Long Walk September 2nd led by Bill O’Kelly
The walk was generally on fairly level ground. It was a rather damp day with continuous rain in the second half of the walk, but we carried on bravely. We could hardly complain given the drought we have all been through! The walk started from the Black Horse in Great Missenden , then through wooded areas to Dunsmore where we stopped for a coffee break next to the village pond, which unlike us, was pretty dry. We returned on the new Misbourne Greenway which is a tarmacked Sustrans cycle lane adjacent to the railway line. This took us straight back to our start at the Black Horse where they provided a welcome buffet lunch which well suited our number of walkers (11) and we were pleasantly surprised that scones and cake were provided as part of the buffet.
Strollers September 14th led by Elizabeth Rouse
Eleven of us met at Naphill Village Hall for a figure of eight walk encompassing Naphill and Downley Common. We walked through woodland to Downley Common and back to the far end of Naphill (the Wycombe end). We then continued through Common Woods at the back of Naphill to Walters Ash and returned along a good path passing houses that face onto Naphill Common
One or two of the group then went into Bon Ami cafe on the playing fields near the village hall for refreshments….all in fair weather.
Medium Walk September 18th led by Jenny & David Brown
Downley, Hughenden Manor and Disraeli Monument
After a blistering hot summer, it was very pleasant to drive to this walk on a bright sunny day but with the temperature at a more tolerable15 C.
Our group of 20 walkers, after pre-ordering lunch options, started walking at 9.30 am from The Le de Spencer Arms pub in Downley and crossed Downley Common to Cookshall Farm where we had good views of the hilltop West Wycombe Mausoleum. From here we followed field paths and through woodland to eventually skirt the playing fields in Naphill. The route then took us along minor roads to a footpath through the Hughenden Estate, across fields and eventually to the welcoming NT Hughenden Manor café. Here we sat in the sunshine and enjoyed coffee and other refreshments. We continued down towards St Michael’s and All Angels parish church before taking the boundary path, past the bee hives and pet cemetery to finally descend to Middle Lodge. Here we climbed the steep wooded path up to the imposing Disraeli monument, built in 1862.
Finally, it was an easy walk through woods, then along Narrow Lane to re-enter the woods leading to Downley Common and a return to our starting point at The Le de Spencer Arms, at 12.30 pm. 15 of us stayed to enjoy our pre-booked lunches which were, as usual, good value and promptly served.