Pete's Walks - Watlington Hill, Cadmore End, Turville (page 5 of 5)
Looking north from the path through Idlecombe Wood
The path through Idlecombe Wood
I could have followed the lane and a parallel bridleway through the valley, but this longer route uphill and through the woods was well worth the extra effort. All good things must come to an end however, and eventually after about three-quarters of a mile along the contouring path I had to turn right at a path junction, down a flight of wooden steps, leave the wood and cross a strip of grass between ploughed fields to return to the lane I'd taken out of Turville. I followed it to the left, soon picking up a parallel footpath that ran along the top of the steep bank to the left of the lane. The lane is called Holloway Lane, and the steep banks either side of this part of it indicate that it really is an ancient 'hollow way'.
s
The path where I left Idlecombe Wood
The path from Idlecombe Wood to Holloway Lane
The footpath to the left (south) of Holloway Lane
View north across Holloway Lane
The footpath (where I found some Wood Anemones, my first of the year) followed the lane gently uphill for about half a mile, and then I had to take the lane itself for a similar distance - the gradient was now even gentler but I did find this section a bit wearying. The lane ended at a bend in the minor road through Northend (Northend and Southend are settlements at each end of the parish of Turville). I continued along the road for maybe a third of a mile, then took a permissive bridleway on the left, which soon bent right to reach a path junction by Launder's farm.
Holloway Lane
The minor road in Northend, just before I took a permissive bridleway on the left
Start of the footpath from Northend to Fire Wood (by Launder's Farm)
I took the footpath going straight on, which followed a hedge or fence on my left through three or four paddocks to reach a wood. The stile into the wood was broken, and I only just managed to step over the wooden fence here. There are several adjoining woods here, looking on the map I think this was part of Fire Wood. The path ran through the wood a short way, then went downhill briefly to reach a junction with a bridleway.
Approaching Fire Wood
Looking back to Northend
The path through Fire Wood, approaching the bridleway junction
I was now back on familiar territory, as I followed the bridleway straight on and gently uphill through what was now Prior's Grove to reach Hollandridge Lane just as it entered Christmas Common. I followed the lane right, through part of the village, and at its end went straight on to another road junction a few yards further on. Again I went straight on, before turning left at the next road junction, retracing my steps as I returned along the road back to the car park on Watlington Hill.
The bridleway through Prior's Grove to Christmas Common
Hollandridge Lane, entering Christmas Common
The road back to the car park on Watlington Hill
It was 3.40pm when I got back to my car, so the walk had taken roughly five and a half hours. I later measured the distance as 13.8 miles (on Google Maps), which was actually a little bit further than I'd estimated when planning the route. I'm not sure why I seemed to walk a bit slower than usual (I can't use the excuse of muddy paths this time!), perhaps it was because I took a few more photos than usual and had to spend longer checking the map as most of the route was new to me.
I didn't have too high hopes when I set out on this walk - it was just a route I'd cobbled together by linking up a number of footpaths I'd not walked before. In the event, it turned out to be one of the best walks I have ever done in the Chiltern Hills. I have tried to make allowances for the fact that it was a beautiful Spring day and walking conditions were almost perfect, but I still think that this was one of the finest routes I have walked in the area. There were lots of ups and downs (some pretty steep by the standards of the Chilterns), several lengthy sections through pleasant woodland, some fine views from numerous points on the route, and I got to see some interesting wildlife too. The fact that the Spring wildflowers were just emerging was an added bonus!
If I did the walk again (and I'm sure I will) I'd make a couple of changes. Firstly, I'd start somewhere else, probably Cadmore End, to save the unnecessary short road walk to and from Watlington Hill. Secondly, I'd take a different route back to Christmas Common from Idlecombe Wood, missing out Northend. I'd go south past Turville Grange, take the path going southwest from Turville Heath and then take the long bridleway that goes north past Turville Park Farm and then northwest to Christmas Common. The route I took today through Northend had the attraction of being new to me (and so for that reason I'm glad I did it), but it did involve some road or lane walking and wasn't as nice as the alternative I've just suggested (most of which I've walked on Walk 16 of my Chiltern Chain Walk).
The walk would probably be just as good in the opposite direction, but there would be two very steep hills to climb, to reach Cobstone Mill and Hanger Wood.
To see this walk done in the opposite direction on 23/10/10, click here - Watlington Hill, Turville and Cadmore End.