Pete's Walks - Bledlow Ridge, West Wycombe, Bradenham (page 3 of 4)
The path continued downhill, running alongside the brick wall surrounding the grounds of Bradenham Manor for a while, to reach the attractive village by a corner of its large green. I crossed the green, passing just in front of the Manor (owned by the National Trust, but not open to the public) and the village church, and took a footpath on the far side of a road.
Approaching Bradenham, with Allnutt's Wood visible on the opposite side of the valley
Bradenham and the Saunderton Valley - Slough Hill on the left, Lodge Hill on the right
Bradenham Manor - owned by the National Trust, but rented out rather than opened to the public
Bradenham church
I was now heading northwest along the eastern side of the valley that had been on my left earlier on, towards where it opened out into the Saunderton Valley. The very pleasant path passed through a sequence of large empty pastures or meadows, heading slightly uphill towards Park Wood. I saw and heard a couple of Skylarks here, and there were yet more Red Kites nearby. The path continued gently uphill beside Park Wood, with good views ahead and to my left over the Saunderton Valley, with Lodge Hill quite prominent. I passed one bench, then stopped at a second by the highest point of the path to enjoy my packed lunch (brie and piccalilli sandwiches today!). The path then dropped steeply straight downhill towards the valley floor, before turning right and continuing beside the wood in a long sweeping curve to reach Small Dean Farm.
Near the start of the path northwards from Bradenham, heading towards Park Wood
The path approaching Park Wood
Close-up shot of Lodge Hill, from the edge of Park Wood
Approaching the highest point of the path beside Park Wood
Looking towards Small Dean Farm - the path follows the wood on the right, and beyond the farm the route continues along the hill on the left
I turned left for a short distance along Smalldean Lane, then turned right on a path that rose through an empty meadow and continued northwards beside a right-hand hedge, passing through a sequence of empty pastures. The views ahead now opened up to include part of the Vale of Aylesbury (and, I guess, part of the Oxfordshire Plain as I was looking towards the Bucks/Oxon border). I was gradually drawing almost level with Lodge Hill, close to the other side of the Saunderton Valley.
Near the start of the path heading northwest from Smalldean Lane
Another close-up shot of Lodge Hill, overtopped by Bledlow Cop in the background
The path from Smalldean Lane towards Lacey Green
A view out ahead over the Vale of Aylesbury
The path from Smalldean Lane towards Lacey Green
Lodge Hill, left, and Bledlow Kop, with the Vale of Aylesbury (and Oxfordshire Plain) spread out to the right