Pete's Walks- Bledlow Ridge, Bradenham, West Wycombe (page 4 of 5)
I turned left along a lane along another side of the cricket pitch and then took a bridleway (I passed a footpath first) on the right, heading southwest. The bridleway was enclosed between old hedgerows, and soon started descending steadily. Occasionally I got views across the valley to West Wycombe hill, topped by the Dashwood Mausoleum and St Lawrence's church. After about half a mile, the bridleway merged with another one coming in sharply from my left. At the bottom of the slope the bridleway levelled out and finally ended when it reached a tarmac drive. I followed this left, passing under a railway bridge to emerge on the edge of West Wycombe by a small roundabout on the A40.
Near the start of the bridleway from Downley Common to West Wycombe
The bridleway from Downley Common to West Wycombe
The bridleway from Downley Common to West Wycombe
The bridleway from Downley Common to West Wycombe
Close-up shot looking towards West Wycombe Hill, with the Dashwood Mausoleum and St Lawrence's church
The bridleway from Downley Common to West Wycombe
The railway bridge
At the roundabout I followed the A40 westwards into the attractive old village, and turned right through an archway. A short lane led uphill a little way, then there was a steady climb up the long grassy slope of West Wycombe Hill to reach the Dashwood Mausoleum. I then followed a path to the left of the Mausoleum to reach St Lawrence's church behind it.
The Dashwood Mausoleum with St Lawrence's church behind, from the A40 in West Wycombe
Old houses in West Wycombe
West Wycombe
The path up West Wycombe Hill, approaching the Dashwood Mausoleum
Looking backwards, along the A40 and into High Wycombe
St Lawrence's church, West Wycombe
As I crossed the large car park behind the church (continuing in roughly the same direction as before) I saw a Red Kite low overhead, and higher up in the sky a Buzzard. A footpath followed a decent track northwards from the car park, soon entering woods. A Muntjac deer dashed across the track just a few yards in front of me at one point along here.
From the car purk on West Wycombe Hill, looking towards Radnage
Near the start of the path going north from West Wycombe Hill
The path going north from West Wycombe Hill