Pete's Walks - West Wycombe, Speen, Hughenden (page 4 of 4)
I just got a glimpse of grand house itself as I passed its entrance on my left (I visited it a few years ago), but followed the drive between some outbuildings and then joined a bridleway descending downhill through a wood. The bridleway then ran between a hedge and a fence, with pastures either side, before reaching Common Wood. I kept straight on through the wood (well, going slightly left at a junction where several paths or bridleways met) to eventually emerge at the village of Downley, where I went slightly left along a short lane. At the end of the lane I turned left for a few yards, then took a path on the right opposite a road junction. After a few yards the path forked slightly right from a track, passed along the edge of a meadow or paddock, passed a small pond on the left and emerged at the entrance to a school on the right. Beyond this school entrance, I turned right along a path that initially ran between garden fences and the school.. At the next junction (just after the garden fences ended), I'd planned on going straight on, but changed my mind as that way I'd soon reach a bridleway that I walked a few weeks ago. Instead I turned left, on a path that ran for some distance through Branch Wood, still close to the houses of Downley on my left though. I ignored several minor paths going off either side until I came to a clear junction (just past a small Yew tree on my left) where a clear path went right. I went right here (a waymark or sign would have been useful), and after a hundred yards or so I came to a path junction (with waymarks pointing in each direction) where I turned right, downhill, and soon reached the edge of the wood.
Near the start of the bridleway between Hughenden Manor and Downley
The bridleway running through Common Wood
The bridleway running through Common Wood, just before reaching Downley
Lane through Downley
Part of Downley
Footpath just beyond the school in Downley
I didn't take this attractive looking path, but took another going left - this one would soon meet a bridleway from Downley Common which I walked a few weeks ago
The path through Branch Wood
The path through Branch Wood
As I left the wood, there were some great views ahead of me, over West Wycombe and the surrounding hills and valleys. I could see the Dashwood mausoleum and St Lawrence's church on the hill opposite me, and also had a view towards West Wycombe House. It was then a pleasant stroll downhill across a large meadow to reach a lane which I followed to the right and soon reached the edge of West Wycombe. At the end of the lane I turned left for a couple of yards to reach a roundabout, where I took the old A40 going right. It was then a short walk along the attractive road through the village before turning right at a junction to return to the car park.
View out over West Wycombe from the edge of Branch Wood
Close-up shot of West Wycombe House, from the same spot
Close-up of the Mausoleum and St Lawrence's church on West Wycombe Hill
Looking north-west along the valley towards Bradenham
West Wycombe
The walk took four and a half hours, which was very slow for 11.1 miles. Not sure why this was, perhaps I took a few more photos than usual as so much of the route was new to me. It was also quite muddy, and there were some steepish ups and downs. I enjoyed the walk, despite the generally very grey skies - on a nice day, this would be a very good route and I think it very likely I'll walk it again sometime. I'll probably look at walking other paths in the area as well - it's not as badly built up as I'd feared, and is a really nice part of the Chilterns.
To se the walk done in the opposite direction on 30/10/10, click here - West Wycombe, Hughenden, Speen.