Pete's Walks- Little Missenden, Holmer Green and Mop End (page 4 of 4)
The path stayed close to the boundary on my right, before veering slightly left to reach a gate in a crossing fence. The path continued ahead across grass, to join an obvious track continuing along the valley. When I reached Mop End Lane (a track with gates either side), I took my usual slight detour by going right along the track for a hundred yards to admire the river Misbourne from the bridge where the track crossed it.
The path continuing through the grounds of Shardeloes
The path continuing through the grounds of Shardeloes
The path continuing through the grounds of Shardeloes
The path along the Misbourne valley, from where it crosses Mop End Lane
Looking east along the River Misbourne
Weir on the River Misbourne
Looking west along the River Misbourne
The path along the Misbourne valley to Little Missenden
I then returned to the path I'd been on, and continued along the valley towards Little Missenden. When I reached the road through the village I turned left and followed it for almost half a mile back to the church and my parked car.
View across the River Misbourne, showing some of the HS2 works that are currently scarring this valley
The path along the Misbourne Valley to Little Missenden
The lane through Little Missenden
The lane through Little Missenden
Decorated wooden signpost, Little Missenden
Little Missenden church - this is my favourite church in the Chilterns. At its heart is a Saxon church with a Norman church built around it, so that the two 'Aisles', either side of the Nave are between the inner Saxon and outer Norman walls (with rounded Norman archways cut into the Saxon walls). Another point of interest are the mediaeval wall paintings.
As you can tell from the photographs, it had been a very grey morning until the sun came out about when I reached the cricket ground below Shardeloes. That, and the very muddy conditions, meant I didn't enjoy the walk as much as I usually do. But I still think it's a very nice shorter route, and I'm sure I'll do it again some time - I always enjoy seeing both the river Misbourne from the bridge on Mop Lane and Little Missenden church.