LIFETIME of WALKS by DEREK HARWOOD

I parked in a rough car park near Cookham and crossed a meadow of dandelions to Cookham and the river bank. I passed to the east of the boat club and edge of Bell Rope Meadow. I turned left on the towpath in front of the boat club towards Cock Marsh, passing a group of dog walkers with about a dozen dogs, some in the river. As the river turned north the houses on the Bourne End bank became more impressive. I passed under the railway bridge to the Riverside House and the jetties, with its big boats. I spotted an unusual lone goose on Cock Marsh, was it a Greylag? I passed another boat house opposite a very large rape seed oil field. I followed a broad track through the rape field to Winter Hill and low flying red kites. There was no sign of a ruined farmhouse, perhaps it was by the pond. It was a steady climb up Winter Hill to a field of bluebells and broad views across the river valley. I turned sharp left along the lane to a kissing gate at ‘9’. I passed paddocks of horses to Bradcutts Lane and the very impressive, new-looking mansion in the adjacent field. No two-legged electricity pole was to be found after point ‘11’. Beware of a narrow lane before point ‘12’. There was a blind exit to traffic from the kissing gate. More care was required at the golf course descending Winter Hill back to the car park. I passed the car park to Cookham village and its ancient High Street, then passed the 15th century cottages to the church and the distinctive narrow road bridge. Note the ‘fighting sign’ on the wall of Vine Cottage on the High Street, when returning back to the car park.

Location Map: - www.streetmap.co.uk
Start & Finish: At Cookham Moor on left of B4447

Care required on the very narrow lane between points ‘8’ and ‘9’, and also crossing the narrow lane just before point ‘12’.

Number 49