Pete's Walks- Ewelme and Swyncombe (page 2 of 3)
Near the end of Swynburn Downs, the path curved right and reached a section of the Ridgeway national trail. I turned right and went over the wooded end of Swyncombe Downs, then descended into a steep-sided valley with a large green field on my left before climbing up the opposite slope to reach a lane junction at Swyncombe. I took the lane starting ahead of me, and soon reached the ancient church of St Botolph's.
The Ridgeway, crossing the eastern end of Swyncombe Downs
The valley between Syncombe Downs and Swyncombe
The path up the other side of the valley
Looking right from near Swyncombe, out to the Oxfordshire Plain
St Botolph's church, Swyncombe
Leaving the Ridgeway, I took a path through the churchyard. Through the gate on the far side, the path turned left, crossed a drive and then entered the park land surrounding Swyncombe House. The path now rose gently uphill to reach Church Wood. Almost immediately on entering the wood I turned right at a path junction, the new path climbing at an easy angle up the wooded slope. Near the top it met another path, where I turned right again. Almost immediately there was a gap between Church Wood and Haycroft Wood, with a nice view to the right, over Swyncombe and out to the Oxfordshire Plain. The path crossed a drive going to Swyncombe House, beyond which it became a wider track - it was particularly muddy here, because the track had clearly recently been used by vehicles involved in some forestry operations. I stopped for a late lunch (it was now about 1.45pm) on the stile where the path left the wood. I could hear a Raven in trees nearby, and at one point I heard the Raven, a Buzzard and a Red Kite all within about 30 seconds of each other (the highlight of the walk for me). To confirm it, I then saw a Red Kite and three Buzzards overhead.
The path from Swyncombe Church, approaching Church Wood
Church Wood
View out over Swyncombe, from the small gap between Church Wood and Haycroft Wood
The path in Haycroft Wood
I then continued on, still contouring along the top of the hillside but now in more of the park land around Swyncombe House, with the trees of Straights Plantation over a fence on my left. I soon heard the Raven again, and this time I managed to see it - it was seeing off a Red Kite, but then in turn it got 'dive-bombed' by a smaller bird. As always this was a very pleasant section to walk, with fine views over Swyncombe to Swyncombe Downs and out to the Oxfordshire Plain.
The path through the park land above Swyncombe House
Looking right, over Swyncombe to Swyncombe Downs
The path through the park land above Swyncombe House
Close-up shot, looking right, over Swyncombe to Swyncombe Downs
The path through the park land above Swyncombe House
The path through the park land above Swyncombe House