Pete's Walks - Watlington Hill and Russell's Water (page 4 of 5)
On reaching a path crossroads on the edge of Hazel Wood, I turned right and followed a track uphill, between a plantation and a field of yellowing oil-seed rape on my right. In the field corner at the top of the gentle slope, I turned left on another track. This passed briefly between woods either side, continuing with a wood on the right and a green arable field on my left - I spotted my first Speckled Wood butterfly of the year along here. The path passed through a glade with a wood called Hogpen Shaw on my left, then had trees either side. At a track junction the path went right, to reach a drive to the large house of Ewelme Park. I followed the drive to the left, passing a row of white cottages and keeping right at a fork. On reaching a bridleway crossing by a cottage and farmyard, with the grand house of Ewelme Park further left, I turned right, briefly joining the route of the Ridgeway National Trail.
Near the start of the path to Ewelme Park
The path to Ewelme Park
The path to Ewelme Park
The drive to Ewelme Park
I followed the Ridgeway through the farmyard and as it turned right, following a farm track with trees either side, and then following a hedge on the right past another green field. Before reaching the end of the field I turned right and went over a stile, leaving the Ridgeway, and followed a delightful path along the top of what I presume is part of the park around Swyncombe House. The ground sloped down to my left, with views over Swyncombe to Swyncombe Downs or, back over my left shoulder, towards the Oxfordshire Plain. To my right was the northern edge of Straights Plantation. I saw a Buzzard and a couple more Red Kites along here.
The Ridgeway National Trail, heading east from Ewelme Park
The Ridgeway National Trail, heading east from Ewelme Park
The footpath going east, immediately north of Straights Plantation
Looking over Swyncombe to Swyncombe Downs (the blur in the sky is a Red Kite)
Close-up shot looking towards the Oxfordshire Plain
Approaching Haycroft Wood
At the end of the stretch of park land, I entered Haycroft Wood. I crossed a drive going down to Swyncombe House, and then at a break in the woods (with a view down over Swyncombe) I spotted some rather faded Coltsfoot (I remembered seeing it here before). The path continued through Church Wood (I went straight on where another path forked left). When it ended at a junction with another path I turned right, briefly on yet another section of the Chiltern Way.
The path continuing north through Haycroft Wood
The path continuing into Church Wood
The path continuing north through Church Wood
The path continuing north through Church Wood
Another section of the Chiltern Way, going east through Church Wood