Length: 15.7 km (9.8 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10 Two steep(ish) inclines, one steep descent, otherwise relatively flat and easy going. One of the inclines and the descent can be avoided.
London Marylebone: 09-43 hrs Chiltern Railway service to Stratford-upon-Avon
Arrive Princes Risborough: 10-27 hrs
Return
Great Missenden to Marylebone: 29 and 59 mins past the hour
Rail ticket Your outward and return journeys are on different branches of the Chiltern line, so you should buy a ticket from where the branches converge - that is, Aylesbury. Your best bet today is probably a Super Off Peak Day Return to Aylesbury from Marylebone. If buying alternative tickets, using whatever railcards you possess, do make sure your ticket(s) cover both branches of the Chiltern line, viz "any Route Permitted".
Please see - and comply with - our Covid Rules and Track and Trace - and practise Hands-Face-Space
This posting is in DAC's slot - per his request.
The Chiltern Hills are often at their best in mid to late autumn, and I'm hoping this posting is not too early for the leaf colour in Monkton Wood. Even if the wood's beech trees are not yet at their colourful best, there should be plenty to enjoy along the way as you walk through classic Chiltern's countryside, with a good mixture of woods, farmland and open countryside, with some hills to provide you with views today. But as noted earlier, all but one incline can be avoided by taking evasive action aka taking an alternative route if you so wish.
The suggested lunch stop on today's walk is the Gate Inn in Bryant's Bottom. I leave it to you to drop in as individuals for a drink or to take lunch there, having regard to the latest Covid restrictions and directives which take effect from today - which prohibit mixed households from meeting indoors, and applies to Londoners, now in a Tier 2 area, even though we are walking in a Tier 1 area. If you have the stamina to continue your morning leg beyond the Gate Inn, your lunch stop is the recently rebuilt Polecat Inn in Prestwood, some 45 minutes beyond the Gate Inn.
The afternoon continues with more woods. Shortly after you pass the Polecat Inn you come to Peterley Wood. Many a SWC walker has become lost in these woods, so please follow the directions carefully, either the blue route or the original yellow route through these woods. On then and down into Great Missenden, one time home of author Roald Dahl. Again, please have regard to the latest Covid directives and regulations which apply from today if you intend calling in at any of the tea stops mentioned in the Walk Directions.
Enjoy !
T=1.45
Walk Directions are here: L=1.45
2 comments:
N=13 today. A w=cloudy-dry-slightly-chilly day. Not all that muddy. We too had a patch of sun at lunchtime. The group split into 5,6 and two 1's. Guess who was at the back. The woods were a sight, largely still green but some yellow creeping in. Despite fears to the contrary, there was ample outside seating at the Gate and some stopped off there for lunch or whatever. That’s where I caught up. A quick pint and I left them there to press on ahead – a rare giddy feeling for me.
There was a little bit of drama soon after. A group of cows were blocking the gate into the field up the hill. I had to squeeze through them. They were OK about it, mooed a bit but that’s all. One had a cough. I might have gone up that hill a bit quicker than normal, though.
I was expecting the others to catch me up but never saw them again. I did wonder if the cows ate them. Or perhaps, sensibly, they took a detour.
I got the 15.59 back.
Ian, you were "bolder" than the rest of us when it came to the herd of cows immediately after the lunch pub, blocking the way ahead. Seeing that some young calves were with their mums, the rest of us thought it best to play safe and return to the pub and go back up the path we came down on, to then take the pleasant, woodland high path, to rejoin the main directions just before the property called Hughenden Chase. Fortunately no accidents or harm done today - but it could have been different.
After your scare you made excellent progress on the afternoon leg of the walk, as I was on the train an hour later than you with four others who had stopped for tea in Great Miss. Presumably most of the others were on the 16-29.
The Gate pub looked after us very well at lunchtime, it being just about warm enough for some of our diners to sit at outdoor tables. The food was good and sustained us for the rest of the walk.
An enjoyable day out - and good to report the Chiltern's autumn leaf colour is coming on nicely.
Post a Comment