Pete's Walks- West Wycombe, Green End, Bradenham, Downley (page 4 of 4)
I crossed a drive (going to Cookshall Farm, away to my right) and continued on along the bridleway. At a very narrow fork I kept left (a house was just visible along the other path). Eventually (maybe half a mile from crossing the drive) I reached Downley Common, where I saw the second cricket pitch on this walk.
The bridleway going south on Naphill Common, just after crossing the drive to Cookshall Farm
The bridleway going south on Naphill Common
The bridleway going south on Naphill Common, just before reaching Downley Common
View over Downley Common
I turned right and followed a lane as it turned left around the edge of the cricket pitch. I went past a footpath sign on my right, but a few yards further on turned right along a bridleway. I think I last walked this bridleway, in the opposite direction, on this Bledlow Ridge, West Wycombe, Bradenham walk in February 2010. It generally ran between hedges either side, in a south-westerly direction, and soon started to drop downhill. There were lots of colourful flowers in the hedges, and I was pleased to see some Moschatel which is something I've only seen a few times (though it is quite common). I passed a wood on the right, then after half a mile or so the bridleway merged with another one. I continued downhill until eventually the bridleway reached a drive coming from Cookshall Farm, where I turned left.
The bridleway going southwest from Downley Common
The bridleway going southwest from Downley Common
The bridleway going southwest from Downley Common
The bridleway going southwest from Downley Common
The bridleway going southwest from Downley Common
The bridleway going southwest from Downley Common - this is after the two bridleways merged
Looking right from the bridleway, shortly before it reached the drive from Cookshall Farm
A view towards the Dashwood Mausoleum and St Lawrence's church on West Wycombe Hill
A close-up shot of the Dashwood Mausoleum and St Lawrence's church on West Wycombe Hill
The drive soon went under a railway bridge and became a residential street. At its end, I turned left to immediately reach a roundabout. Here I turned right to follow the A40 through the old houses and shops of West Wycombe. On the far side of the village, I turned right to return to the village car park.
The drive heading into West Wycombe
West Wycombe
West Wycombe
West Wycombe Hill and the Dashwood Mausoleum
I got back to my car about 12:05, so the 7.6 mile walk took me about 3 hours and 10 minutes (but I did take just over 150 photos). It had been a lovely morning for a walk, and the abundance of Spring flowers certainly added to my enjoyment. It's certainly a walk I'd like to do again, perhaps I'll try it in the opposite direction next time. I really enjoyed the new section from West Wycombe to Green End and then to Bradenham (some people might be wary of the cattle in the fields before Green End Farm), and there were some fine views here (I especially liked the view from the edge of Hearnton Wood towards Bradenham in its valley). I also liked the steep path up to Hearnton Wood - it was a nice little challenge, with some good views along the valley either side and back over Chawley/Chorley. The section from Bradenham to Downley Common and then to West Wycombe was good too, though being largely in woodland there were fewer views.
Amazingly, considering this was a Bank Holiday Monday, I saw only one other walker, and that was when I reached the drive from Cookshall Farm very near the end of the walk.