Pete's Walks - Watlington Hill, Maidensgrove and Southend (page 4 of 5)
I turned left along the road, then turned right by the village green to head towards Southend Farm. I stopped along here for lunch, then continued on past the farm. There was a fine view ahead towards Fingest, where four or five valleys meet, and also towards Cobstone Mill, a little to the left. The path dropped downhill through a small wood, continuing downhill by a hedge to cross Dolesden Lane - again their were good views towards Fingest and towards the windmill, now directly ahead.
Start of the path from Southend Farm, heading towards Turville (the white dot on the left is Cobstone Mill)
Looking towards Cobstone Mill, from the path from Southend Farm
Looking towards Fingest, from near Dolesden Lane
The path towards Turville, from just before Dolesden Lane
Looking towards Fingest Wood
The path continued beyond Dolesden Lane, following a hedge on the left. After over a quarter of a mile, a bridleway started through a gate on the left (N.B. Alternative 2 on my Google Map goes straight on here, to visit Turville). It climbed steeply uphill, with good views looking back to the head of the Hambleden Valley. As the slope lessened, the path reached a tall hedgerow and followed it leftwards to a field corner. The path then continued beside a hedgerow on the left (where I spotted a couple of Yellowhammers) and then passed the grounds of a large house called Turville Court. On reaching the end of a lane, I turned right, following a track into a wood. I ignored two turnings to the right (Alternative 2 rejoins the path at the first junction) and followed a path through the trees (heading from Churchfield Wood to Idlecombe Wood).
Start of the path to Turville Court
Looking back from the path to Turville Court, towards the Hambleden Valley
The path passing Turville Court
The path through Churchfield Wood
The path through Churchfield Wood
At the next junction I went straight on (Alternative 1 on my Google Map turns left here, on a contouring path through Idlecombe Wood), the path now less clear and dropping quite steeply downhill through the trees, then crossing a meadow to reach Holloway Lane (just west of Turville Valley Farm). I went straight on along another lane opposite for a few yards, then turned left onto a bridleway running almost parallel to Holloway Lane. I was now in Turville Wood, a long thin wood on the northern side of the lane.
Near the start of the path down to Holloway Lane
Looking towards Ibstone from the path down to Holloway Lane
The path descending to Holloway Lane
The bridleway parallel to Holloway Lane
The bridleway parallel to Holloway Lane in Turville Wood
The bridleway parallel to Holloway Lane in Turville Wood