November 3rd Long Walk led by Chris Mansfield
Great Hampden circular 7 miles
Eleven of us met at the Hampden Arms on a dry autumn day. We set off at 9.30 taking the path to Hampden church and then on down fields to reach and cross a road before walking gently uphill through wood land and then across more fields to reach Little Hampden. After walking through the village we took a downhill path into a valley before a steep climb up through woodland to reach Cobbershill. Here we had a short break sitting on a low wall before setting off again, now downhill to reach and cross the road at Hotley Bottom, then climbing gently, later into woodland to emerge on a road at Honor End.
After a short distance on the road we turned off to go across fields, over another road then more woodland to reach the road about half a mile from Gt Hampden leaving us a short walk back to the pub, arriving at 12.50. The pub was busy but an area had been reserved for us and we squashed ourselves in. The food and drink was soon ordered and quickly arrived – plentiful and very reasonable prices.
November 80h stroll led by Elizabeth Rouse
Bradenham circular 3 miles
We had a pleasant 3 mile stroll starting from Braddenham Church. Fourteen of us turned out on a sparkling November morning. – a record number since restarting after lockdown. The route was across typical Chiltern landscape…undulating but worth the gentle climbs along field edges for the views out to Saunderton and West Wycombe. Being so high up on chalkland meant we encountered little mud. The second half of our route took us on good defined paths through beech woods which were showing their wonderful autumn colours.
November 12h Medium walk led by John Stallwood
Piddington circular 6.5 miles
14 off us gathered under the canopy of Dashwood Arms Roadhouse pub in Piddington near West Wycombe,11 of us deciding what we would like to eat at the end of our walk. The weather was drizzling quite hard when we all set off but eased off.later. First we had to negotiate crossing the busy A40, which we all did safely before setting off in a NW direction towards Bottom Wood. Soon after we had entered Plomers Wood we just had to stop and admire the autumnal colours which were stunning despite the wet weather we were experiencing. Shortly after, we had some very tame strange looking pheasants walking amongst us. We later learned they were called Reeves Pheasants and are quite rare. We carried on in woodland to MR 791956. Here we turned left up a steepish hill, back across the A40 into more woodland, then going straight on to MR 794941, where we turned right. During this section we had a very heavy shower but were sheltered by trees and had a coffee stop. Continuing on, on top of a short hill the sun came out and showed us the woods in all their wonderful autumn colours. We carried on in woods all the way to Cadmore End turning left along a short stretch of road then left again at Kensham farm and onwards towards Wheeler End. We walked across the common towards Piddington Lane and using the safety of paths in the fields on either side we continued on to Piddington itself, with the thought of food encourageing us on. The Dashwood Roadhouse, turned out to be a super pub, great food and hospitality – we were looked after very well. All in all the walk (and pub) was enjoyed by all of us. All the positive comments made organising and leading a walk worthwhile.