Pete's Walks - Variation on 'Four Hills walk' (page 4 of 4)
Instead of taking the Cradle footpath by going through the gate, I continued straight on over a stile and stayed close to a fence on my right (this path is not shown on the OS map, but its an open access area) After a few hundred yards I went over a stile in the fence and followed the left edge of a field to a gate in a corner. The path then passed through a narrow bit of woodland, before crossing a large meadow, with views ahead to Beacon Hill and out across the Vale of Aylesbury to my left. The path then passed through a short section of wood, part of Ellesborough Warren I think, before emerging on to the steep slopes of Beacon Hill. After following the footpath as it contoured round the hillside for a couple of hundred yards, I turned right and followed a steep path up the grassy slope to the top of the hill. There were more views over the Vale of Aylesbury, and to Coombe Hill. As I strolled right, along the hilltop, there were three Red Kites flying nearby.
The path to Beacon Hill from Pulpit Hill
The path to Beacon Hill from Pulpit Hill
The path to Beacon Hill from Pulpit Hill
The path on the side of Beacon Hill
The path up Beacon Hill - the path on the right is the way I came back down to this point before continuing along the footpath
The Vale of Aylesbury from Beacon Hill
Ellesborough and the Vale of Aylesbury from Beacon Hill
Coombe Hill from Beacon Hill
I turned right near the boundary fence of the Chequers estate, and a few yards downhill turned right again. This path took me back to the steep path up the hill, where I turned left to rejoin the footpath. I turned right and followed the footpath as it headed downhill, crossing another meadow to reach Ellesborough by the village church. A few yards to the right, I turned right down a track, soon forking left onto a path that crossed a large field of young green corn, with the steep flank of Coombe Hill ahead of me. On reaching a road I went a short distance right and then took a path on the other side that followed a drive past a few houses. The path then started to climb up the side of Coombe Hill. This has to be one of the steepest paths in the Chilterns - I resorted to zigzagging across the full width of the path in places, to ease the gradient. Near the bottom I met a walker coming the other way - I recognised him as we'd passed earlier in Little Hampden. We got talking, and it turned out he was from London and really appreciated walking in the Chilterns. I struggled on up the slope, which eventually flattened out and led straight on back to the car park where I'd started. I got back to my car about 2.15pm.
Ellesborough Warren and the Vale of Aylesbury from the path on Beacon hill
Approaching Ellesborough Church
Ellesborough Church
The path from Ellesborough to Coombe Hill
The start of the steep path up the flank of Coombe Hill
Looking towards Aylesbury from Coombe Hill
The path continuing towards the car park
I'd only been walking for about four and a half hours, a little less than I usually do - it was such a beautiful day, I rather regretted having shortened the walk in a couple of places. But on the other hand, the reason that I'd done so was to walk some paths that were new to me and I was glad to have done them. I'd also walked a few paths that I'd only done in the opposite direction before, so this was quite an interesting walk for me. It was also good to see some more butterflies and wildflowers that I'd not seen before this year. I really enjoyed the walk, but think I prefer doing it anti-clockwise. That way, the big hills (big by Chiltern standards!) come at the beginning of the walk rather than the end. The steep climb up the flank of Coombe Hill probably isn't the best way to finish a walk!