Backup Only

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.

Wednesday 6 June 2018

Wednesday Walk - Haddenham Circular (omitting Brill)

Length: 20.1 km (12.5 mi) [longer version possible, see pdf]
Ascent/Descent:  300 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 ½ hours
Toughness:  5 out of 10 
                
Take the 10.06 Oxford train from Marylebone, arriving Haddenham & Thame Parkway at 10.40
Return trains:  15.13, 15.40,16.28, 16.38, 17.27, 17.50, 18.13, 18.25… (from 43 mins)

“This is a walk through the pleasant rolling countryside of the north westerly parts of Aylesbury Vale, just north of The Chilterns, with some fine views. The walk first crosses the Thame Valley north of Haddenham and then passes through the area of the ancient Bernwood Royal Hunting Forest on a circular route to return south on a different route back through the Thame Valley back to Haddenham. There are a few ascents throughout the walk at regular intervals, as the walk links some hilltop villages and crosses one other hill chain.”
This short walk cuts out the beautifully located hilltop village of Brill, but still provides some fine far views across the rolling landscape and to the Chilterns.

Lunch: The Hundred of Ashendon (11.5 km/7.2 mi, food to 14.00), which has been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand 2016/17/18 for its cuisine. They also serve sandwiches and more traditional dishes from a Bar Snack Menu.
Tea: Little Italy Espresso Bar in Haddenham village (open until 16.30), or The Rising Sun (open from 17.00) en-route to the station.
                                                                                   
For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files  click here.
T=swc.191.a

2 comments:

Frankie said...

n=6 got off the busy shopping train bound for Bicester into the bright warm sunshine at Haddenham w=warm-and-sunny.Within a few minutes we were ploughing through fields full of knee-high grass, nettles, poppies and various crops. Few had well-defined paths so the going was slow but pleasant, apart from the nettle stings.

At Chilton the group split with the three foodies, including the lunch monitor, taking the short route to Ashendon and the other three climbing to the lovely hilltop village of Brill for a picnic.

The three foodies didn't arrive at the pub until 13.55 having been given an extra 10 minutes to deal with the overgrown conditions. The Hundred of Ashendon Inn did not disappoint and they enjoyed a leisurely lunch sitting outside in the sunshine.
The three long routers did a couple of tours of Brill before choosing to picnic beside the windmill and enjoy fine panoramic views of four counties - not quite as spectacular as the Highlands on a sunny day but where is!

After Brill it was downhill all the way with plenty of stiles, bridges, nettles and pretty villages. At some point the long routers caught up with the foodies and all but one headed for The Rising Sun in Haddenham, tired and parched but satisfied.

Frankie said...

Sorry for forgetting to mention the good company. It always is on a Wednesday.