Pete's Walks - Hambleden, Stonor, Frieth (page 4 of 4)
I stopped for lunch on a bench near the highest point of the second sheep pasture, close to "Fieldfare's Stile". This is one of my favourite viewpoints in the Chilterns, Cobstone Mill and Fingest church adding some historic interest to the natural beauties of the landscape.
Looking back over Fingest, with Cobstone Mill on the hill behind it. Ibstone is hidden amongst the trees on the skyline in the centre of the shot.
A close-up of Fingest, with Cobstone Mill beyond.
I continued on, passing through Fingest Wood and crossing a large meadow that sloped out of view to my right. The Chiltern Way soon turned right into Adam's Wood, but I carried on ahead a short distance, then turned right at the next junction of tracks. I was very briefly on the route I walked last Saturday, but that soon turned right to head into Adam's Wood, but I continued ahead (entering unexplored territory again). The track ended at a sharp bend in a lane in Little Frieth - I continued straight on down the lane, eventually reaching a junction in Frieth.
Bridleway just past Adam's Wood
Bridleway to Little Frieth (taken from where I turned right for Adam's Wood on my previous walk last Saturday)
Looking back along the lane between Little Frieth and Frieth
I turned left for a short distance, then turned right. At the end of a cul-de-sac a footpath continued - across the fields to my left I could see where I'd walked along the edge of Moorend Wood a week ago, while a Red Kite was noisily perched on a fir tree to my right. The path ran between fences to reach a corner of a lane by some barns, then continued just to the left of the lane for about a quarter of a mile. I then followed the lane itself for almost half a mile, passing a convent on my right, before turning right on a path that cut a corner by the hamlet of Pheasants.
Footpath from Frieth, heading south. Across two or three fields to my left I could see the path alongside Moorend Wood that I'd walked last Saturday
Path beside the lane to Pheasants
Looking back along the short path I took at Pheasants
I went a few yards right down another lane, and then turned left onto a long path that descended through an unnamed wood (possibly Danger Grove, the map's not very clear). As usual it was nice to walk through a wood, and this one was quite varied - a few beech trees, holly, and quite a few Yew trees. I managed to spot the white arrow where the footpath forked left, leaving a more obvious track ahead, but this was the only place where there could be any difficulty following the right of way through the wood.
Start of the path through the wood, on the way to Pheasant's Hill
The path through the wood, on the way to Pheasant's Hill
The path through the wood, on the way to Pheasant's Hill
The path through the wood, on the way to Pheasant's Hill
After about a mile I emerged from the trees on the edge of Pheasant's Hill. Across a lane, I followed a narrow path between the gardens of the cottages here, continued ahead for a few yards along a drive or track, then turned left onto a footpath. I was now back on the Chiltern Way as it went a short way between gardens, then crossed through a paddock and two pastures, bearing slightly right in the second to reach Hambleden. I turned left to follow a street back to the village square, going straight on to return to the car park.
Looking across the Hambleden Valley, from Pheasant's Hill
Hamble Brook
Hambleden
Hambleden Church
A few months ago I received a charming email from a gentleman called Paul in Kingston, Surrey, who said that through this web site I had given him "a deep love and understanding of the Chilterns". This excellent walk reminded me (not that I needed it) of why I love the Chilterns. Several woods, lots of ups and downs, numerous scenic views, some very attractive villages with typical brick-and-flint cottages, Red Kites and Buzzards overhead, and plenty of historic interest too (Stonor house, Cobstone Mill and three ancient churches). The section from Frieth to Pheasant's Hill wasn't that great, but at least it was new to me (it was pleasant enough anyway, and made a change from walking down the Hambleden valley through Skirmett and Colstrope as I did last week - looking on the map, it seems the only feasible route just to the east of the Hambleden valley, but in future walks I'd like to explore the paths just west of the valley). The only slight disappointment with the walk was that it was a little shorter than I'd expected, but that's entirely my fault for miscalculating the length when I looked at the route on the map. In the Summer or later in Spring, the warmer weather and beautiful wildflowers would make this walk even more of a joy.
To see this walk done in the opposite direction on 15/1/11, click here - Hambleden, Frieth, Stonor.