Length 17.3 km (10.7 miles), 6/10
This is one of my favourite walks, it seems to work well at this time of year and there might be snowdrops. It's in a quiet, lesser visited part of the Chilterns, over rolling hills with a couple of deep valleys, and a rustic pub for lunch. And a shortish journey.
Travel: 1006 from Marylebone, arriving 1045. Return trains at 1532, 1546 (changing Princes Risborough), 1615, 1702, then hourly from 1749.
Lunch: the the Lions (tel 01844 343345), Church End, Bledlow, 7km from the start of the walk. Picnic tables stretch out onto a green in front of the pub.
Tea: round the corner from Saunderton station is the Golden Cross (tel 01494 565974), which offers tea and coffee (the otherwise tempting Boot at Bledlow Ridge is closed from 3 to 5.30).
Short walk option: if you've had enough by lunch time, Princes Risborough is just under 4km from the Lions. This shortens the walk to 10.5 km (about six and a half miles). Directions here
L=2.2
3 comments:
The footpath up to Bledlow Ridge is impassable owing to felling!
I counted n=19 and a dog at the station. A n=20 th joined later at the Lions, having caught us up from Princes Ris. A w=sunny day. There was, inevitably, mud but not as bad as it could have been.
Service seemed slow at the Lions (who seemed understaffed) but I think everyone got what they wanted.
After a late arrival there, Mr Tiger decided to pack it in for the day and headed for Princes .Ris, along with A N Other. Spectacular snowdrops in front of Bledlow church.
The footpath and fields heading for PR were muddy and, at times, waterlogged but yours truly has seen it worse and there was evidence of recent drainage work.
For the rest of us, soon after lunch we found the path up Chinnor Hill was very muddy. The group got quite separated and your correspondent (suffering from a bug as it's turned out) got left behind. On another very muddy stretch on the bridleway leading to Town End, I spotted some others and eventually caught them up just before Radnage Church, with snowdrops in full display. I took the direct ascent of the hill to Bledlow Ridge, as did several others - as well as avoiding the path blocked by fallen trees, I think this is a nicer, easier and shorter way so preferable all round.
A good number had gathered in the Silver Cross, with all completing the walk in daylight by 5, many agreeing it seemed longer than the billed 10.7 miles. I think three stayed for further refrershments while most of us got the very crowded 3-carriage 1702 train back to London.
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