Distance - 13 Miles
Geocaches - 11
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7, Stage 8, Stage 9, Stage 10, Stage 11
A typical late summer bank holiday Monday, weather-wise. Low cloud, drizzle, the feeling that Autumn is coming.
I'm back on the Chiltern Chain Walk - having started it on this same weekend three years ago. This is the trail in a nutshell - good walking, good paths, near constant woodland - enjoyable in execution but providing little photographic opportunities to fill a blog.
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| Woodland Walking |
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| With occasional entertainment options |
So what do we have on this stage?
Architectural delights at Hamdpen House. Tracing its history from the C14th to C20th. If you think its looks familiar, you may have been watching Hammer Horror movies on Talking Pictures. They owned it through the 70s and used it as a location in films and the TV series. Rather boringly, it's now in the hands of a financial services organisation.
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| Hammer Horror |
We also have the Coombes Hill Monument - dedicated to the South African Campaign at the turn of the C20th. Views over the Vale of Aylesbury and family friendly with an optimistic ice-cream van.
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| Coombe Hill Monument |
When not in woodland, I am on the Ridgeway - a pleasure to return to. This part runs through the grounds of Chequers. Plenty of dogs but none were Dilyn.
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| Ridgeway Signage |
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| Chequers, in the shadow of the Coombes Hill Monument |
Plenty of pubs too....
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| At Parslow Hillock - War Poet Rupert Brooke a regular |
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| Hampden Inn - advertising past events. |
I've planned the walk to end near the Plough at Cadsden. I was too early when completing the Ridgeway. It looked a fine Country Boozer and initially, I was delighted with a good quality Hook Norton Old Hooky. Waiting 50 minutes for a sandwich, where the only entertainment was watching the same teenage staff drop glasses, trip over a stick and inform me that my ordered sausage was off the menu only slightly soured the visit.
No wonder the Cameron's famously left their daughter behind. Sam was probably yelling at Dave to "leave it, there's no point in complaining".
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| Between the dogs, the stick trip hazard |
Post pub refreshment, a stiff climb up Whiteleaf Hill for the same views of the Vale of Aylesbury.
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| Chiltern Views |
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