27th May
Wow! This walk was hard work! Perhaps it’s the muggy weather, certainly there are more hills than we’ve had for a while but from 4 miles in we were checking how far to the end. This week we’re filling in the top end of the Hambleden Valley, walking from Hell Fire Caves, passed West Wycombe House and crossing the M40 at Wheeler End.
It may be warm but the skies are leaden and the breeze does little to cool us down. It turns fields of barley into pulsing waves of green as we climb the hill into Mousells Wood. We splash through puddles of light amongst the trees before finally emerging to one of those ‘Chiltern views‘ across Fingest and on towards Turville and Ibstone. It’s been said before but is worth repeating…’I could live around here‘.
It’s about midday as we descend into Fingest. I try to persuade Sue to stop at The Chequers for lunch, or at least a drink, but she’s focused on reaching the end now. Ten minutes later and half way up the steep climb into Hanger Wood she’s regretting her choice…but it’s too late now! Two more Chiltern Views on the way back, the first overlooking Piddington and the second, just the other side of Great Cockshoots Hill, across West Wycombe. The full range of greens are the dominant colour at the moment and the views picture postcard perfect for the Chilterns.
West Wycombe picture gallery (more pictures on Flickr):
Distance: 11 miles ; Difficulty: Moderate
Postcode for Satnav: HP14 3AP
West Wycombe walk profile
Where Angells Tread! 