Pete's Walks - Cowleaze Wood and Radnage (page 5 of 5)
I headed eastwards across the large common here, passing the large stone set up to commemorate the Millennium (the village's name is thought to derive from an ancient boundary stone). I was hurrying now, as the skies were a very threatening shade of grey and I remembered the forecast for rain in the afternoon. On the far side of the common I joined a bit of the Chiltern Way, which soon passed a sign indicating I was entering the Wormsley estate. The path now descended through a wood (it's not clear from the map whether this is Commonhill or Great Wood). I soon saw what looked like a very black Fallow Deer run across the path just in front of me, and looking to my right I spotted three or more deer. A little further on, close to where the Chiltern Way turned left, I heard the bellowing or roaring of a Fallow buck, the first time I've heard this wonderful sound this year.
Ibstone Common
Millennium Stone, Ibstone
Start of the path from Ibstone down to the Wormsley Valley (the hedges have been cut back and re-laid since I was last here)
The path down through Great Wood (or Commonhill Wood ?) to the Wormsley Valley
The path down through Great Wood (or Commonhill Wood ?) to the Wormsley Valley
The path down through Great Wood (or Commonhill Wood ?) to the Wormsley Valley
The path down through Great Wood (or Commonhill Wood ?) to the Wormsley Valley
As I finally emerged from the woods at the foot of the slope, I took my usual photo of the path continuing northwards through the Wormsley Valley, though the scene didn't look its best with the very grey clouds overhead. The path soon joined a surfaced track, and further on a drive, where I went straight on. I noticed an area of beech wood to the right had been partially cleared since I was last here.
The path continuing north through the Wormsley Valley
Continuing north through the Wormsley Valley
The drive through the Wormsley Estate
The drive through the Wormsley Estate
Just after a farm and cottage on the left, I took a path on the left that led slowly uphill through the trees of Langleygreen Plantation. My good luck with the weather now ran out, as it started to rain increasingly heavily. Somewhere near the top of the slope I startled a Muntjac deer. By the time I turned left at a path crossroads and started heading downhill, the rain had turned into a real downpour and I'd had to put my camera away under my coat. So I stopped just before I left the trees and put on my waterproof trousers (I was already wearing my coat and gaiters, so it was only the tops of my trousers that had been getting wet.
The path up to Langleygreen Plantation
The path up to Langleygreen Plantation
The path up to Langleygreen Plantation
The path up to Langleygreen Plantation
The path went down across a field where three horses sheltered by a hedge, then past Lower Vicar's Farm to a lane. A little way left, a path went right, going on a long steady climb up to Cowleaze Wood. This used to be one huge grass field, but the top third had been fenced off and planted with Maize, the second such new Maize field I've walked through on the Wormsley estate in recent weeks. I was surprised to see a Poppy in flower here, less surprised to see some Field Pansies. The rain was still coming down very heavily, so I was glad to reach the shelter of Cowleaze Wood at the top of the hill. It was then about half a mile of flat walking through the wood to take me back to the car park where I started. (If you want to see photographs of the last bit of the route, see here).
The downpour at the end didn't spoil the walk, it was still an enjoyable experience (and, to be fair, I was long overdue a soaking!). It's a pleasantly varied route, though with a lot of woodland walking which I always enjoy. The 'Beware the bull' signs at Penley Farm might put some people off - I don't think I've seen an actual bull there in the three times I've been there, but I must admit I'm always a little wary of that type of black cattle that they have there. The final section through the Wormsley Estate is nice, but I've now done it so often I must admit I'm getting a little bored with it.