Distance - 15 Miles
Geocaches - 7 and an ALC
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, Stage 13
God Bless The Queen. A four day weekend, although by Sunday, no-one has any idea what day it is.
This lengthy walk in the Chilterns was completed at the start of the holiday, when optimism was fresh and the sun was shining.
West Wycombe is where all the glory and interest is - and an Adventure Lab Cache takes me to five locations to tell spooky stories.
- A headless horseman at the golden sphere topped church of St Lawrence
- The heart of Paul Whitehead, stolen in 1837 by an Australian soldier
- The phantom monk at the Hellfire Caves
- Suki, died at the George and Dragon following injuries sustained from trickster locals, who she now haunts dressed in all in white
- A traveller, murdered at the George and Dragon, whose footsteps can be heard at the pub
I probably should have completed the walk at dusk. At the end of October.
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| Church of St Lawrence. Golden sphere a beacon for the route home |
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| The Mausoleum |
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| Entrance to the Hell Fire Caves. C18th Drinking Den |
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| Entrance to West Wycombe. C21st Drinking Den(s) |
This walk is so typical of the Chilterns and I have said it before on this Long Distance Path. It's superb to walk but not so great to photograph. Pretty paths through mature woodland. The ups and down of several pretty dry valleys.
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| You get the idea - it's lovely |
But I'm sure you are here for the misery. And pubs.
At 11:30am, I reach Fingest for a handsome looking pub - the Chequers. At least its still going, even if its doesn't open for another 30 minutes.
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| Not the only traveller contemplating waiting for the scrape of the bolt |
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| Forget Cask Marque Plaques - this is a TV Location |
The water runs out at Studley Green. The OS Map shows the big blue cup of joy but Google is less enthusiastic. If you look hard enough, you will find an entry for the Studley Arms but no picture or reviews. Hitting the road about 500m away, a pub sign can be seen. It has been repurposed to say "Welcome to Studley Green". The Studley Arms died many years ago.
It's a 3 mile plod back to the car. When very thirsty, its easy to mistake the red kites for vultures.
West Wycombe has a couple of pubs. The aforementioned haunted George and Dragon. The only Buckinghamshire entry in my CAMRA Heritage Pubs book, the Swan. In the interest of new experiences, I make the short journey along the A40 to the Dashwood Arms. A biker friendly roadhouse.
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| And Car Friendly |
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| Rebellion Smugglers - and Water |
The garden is being taken advantage off by bank holiday revellers. The staff were being run ragged - sacrificing manning the bar in preference of delivering meals to hungry sunbathers.
If only I had known there was a second bar in the garden. But would they have had the hand pulls on?
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