C is for Cadmore End
On reaching Cadmore End School, via the B482 from Lane End, turn left into the lane leading to the church. Off road parking has been made available along here.
The walk starts from the St. Mary le Moor Church,
Cadmore End
Cadmore End
OS map ref SU784925
Chiltern Society Footpath Map No. 11
Length of full walk: 6.75 miles
Time required: 3.5 to 4 hours
Shorter version: 4.75 miles
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| St Mary Le Moor Church, Cadmore End |
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| The Chequers, Fingest |
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| Why not try my recipe for Chicken & Ham Picnic Pie (see separate post) |
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| Bull and Butcher, Turville |
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| Picnic Spot with beautiful views next to Churchfield Wood |
A. Go past the church and turn right onto the bridleway. Follow it downhill to Hanger Wood. Continue left on the bridleway through the wood, ignoring a footpath forking off to the right. It soon deepens into a sunken track along the edge of the wood, and you can catch glimpses through the trees of lovely views across the farmland on your left.
There are some very distinct bank and ditches on this route, which are rumoured to be the boundary of a park laid out for the bishop Henry Burghersh in 1341. Unfortunately this took away most of the common land used by villagers and caused tremendous hardship. Go to http://www.strangebritain.co.uk/folklore/fingest.html to read more about the Green Man of Fingest and the ghost of the 14th century bishop.
B. When you draw level with Hanger Farm a footpath joins the bridleway, but carry on down until the track leaves the wood. Where the track bends left approaching the road, turn right over a stile in the hedge to enter a field.
Follow the left hand hedge to another stile and continue along a narrow fenced path, crossing another stile and eventually reaching the lane at Fingest.
Look out for wild flowers in the hedgerows and beneath your feet.
Look out for wild flowers in the hedgerows and beneath your feet.
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| Speedwell |
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| Dog Rose |
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| Honeysuckle |
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| Elderflower |
C. Turn left to the Chequers pub, passing St Bartholomew’s church on your right.
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| St. Bartholomew's Church, Fingest The huge western Norman tower was built early in the 12th century and has unusual twin gables - it is believed that only one other similar construction exists in the country. It is a Grade 1 listed building, which means the church is of exceptional interest. http://www.hambleden-valley-churches.org.uk/FINhistory.htm |
Turn right along the road, passing the bus stops, then take a right hand footpath (the Chiltern Way) next to the 30mph road sign. This path can be muddy and overgrown with nettles so take care. Look out for Periwinkle growing beneath the wall.
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| Vinca major var. oxyloba Greater Periwinkle |
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| Chiltern Way |
Follow the path all the way to another road, ignoring a right hand fork on entering a wood.
Cross the road and continue on the Chiltern Way to Turville, going through two kissing gates en route and turning left to the road when you meet the path leading up to Cobstone Mill.
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| Whitebeam |
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| Cobstone Mill |
Cobstone Mill is a smock mill (so called because it looks like a farm worker's smock) which was in use until 1873. It fell into disrepair until 1967 when it was cosmetically restored for the filming of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In 1971 it was bought by actress Hayley Mills, who lived there with her husband Ray Boulting.
They carried out extensive renovations.
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The Windmill was interesting but I was far more captivated by the pole dancing !
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| St. Mary the Virgin church, Turville |
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| Distant view of Cobstone Mill from the churchyard |
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| The Old Vicarage |
E. Pass the Old Vicarage on your left and look out for the a public footpath on your right. If you do not want to do the full walk it is possible to take a short cut back to Ibstone (G) from here.
If continuing with the longer walk, carry on for approx. 150 yards until you reach a bridleway on your left in some woodland.
Follow the bridleway uphill to a wood. Go forward over a stile into Churchfield Wood and take the right hand path. Follow this for ½ mile until you reach a crossing track. Turn right and at the bottom of the dip you reach a three way junction. Take the middle footpath (waymarked). This turns into a broad woodland track high up on the steep hillside.
You eventually come to a waymark and sign for Idlecombe Wood. Turn left here. Look out for wildlife - we saw a herd of fallow deer several times in this area. Spectacular views now open up across the valley.
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| Fallow Deer |
After approx ¾ mile, where the path narrows, look out for wooden steps on your right. Just before here we spotted orchids on the grassy bank. Descend the steps and continue down to the road.
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| Common Spotted Orchid |
F. Cross to the entrance of the Wormsley Estate and turn right into the wood, following a path between two boulders. After 150 yards take the right fork and after 100 feet take the left fork. These paths are both waymarked I4.
On leaving the wood via a kissing gate, follow the right hand fence uphill. Here we saw lots of Red Kites. These birds were once extinct in England, but were first re-introduced in 1989 by Sir Paul Getty at Wormsley Park, where he lived from 1986 until his death in 2003.
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| Red Kite |
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| We also encountered some more "wildlife" here! Jolly friendly they were too! |
Pass through another kissing gate, continuing up through a field and then alongside a wood until you reach a stile on your right. Cross this to enter the wood. Climb steeply and pass St. Nicholas Church on your right.
There has been a parish church at Ibstone for over a thousand years – at least as long as the great yew tree, 19 feet round, at its north west corner. It is probable that there was a church here even in Saxon times (c. 800), although the present building is mainly Norman (c. 1200). http://www.sppchurch.ik.org/p_Ibstone_Church.ikml
Walk through mixed woodland until you arrive at a waymarked tree. Take the right fork leading to a stile. Enter the field and go straight ahead to another stile by the road. There are now lovely views across the Stokenchurch valley. Cross over the road leading to the church and turn right at the road signposted Fingest and Turville. The short cut comes in through the trees on the right and rejoins the main walk here.
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G. Walk past the walled boundary of Ibstone House and turn left onto the bridleway at the end of the panelled fence
Ibstone House is the former home of Dame Rebecca West. If you fancy buying it, Sun City tycoon Sol Kerzner is now selling it for a mere £15,000,000 http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property- 23068668.html/svr/1711;jsessionid=B2A70553F9D04FB590A89F40D92B0858
Go downhill to the valley bottom and then turn right. After 100 yards turn left onto the path marked LE46. Look out for wild flowers at the side of the track.
Follow the track up to a pair of field gates on the right. Immediately after there is a well hidden stile in the right hand hedge. Cross over and go half right across the field to a stile by a road.
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H. Cross the road to the bridleway opposite. Follow it uphill through a wood and then to follow a right hand hedge. Ignore a path off to the left. Near the end of the track follow a waymarked path through some trees which passes a hidden pond.
You emerge onto the lane which leads you back to the church and your starting point.
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| Ox-Eye Daisies |
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| Bladder Campion |
Follow the track up to a pair of field gates on the right. Immediately after there is a well hidden stile in the right hand hedge. Cross over and go half right across the field to a stile by a road.
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| We came across this adorable little chap with his Mum and Dad |
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| Pale Lemon Iris growing in Pond |
H. Cross the road to the bridleway opposite. Follow it uphill through a wood and then to follow a right hand hedge. Ignore a path off to the left. Near the end of the track follow a waymarked path through some trees which passes a hidden pond.
You emerge onto the lane which leads you back to the church and your starting point.
