Bang.

    I follow the path to reach further kissing gates and then head into Turville where I turn right and walk through the village and then take a footpath on the right opposite an attractive old barn, which is currently being renovated.  This path leads between properties to reach a field.

    Following the clear path across the field I reach another set of kissing gates to enter access land and walk a few yards uphill to another gate on the left.  This leads into woodland with a clear path heading steadily uphill to a kissing gate.  There are fine views along the valley from here.

    I follow the uphill path along the fence line and then along the edge of woodland.  I ignore a path on the right leading into the trees, instead staying beside the fence to the end of the field where I turn right uphill and after twenty yards take a footpath on the left.  This path leads through the bottom of a Beech copse to reach a minor road.

    I turn right up the road and then as it sweeps to the right I turn left to reach St Nicholas’ Church.

    From the church I join a footpath that runs besides the graveyard and follow this through an attractive section of woodland.  

    I stay with this path ignoring footpaths on the right.  The final section in the woods is a short steep ascent to reach Gray’s Lane.  Here I turn right and follow this lane to reach the cricket ground at Ibstone Common.

    From the common I cross the road into the entrance driveway to Cholsey Garage and return to the caravan site.  Despite leaving my walk until late in the day it has been hot  and I have covered over eight miles.  It is time for Crosby and I to have a rehydration session!

    You can view this 8 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here

    To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 171 – Chiltern Hills West.

    9th August 2020

    © Two Dogs and an Awning (2020)

    All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it.  To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
    Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk.  It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.

  • Visiting Hanger Wood from Cholsey Grange CL

    Visiting Hanger Wood from Cholsey Grange CL

    Whilst studying the Ordnance Survey map yesterday evening I spotted a path through nearby Hanger Wood I have not previously walked.  Obviously this oversight needs to be rectified as soon as possible.  So this afternoon that’s where I am heading.
    (more…)

  • A Five Mile Stroll from Cholsey Grange CL

    A Five Mile Stroll from Cholsey Grange CL

    After a few weeks at home I am away again, this time back on familiar ground at Cholsey Grange CL.  I am here for a couple of weeks keeping an eye on things whilst the owners Ted and Jackie head off sailing.  Lynnie has stayed at home, we are still having work done on our house so she is “supervising” activities.
    (more…)

  • Walking New Paths From Cholsey Grange CL

    Walking New Paths From Cholsey Grange CL

    Usually when away in the caravan it is for a minimum of a week, often much longer, but this current trip is only for a few days and we are heading home tomorrow.
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  • A Five Mile Jaunt From Cholsey Grange CL

    A Five Mile Jaunt From Cholsey Grange CL

    I am back at Cholsey Grange CL for a few days whilst Lynnie stays locally with our daughter to make preparations for her wedding in June.  Since our last visit to this cracking CL there have been major changes with the installation of fully serviced hard standing pitches.  These have only recently been completed and we are one of the first visitors to try out the facilities.
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  • Wandering around the Chiltern Hills from Cholsey Grange CL

    Wandering around the Chiltern Hills from Cholsey Grange CL

    We have stayed at Cholsey Grange CL a number of times and there are many excellent walks from the site. During this stay we have decided to add a few new walks in the area and also to explore further afield.

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