Harwoodonline - Homepage
News : Formula 1 : Walking : Table Tennis : Bellringing : My Friends : My Guestbook : CV : Links
Derek's Lifetime of Walks - Homepage

LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD


Derek Harwood's Walking Records

If you have any queries about the pictures or descriptions e-mail me at: derek@harwoodonline.com

COUSINS' WALK - CHEQUERS
Butler's Cross - Buckinghamshire

Friday 30th March 2007
........................................Walk No. 694
30th March 2007 - Chequers - Chilterns - Cousins' Walk No 12 - Map Courtesy www.streetmap.co.uk

COUSINS' WALK  No. 12                           Total 99.5 miles


Time Taken:  5 hrs         Distance:      Enjoyment:       Weather:      Very Misty
 10:30 am - 3:30 pm         7.5 miles             80%              Dull & Threat of Rain

Temp:    Cloud:      Rain:     Visibility:   Ground Conditions:  Wild Life: Ostrich
 13oC      100%       Spots     Very Poor        Muddy in Places   Deer, Woodpecker

Total AA:      Total MH:    Total LD:       Total AW:     Other:      Total Distance:
 1027.5 mls    931.5 mls    1823.5 mls       162 mls      1099 mls      5043.5 miles

Companions:  (Derek)   Ken, Larry & Dennis

Points of Interest and LINKS:
Bulter's Cross                              Aylesbury Ring Path                              Kimble
South Bucks Way                            Chequers Knap                    Aylesbury Walk
Chequers Estate                               Ridgeway Path                     Little Hampden
Coombe Hill - 853 feet  (260 metres).                                   Coombe Hill Memorial

Description:
Parked Ken's car in Elm Close, Butler's Cross, outside an old ladies house with her approval. Crossed Chalkshire Road to the 'Aylesbury Ring' footpath, heading west to Little Kimble. Level walk to start through pasture fields of horses, past Ellesborough Village church on the hill and the picturesque thatched Spring Cottage in Springs Lane. As we reached Little Kimble the footpath passed alongside a house with no boundary fence on the house side. Very unusual and refreshing. Passed the War Memorial at the bottom of Little Kimble Hill on the A4010, with a view across the fields to school children on their cross country run. Entered Great Kimble, passing 'The Bernard Arms' public house and St Nicholas Church (with a pub like sign), to the 'North Bucks Way' finger post at the bottom of a lane. A short way up the lane we noticed ostriches & deer in the adjacent fields. On the field side of the fence were five huge ostrich eggs. Almost worth having a 'fry up'. Just before we reached the Ridgeway path, we passed a picturesque standing dead tree by Chequers Knap. This would have made a good subject for a painting or drawing. As we walked along the 'Cradle Footpath' of the 'Ridgeway', we passed several waymarkers with 'Blair's Lair' chalked down the post, indicating that we weren't far from Chequers Estate. Good views down 'Happy Valley', pity the weather was so misty. Crossed a field of cows and calfs to Whorley Wood and the muddy track by the boundary fence of Chequers. This boundary fence is very unusual, because it is made of impaled railway line sections, about a metre high and a metre spacing. No barbed wire, just a couple of horizontal bars of metal stopping anyone from entering the field or estate without climbing over. After a discussion we concluded that the fence was a security device against unwelcome machinery entering the estate. We stopped for a drink and nibble on a log alongside the fence in Maple Wood. We resumed our walk and followed the Ridgeway path over the Chequers Drive by the gatehouse, to the lane by Buckmoorend Farm. Here we left the 'Way' and walked past the farm at five past noon. The farm wall clock showed the time as noon, but the passing farmer explained that the clock had stopped. We intended to walk from the lane along 'Ickneild Way' to the Rising Sun public house at Little Hampden Village. We advertently added a loop via Hengrove Wood to the pub as a few spots of rain hurried us along. Ken, Den & Laz took their boots off before entering the pub, but I tied carrier bags around my boots. I received a few curious glances from the other customers. After a welcome couple of pints and a ploughman's lunch we continued along 'Ickneild Way' & 'Ridgeway' towards Coombe Hill, passing a poor attempt to construct a stick shelter and an unknown bird in Goodmerhill Wood. Had we discovered a new species? We thought we had spotted a Greater Spotted Woodpecker, but the photos suggest otherwise. As we neared the summit of Coombe Hill, we passed a huge fallen tree which had fallen trunks in three directions. No evidence of a lightning strike, so we were mystified again. Good views from Coombe Hill across to Beacon Hill & Ellesborough Village. Again a pity the mist was so bad. Impressive monument on Coombe Hill, dedicated to the South African Boer War fallen heroes. Very steep descent from the monument through Hill End Farm to the road into Butler's Cross Village and the car, passing the War Memorial to the two Great Wars and the 'Russell' public house. Thanks to Ken for organising the day's walking.

Location: - www.streetmap.co.uk, - Start & finish: from Butler's Cross Village 484275/207120, - via: Chequers Estate 484130/205535, - via: Rising Sun Public House - Little Hampden Village 485700/203930. (Click on location and use Zoom).

Hazards: Always study the map to check your location throughout the walk. An additional 'loop' to the day's walking may be welcome at times, but generally it is unwelcome at the end of a long day's walking. Do not stray from the path, especially near Chequers Estate. If you do, your fate can only be guessed. The punishment was 'Thumbs Screws', who knows what it is now?
Click Here to Return to 'Lifetime of Walks' Homepage
30th March 2007 - Chequers - Springs Cottage, Spring Lane, Ellesborough
30th March 2007 - Chequers - St Nicholas Church, Great Kimble (with Pub Type Sign)
30th March 2007 - Chequers - Ostrich & Deer near Great Kimble
'Lifetime of Walks' Homepage
30th March 2007 - Chequers - Ostrich Eggs near 'North Bucks Way'
30th March 2007 - Chequers - Deer from 'North Bucks Way' just after Great Kimble
30th March 2007 - Chequers - Ken & Den on 'Cradle Footpath' by Sign Post to Blair's Lair
30th March 2007 - Chequers - Den on Muddy 'Ridgeway' at Perimeter of Chequers Estate
30th March 2007 - Chequers - Estate Tree & House  Through Mist
30th March 2007 - Chequers - Laz, Ken & Derek in the 'Rising Sun' Public House, Little Hampden Village
30th March 2007 - Chequers - Crude Shelter on Little Hampden Common
30th March 2007 - Chequers - Daffodils by Boer War Memorial on Coombe Hill 30th March 2007 - Chequers - Laz on Boer War Memorial on Coombe Hill 30th March 2007 - Chequers - Ellesborough Church from Coombe Hill 30th March 2007 - Chequers - Derek, Dennis, Larry & Ken in Goodmerhill Wood 30th March 2007 - Chequers - Unknown Bird in Goodmerhill Wood

Previous Walk : Next Walk : More Photos : 'Midland Hillwalking' Photos : 'Lake District' Photos
News : Formula 1 : Walking : Table Tennis : Bellringing : My Friends : My Guestbook : CV : Links

Derek Harwood: Copyright 2007
Devised: April 2007