Pete's Walks - Watlington Hill, Cookley Green and Pishill (part 2)
I left the Ridgeway again at Ewelme Park, and followed paths to the hamlet of Park Corner (again I was briefly on the route of the Chiltern Way).
Path from Ewelme Park to Park Corner
Bluebells along the path to Park Corner
A green lane approaching Park Corner
From Park Corner I took a long bridleway, another green lane, that led to the valley of Upper Bix Bottom. At the five-way junction in the valley, I continued on the track to the Warburg nature reserve.
The bridleway from Park Corner to Upper Bix Bottom
The valley of Upper Bix Bottom
There was a mass of Ramsons as I entered the reserve, the first time I'd seen a large number of them, and further on plenty of Bluebells. I had my lunch on a log by a path junction, then spent about 20 minute exploring the reserve, visiting both the hides there. To vary the route slightly, I took a different path out of the reserve and uphill to Maidensgrove.
Bluebells in the Warburg nature reserve
The Warburg nature reserve
As I followed the path through Maidensgrove, there were again masses of Ramsons. I descended very steeply through a typical Chiltern beech wood, then followed a hedgerow up the other side of the valley to reach the church at Pishill (there were no refreshments on offer here today).
Ramsons beside a path near Maidensgrove
Path between Maidensgrove and Pishill
Stonor from near Pishill church
Pishill church
From Pishill there was a nice path along a grassy valley to College Wood, where the path rose uphill through the trees.
The path from Pishill to College Wood
Bluebells in College Wood - I also saw my first Yellow Pimpernel of the year here
Beyond College Wood I crossed a small pasture with three cows and two cute young calves, to reach Hollandridge Lane. I turned left, and followed the lane (thought to date to Saxon times) for about a mile to Christmas Common. It was then a short road walk back to my car on Watlington Hill.
Hollandridge Lane
Hollandridge Lane entering Christmas Common
This was a really enjoyable walk on a lovely day - I thought the strong easterly wind might be a problem, but it hardly affected me at all. There were lots of wildflowers to be seen: Ramsons, Sanicle, Common Rock-rose, Yellow Pimpernel, Bugle, Crosswort, Star-of-Bethlehem, Greater Stitchwort, Bluebells, Lesser Celandine, Yellow Archangel, Ground Ivy, Herb Robert, Red Campion, Wood Speedwell, Germander Speedwell, Woodruff, Wood Avens, Wintercress, Cow Parsley, Cowslips and Garlic Mustard. I saw Red Kites almost everywhere, one at Cookley Green was only just above the top of a telegraph post. I was a bit disappointed not to see or hear a Raven, as I've seen them in this area several times before (a note said they'd been heard over Warburg nature reserve recently). I also saw several species of Butterfly: Orange-tip, Brimstone, Comma, Peacock, Speckled Wood.