A key feature of our caravan travel over recent years has been the annual fortnightly trip to Cholsey Grange CL to look after the site whilst the owners Ted and Jackie go away on holiday. This is the sixth year we have kept an eye on things and it’s always a trip I look forward to. It is a great site and there are plenty of cracking local walks to keep me occupied and I rarely go far in the car, so it is a good opportunity to relax.
I arrived a couple of days ago with Crosby, Lynnie has stayed at home for the first week with our older dog Dexter. Since getting here the weather has been hot, so I have not been walking too far, the midday heat is a bit much for both man and dog. Therefore we have been doing a couple of miles early in the morning and then heading out late afternoon for a longer walk.
After setting everything up on Thursday I did a pleasant circuit covering a couple of miles which took me from the site into Twigside Bottom and then past Ibstone House, returning to the site via woodland and Ibstone Common. It is a walk I have previously blogged and details can be found here.
Yesterday’s walk differed, though I again went through Twigside Bottom but then continued to Fingest and Turville before returning to Ibstone. Whilst here I regularly do this six mile walk details of which can be found here.
Today it is another exceedingly hot day, so I leave it until mid-afternoon to head out for a walk with Crosby. We leave Cholsey Grange through the gate beyond pitch 5 and join the footpath at the southern side of the site and then turn left following the path downhill into Twigside Bottom.
On reaching a junction of paths in a clearing I turn left. Within a couple of metres at another junction of paths I take a waymarked footpath on the right that heads steeply uphill through the trees.
Emerging from the trees I follow the path as it heads around an arable field. At the next field the path goes across towards houses in the distance.
On reaching a minor road, Chequers Lane, I turn left and walk to the junction of the B482, Marlow Road, and turn right and then very quickly take a left turn to join another minor road, Bigmore Lane.
I stay on this lane, passing the entrance to Bigmore Farm on the right and then Gibbons Farm on the left. As the road bends to the left I take a footpath on the right which is just off the entrance to Dell’s Farm. This fenced path leads besides a house and then turns to head towards Leygrove’s Wood. After walking between fields the path briefly runs besides trees before entering the wood.
At a crossing of paths I turn right to follow way-markers through the trees.
The path emerges from the trees to cross an arable field towards Pound Wood.
At a junction of paths in the woods I turn right to follow a track heading steadily uphill towards a tunnel under the M40. On the far side of the tunnel I follow the track up to the B482 and turn right to join the pavement and pass a school. I now cross the road and walk across a green and follow the lane into Cadmore End.
After passing the Church I turn right on a footpath along a track heading out of the village. At a junction of paths I turn left to stay on the track as it heads downhill to reach the edge of Hanger Wood. Just as I enter the trees the path divides, I take the left fork which follows along the edge of the wood.
Staying on the path I am soon above Hanger Farm, here the path sweeps to the right and descends steadily towards Fingest. I ignore a footpath on my left leading down a track and go through a gate to enter the edge of pasture land.
This leads to a fenced and then hedged path that emerges back onto Chequers Lane close to Fingest church. I turn left towards The Chequers Inn. At the road junction in front of the pub I turn right and follow the church wall. As the road sweeps to the left I take a footpath on the right that leads besides a property to reach a junction of paths. Here I turn left towards a minor road.
I cross the road and continue along a path through trees across Turville Hill. After going through a kissing gate I cross a field of pasture, to my right is a view of Cobstone Mill. This mill featured in that classic film; Chitty, Chitty, Bang Bang.
I follow the path to reach further kissing gates and then head into Turville where I turn right and walk through the village and then take a footpath on the right opposite an attractive old barn, which is currently being renovated. This path leads between properties to reach a field.
Following the clear path across the field I reach another set of kissing gates to enter access land and walk a few yards uphill to another gate on the left. This leads into woodland with a clear path heading steadily uphill to a kissing gate. There are fine views along the valley from here.
I follow the uphill path along the fence line and then along the edge of woodland. I ignore a path on the right leading into the trees, instead staying beside the fence to the end of the field where I turn right uphill and after twenty yards take a footpath on the left. This path leads through the bottom of a Beech copse to reach a minor road.
I turn right up the road and then as it sweeps to the right I turn left to reach St Nicholas’ Church.
From the church I join a footpath that runs besides the graveyard and follow this through an attractive section of woodland.
I stay with this path ignoring footpaths on the right. The final section in the woods is a short steep ascent to reach Gray’s Lane. Here I turn right and follow this lane to reach the cricket ground at Ibstone Common.
From the common I cross the road into the entrance driveway to Cholsey Garage and return to the caravan site. Despite leaving my walk until late in the day it has been hot and I have covered over eight miles. It is time for Crosby and I to have a rehydration session!
You can view this 8 mile walk on OS Maps and download the GPX File Here
To follow my walk you will need Ordnance Survey Explorer Map 171 – Chiltern Hills West.
9th August 2020
© Two Dogs and an Awning (2020)
All information on this site is provided free of charge and in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of damage, loss or injury which might result from it. To the best of my knowledge the routes are entirely on public rights of way or within areas that are open for public access.
Walking can be hazardous and is done entirely at your own risk. It is your responsibility to check your route and navigate using a map and compass.