Pete's Walks - Maidensgrove and Rotherfield Peppard (page 2 of 5)
The bluebells were quite impressive here, but the ground here was rather muddy - it was generally muddy throughout the walk after the weeks of rain we've had, so again I was wearing my gaiters. After a few hundred yards, I turned left onto a gravel track heading into Earl's Wood (this was a new path for me, the first of the day). When the track turned left, the path continued ahead through a grassy glade. I passed a small reservoir on my left, then went over a stile into a large empty field of grass. I followed the hedgerow leftwards - when the hedge was replaced by a fence, I had to cross a stile and continue along the other side of the fence which was different to what the OS map indicated (update 19/1/19 last time I used this path it stayed on the same side of the fence). Across a stile in the next field corner, I rejoined the Chiltern Way for a few yards as I turned right and entered Famous Copse, but left it again as it immediately turned left in the wood while I went straight on (another new path for me). I still don't know the reason for the intriguing name of this wood. On the southern edge of the wood I turned left, following a path just inside the wood's edge.
Bluebells in Earl's Wood
The path going east through Earl's Wood
The path going east through Earl's Wood
The path from Earl's Wood to Famous Copse
At the next path junction I turned right, soon leaving Famous Copse and crossing a grassy field on the rightmost of two paths - I was now once again on the southern extension of the Chiltern Way. The path was therefore well signposted as it crossed a couple of small fields and made its way to a wood, where it turned left. On the far side of this wood I turned right (by a pond) and followed this path to the car park for Greys Court, a National Trust property. There were lots of visitors here today, as I walked through the car park and on along the drive to the big house, with nice views over the park land to my left.
Path on the western side of Famous Copse
Path on the southern side of Famous Copse
The path going south from Famous Copse
The path continuing towards Greys Court
The path continuing towards Greys Court
The 'Ha-ha' outside Greys Court
View south from Greys Court
I passed the grand house of Greys Court on my right, continuing along the tarmac drive a little further until it curved right, where I went straight on for a few yards to a lane. Across this a path crossed a meadow, rising slightly to a small wood. Beyond this I reached the cricket pitch at Greys Green. I followed its boundary rightwards, to reach the minor road here.
Greys Court
The drive at Greys Court
The path between Greys Court and Greys Green
The path beside the cricket pitch at Greys Green