06/04/19 - London Countryway Stage 13 - High Wycombe to Great Missenden

Distance - 12 Miles
Start - High Wycombe
Finish - Great Missenden
Geocaches - 5
Pubs - The Black Horse, Great Missenden
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7, Stage 8, Stage 9, Stage 10, Stage 11, Stage 12


An unexpected free Saturday allows me to make monthly progress on the London Countryway.

Stage 13.  Unlucky for some.   If you decide to do this, you may feel it unlucky that you are forced to repeat 2.5 miles to get from High Wycombe to Downley, where we pick up the "official" route.  High Wycombe has been added to the route to aide public transport options and was always a diversion.

It transpires that this stretch is even more unlucky for me. I get bit on the aris by a dog in Hugherden Park. All this, after I had said hello to him and his owner. The little sod went unseen around the back and at first I thought he had jumped up and caught me with his claws. At home, the top of my weary thighs show a nice set of gnasher marks. 

2nd Time in Hugherden Manor Park.  Before the Attack

Once at Downley, the theme for today's walking is set. Its nearly all mature woodland, with a real rollercoaster feel.  We climb to a a chalk ridge, to find a valley requiring another climb out the other side.  At least three times - up and down Naphill, Piggotts Wood and the gloriously named Nanfan woods. 

Hence the reason for my weary thighs.

Into the Woods

Out of the Woods

To the Valley Floor

Refreshment stops are limited.  Too early for the pub at Naphill, I end up waiting until almost at the end.  The South Bucks Way takes us through the car park of the Black Horse.  I could have waited until back into Great Missenden but as it was Cask Marque accredited, I decided to take my pleasure early.

Black Horse - Mobwell, Great Missenden

Rebellion IPA - turning into the official drink of the London Countryway.   Found on last three stages.

Great Missenden is worth a diversion to investigate further.   We're on high when we first glimpse it and I vow to do a little circuit of the pretty streets before heading back to the station.   If I hadn't, I'd have missed the main high street - where the George Ale House looked the pick of the 4 pubs available.

Looking down on Great Missenden

But make sure you don't miss the old petrol station.    There's a geocache in the left hand pump.

Great Missenden's Garage