I am back at Cholsey Grange CL for a few days whilst Lynnie stays locally with our daughter to make preparations for her wedding in June. Since our last visit to this cracking CL there have been major changes with the installation of fully serviced hard standing pitches. These have only recently been completed and we are one of the first visitors to try out the facilities.
I know some caravanners prefer to pitch on grass and during dry spells that is usually our choice, but I understand why CL owners in popular locations want to stay open all year round and this usually means installing hardstanding. After a harrowing experience getting stuck on a CL in wet weather a few years ago we usually opt for hard standing during the winter months and early spring.
It is obvious that a lot of thought has gone into planning these top quality hardstanding pitches at Cholsey Grange and I am sure it will turn out to be a major success.
Today I only have time for a couple of hours walking so head off on a variation of a familiar walk, usually I do this walk in the summer so it will be interesting to see how it differs at this time of year.
I leave the site at Cholsey Grange by walking down the farm track to skirt a field and then turn right to join a footpath that enters Penley Wood where I turn right.
The route is very straightforward it is a case of keeping on the main path as it follows along the bottom of the valley through Twigside Bottom.
There are options to leave the path on the left and the right but I ignore these and carry on as the path leaves the trees.
Shortly before reaching a road I turn right to follow the path uphill.
On reaching a stile I cross and turn right to follow the road for a few yards before crossing and going through a kissing gate to enter the downs above Turville. I am besides Cobstone Mill (which I have written about in previous blogs).
From the downs there are great views over Turville and the surrounding valley and I stop for a while to enjoy the vista.
Resuming my walk I continue downhill on the path that descends steeply into Turville. These days I find this kind of descent more challenging on my knees than steep ascents. Entering the village I turn right and pass the church of St Mary the Virgin.
Continuing along the road I leave the village and then after a few hundred yards take a bridle path through Turville Woods. This route runs parallel to the minor road. I cross a minor road and carry on through the woods to reach a crossing of paths. Here I continue straight on to join a track that heads steadily uphill.
After passing through an avenue of beech trees the route joins a tarmac lane that I follow back to Ibstone Common.
At the cricket field I rejoin the driveway to Cholsey Grange and walk back to the caravan. My route has covered just over 5.5 miles and it has been interesting to see this area without its summer plumage.
To view this 5.5 mile walk on OS Maps Click Here
To follow our walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 171 – Chiltern Hills West
21stMarch 2019
© Two Dogs and an Awning (2019)