Pete's Walks - Bledlow, Rout's Green, Lodge Hill (page 3 of 3)
If you are considering walking this route yourself, please see my disclaimer. You may also like to see these notes about the maps and GPX files.
I continued along the path as it then dropped downhill at the wooded northwestern end of Lodge Hill. At the bottom of the slope the path left the wood and ran a short way between a hedge and a fence, before turning left through a metal kissing-gate. Partway across the next field the path was crossed by a bridleway, where I turned right and followed the bridleway to reach a bend in Wigan's Lane (the road I'd crossed earlier).
The path continuing down the northwest side of Lodge Hill
The path continuing at the foot of Lodge Hill)
The path continuing from Lodge Hill
The path after it turns left (I turned right in the middle of this field)
The bridleway heading to Wigan's Lane
The bridleway heading to Wigan's Lane
Another view towards Prince Risborough and Whiteleaf Hill (with chalk figure), Beacon Hill in the far distance
I went straight on along Wigan's Lane, following it gently downhill for a quarter of a mile or so (I'd been a little concerned about this road walk, but there was a reasonable verge all the way). Where a lane came in on the right, I took a byway on the opposite side, which ran between hedgerows either side. After a few hundred yards a footpath crossed the byway, where I turned right. I then followed the right edge of two large empty fields gently downhll to return to Bledlow, where I turned right to return to my car. As I drew near the church, a Red Kite landed on a tree on the edge of the churchyard, and I managed to get a photo. As I got back to my car I spotted my first Lesser Celandines of 2022, which for me is a sign that Spring has arrived (OK, maybe it's a bit premature this year!).
Wigan's Lane
The byway after I turned left from Wigan's Lane
The byway after I turned left from Wigan's Lane (I turned right at the gate in the centre of this shot)
The path back to Bledlow
The path back to Bledlow
The path back to Bledlow
Red Kite on tree by Bledlow church
Bledlow church
My first Lesser Celandine of 2022, outside Bledlow church - Spring has Sprung!
This was a really enjoyable walk, on a lovely day. The bridleway leading away from Bledlow was a little disappointing in that the tall hedgerows blocked out any views, but for much of the rest of the walk I could enjoy some really nice views. The bridleway from Rout's Green to Lodge Hill was very good (though probably not in the opposite direction as it's very steep and the views would be behind you). The top of Lodge Hill was delightful as usual, even more so now that some scrub has been cleared and the views opened up again.