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This Week's Walks - Archive

Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.

This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.

Saturday, 24 May 2025

Saturday Walk: Gerrards Cross to Cookham

9.6 miles 15.4 km Difficulty 2/10
Across Bulstrode Park, past lakes and through woods, including Egypt Wood and Burnham Beeches, to a pub in Littleworth Common. (An  optional 1.5 mile diversion would take you deeper into Burnham Beeches with its elderly gnarled inhabitants and, if you can find it, a mysterious ancient moat). Cookham is associated with the artist Stanley Spencer whose memorial stone is in the churchyard.  There is a small Spencer gallery in the town, open to 4:30..  
Travel:  10:37 train from Marylebone arriving Gerrards Cross 11:07
Return from Cookham at xx:14 changing at Maidenhead for Paddington.,
The return journey is on a different line and requires a different ticket.
So that’s a single from Marylebone to Gerrards Cross and a single from Cookham to London.
An All-Zones Travelcard  + singles from/to the London boundary may be cheaper. 
Freedom Pass holders can return free from Maidenhead on the Elizabeth line.  
Lunch
 (early) An early temptation, the White Horse in Hedgerley (01753 643225) is renowned for its real ale, and guess what, walkers, they have a beer festival this weekend, so there’ll be even more temptation. 
Lunch (proper) The original lunch pub closed last year, leaving the Blackwood Arms, 01753 645672 a short out-and-back distance from the route. (The deeper delve into the Beeches actually passes this pub).  Advisable to book.
Tea:  there are a few places in Cookham High Street 
Infusions 01628 528 537 has a garden.
The Teapot at Cleve Cottages – open till 5.
For yet more drink, the  Kings Arms 01628 530667 is suggested. 
Other pubs are available.
It is 15-20 mins to the station from the High St. so allow time. 
Walk directions  here  T=1.40

2 comments:

Mr M Tiger said...

N=2 on a w=cloudy day.
Both stopped at the White Horse, where there was indeed a beer and cider festival.
Mr Tiger started with a pleasant stout and rounded things off with a half of cider. The cider was something else. Mr Tiger was almost cheerful for the rest of the walk.
Showing admirable restraint, the two went on, taking the direct route through the woods. They bypassed the Blackwood Arms and pressed on to Cookham. There was a further stop at the Kings Arms - it was either that or wait on the platform for 50 minutes. More drink was consumed.
A grand day out.

Mr M Tiger said...

I forgot to mention that the red wood ants are very active in Burnham Beeches at the moment. Quite a spectacle.