SWC 191: Haddenham Circular via Brill T=SWC.191
Train:
Take the 10:06 AM Oxford train from London Marylebone to Haddenham & Thame Parkway, arriving
at 10:40. Return trains from Haddenham
& Thame Parkway are at 13 and 38 minutes past the hour until 21:38. Buy a day return to Haddenham & Thame
Parkway.
Distance: 17.2 Miles (27.6 km) for the full walk via
Brill OR 12.5 Miles (20 km) if you do the shorter option omitting Brill. It would also be possible to arrange for a taxi pick-up in eiter Brill or Ashendon (see instructions for number).
Difficulty: 8 out of 10 (5 out of 10 for the shorter
option)
For
those suffering withdrawals from hillwalking….and for those interested in
exploring some pretty hilltop villages….thought the lofty heights of Brill
would make a worthy destination (at 180 meters not quite a Munro…but the walk
up will certainly get the blood flowing). Also, I noticed that the long version of this walk via Brill has
not had a Saturday outing for some time…so think the Saturday walkers should
have the chance to explore this pretty undulating corner of Buckinghamshire which
should have good amounts of buttercups at this time of year…..More information and the instructions
can be found here.
Lunch
will be in Brill at one of its two pubs….A booking has been made at 1:30pm at
the more upmarket The Pointer (https://thepointerbrill.co.uk). In addition, The Pheasant (https://www.thepheasant.co.uk/ 01844 239 370) near the village
windmill offers very good quality food until at least 2:00pm.
Those
opting for the shorter walk can enjoy lunch in the also very charming hilltop
village of Ashendon at The Hundred of
Ashendon Inn (https://www.thehundred.co.uk/ 01296 651 296) where the longer
walkers can also stop for an afternoon bevie….
Post walk refreshments can be had at the Rising Sun in
Haddenham before the final short walk to the station.
Enjoy
the walk!
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4 comments:
Last summer I recall the designated crossing point of the railway was closed on the short walk. Does anyone have an update on this? This and the over-grown vegetation made for a difficult combo.
First I hear of the crossing being 'shut'. There also is no mention of the crossing being closed in the walk reports of last year's 2 outings for this walk (admittedly they seem written by people doing the long version of the walk). But the grass in the pastures may be high and nettles will be in attendance, yes... The Walk Author
I was one of the "foodies" struggling through undergrowth on the short walk last year. Can't remember a crossing problem but the pub is excellent!
n=11 off the train under w=initially-cloudy-skies-clearing-to-largely-sunny-skies-with-a-stiff-breeze-at-times. I believe all did the long version of the walk (after a spell, one walker set a brisker pace than the rest (so assume he went long), with the remaining 10 sticking together for most of the day) -- well done to those who did not think they could mange the whole long route!
Atop the Hill in Brill 8 dined in the Pointer where all found the food very tasty; but microscopic in size -- most felt they could still manage another main course elsewhere....and one actually did buy some additional provisions at the Brill shop; one ate at the Pheasant with the opposite problem of an overly large portion; and one picnicked and later joined the Pheasant diner....
Eventually all reconvened at the windmill for the afternoon in warm sunshine. We stopped in the 100 of Ashendon for much needed refreshments before the final stretch into Haddenham, arriving about 19:30 -- 2 went straight to the station and the remaining 8 the House of Spice for a very tasty curry and the 21:40 back to London....
A great day out -- making full use of the long summer's day...Very pretty rolling landscape (dotted with buttercups) with a number of charming villages and pleasant pubs...Although there are a number of field crossings, all very passable and many very pretty with wheat/barley shimmering in the sunshine and dancing in the wind...Some pastures had long grass and some stiles had a bit of overgrowth --- but nothing too demanding or problematic...We saw 2 or 3 hares in the afternoon and heard a very talkative cuckoo on the outskirts of Haddenham....
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