October 6th 2021 Long Walk led by Jenny & David Brown
Hughenden to Bryant’s Bottom Circular
This was a fairly hilly circular walk which started and finished at The Harrow Pub in Hughenden Valley. We were fortunate with the weather and enjoyed continuous sunshine and a blue sky with the temperature reaching 17 C by early afternoon. Our party of 15 walkers started by walking southwards down the road towards Hughenden Manor before taking a field footpath to the top of Cryer’s Hill. The route then progressed through open countryside and beech woods to Pipers Corner. From here we skirted Great Kingshill before taking the escarpment path through Hatches wood and Longwood. After a mile or so, we reached and descended Perks Lane to the Hampden Road picnic site for our brief refreshment stop.
We continued our walk uphill to New Farm, before descending to Bryant’s Bottom, then after another uphill section onwards to Piggott’s End Music Centre, a former home of the celebrated but also infamous British sculptor and wood carver, Eric Gill. We finally enjoyed a long downhill stroll through Piggot’s Wood, with panoramic views across the Hughenden Valley, before reaching our finish at The Harrow Pub shortly after 1 pm, where we enjoyed good food and drinks at very reasonable prices.
October 150h medium walk led by Chris Mansfield
Reservoirs and Canals around Wilstone, 5.3 and 6.5 miles
Sixteen of us met at the Half Moon pub in Wilstone at 9.30am on a cloudy, coolish day which warmed considerably later when the sun came out.. We gave our lunch orders to the friendly landlady who was waiting for us before setting off at about 9.45. We started by walking through the village and over some fields to reach Wilstone reservoir where we climbed some steep steps to reach the top. We then walked alongside the reservoir and over fields to reach the village of Drayton Beauchamp and its pretty little church. After a short break we continued down some steep steps to reach the Wendover arm of the Grand Union canal which is in the process of being restored. What a mammoth task! We strolled along the canal stopping to watch the work in progress to reach the end of the works and the road at Little Tringford. Here we stopped for a coffee break and a team photo before 10 of the group set off to rejoin and continue walking along the canal to its junction with the Grand Union, there turning to walk along this canal to Marsworth and on back to Wilstone extending the walk by a mile and a half. The rest of us took a path through woodland, now showing lots of autumn colour and then alongside reservoirs teeming with wildfowl before arriving at the canal at Marsworth which we followed back to Wilstone. The party taking the shorter route arrived at about 12.25 with the others arriving about 20 minutes later. Tables had been reserved for us and our pre-ordered food was quickly and efficiently served. Another very good pub with reasonable prices.
October 18h Stroll led by Brendan Larkin
Six of us met near Gt Missenden for a very interesting stroll around and through this village. We set off gently uphill to reach and pass a pleasant housing development then turning off down through Angling Spring wood to emerge near the station. We then took a small alleyway where Brendan pointed out a very old building before joining the High Street. We walked along the High Street stopping to look into the grounds of Missenden Abbey where Brandan gave us some more history before continuing on to later take a path through Abbey Park where we stood on an old bridge over the dry Misbourne. Our route then led us back into town then out to Mobwell and the Black Horse – now closed, before continuing over fields to reach our starting point. An easy 3 mile walk.