Bledlow over Chinnor Hill to Radnage

Start Lions of Bledlow pub, Bledlow (HP27 9PE), Grid ref. SP 775 020

(S/Z) Facing the Lions of Bledlow pub take the footpath to your right, heading South-West across the open field towards the tree topped hills. You soon meet a broader track - keep on in the same direction. This broad stony track climbs steadily up the side of the hill.

Continue up the track until you come to some houses.

(1) When you reach a small terrace of houses pass a little to the right around the side of the terrace and take the broad track between hedges. Then in about 10 metres take the next left turning signposted for Chinnor Reserve and Barrows.

You now have a fairly long steep climb, but in compensation the route runs up a lovely hollow track (the bottom may be muddy - there is a good footpath up on the right).

(2) As the bridleway starts to level out and curve left along a fence you will see a gate ahead of you. Pass through the gate into the Chinnor Hill Nature Reserve (A). This soon leads you out on to the open hillside with views over the Vale of Aylesbury and a few handy benches.

As you near the far end of the open area, just before a noticeboard, bear left to a kissing gate in the corner. Pass through the gate and turn right to rejoin the bridleway. Follow it for 400m, keeping left where the path divides, to emerge from the wood and bear left into a car park.

(3) From the car park take the minor road past cottages. This quiet road takes you through woods and scattered houses.

Turn left when you reach a junction and walk along this road for 200m. Fork left off the road on a footpath at Woodlands Farm. Initially this passes between gardens and barns then joins a gravel drive. Walk along the drive to a road where you turn right and cross to walk on the left.

(4) Just before the road bends sharply right, you leave it on a footpath to the left. Follow the hedge on the left hand side of the field into the woodland - follow a white arrow on a tree. Continue walking along the left hand edge of the field when you leave the woods. The path now drops more steeply.

After the second field, as you near the valley bottom, cross a stile. Here the path veers a little to the left across the next field - you are aiming for a point about 30m right from the corner of the field.

(5) Here you meet a track which soon becomes a tarmac drive. Follow it in in the same direction past Daws Hill Farm (with its vineyard) until you meet the road. Continue in the same direction down the road for 100m and take the next footpath left across a long strip of meadow leading to Radnage church (B).

(6) You reach a road in front of the church. Turn left and follow the road uphill. If you look across the fields to the left here you will see the vineyard in the valley.

This lane is quiet but narrow and winding, so be alert for traffic.

(7) Follow the road for about 500m round a long left bend then take the bridleway to the right (the markers may be obscured by vegetation). This climbs up to the ridge bringing you out at the northern edge of the village. Cross straight over and continue on the road ahead (Routs Green).

(8) Where the road ends, take the bridleway to the left. You have now joined the Chiltern Way which you will follow back to Bledlow. The bridleway soon bends to the right and descends steeply through woodland.

When you leave the woods, you walk to the right of a hedge with fine view of Lodge Hill on your right. As you near some houses the path passes through the hedge and continues in the same direction on the opposite side.

(9) Turn right over the drive past the garden of the main house then left on to a bridleway.

You soon pass some more houses and join the access track for these houses. Follow this track as it climbs and bends to the left and takes you to a road.

(10) Cross straight over and through a gate. Bear right across the field aiming for the corner. Cross through the hedge to the right and turn left joining the Ridgeway for a stretch. Almost immediately, the path passes back through the fence continuing beside trees on the right hand side of the field.

(11) Take the first footpath right through the trees, leaving the Ridgeway. This drops across a field to a wood where you have a short steep climb. Keep on in the same direction across the next field to meet a Byway.

Cross straight over the Byway and follow the hedge on the right hand side of the field. As you reach the crest of a ridge you will see the village of Bledlow ahead of you.

Continue in the same direction into the village and turn left on the road to return to the start. (S/Z)

"We hope you have enjoyed your walk. Please remember to rate the walk and add comments. We are interested in how we could improve the instructions or the route and would like to hear about any issues with paths on the walk."

Start Lions of Bledlow pub, Bledlow (HP27 9PE), Grid ref. SP 775 020

Parking: Bledlow: there are parking spaces near the pub on the way to the church

Local transport: Infrequent buses to Chinnor and Princes Risborough

Terrain: Good, well waymarked footpaths, bridleways and lanes. Quite a lot of stiles, some of them quite difficult (high and/or in poor condition). Some steep ascents and descents.

Food & Drink: The Lions of Bledlow, Bledlow.

Find more information and walks at Chiltern Society here.

(A) CHINNOR HILL NATURE RESERVE
Chinnor Hill stands above the ancient Icknield way and the more modern Ridgeway. There are two bronze age barrows near the top of the hill.

The Nature Reserve is a mix of chalk grassland, beech and mixed woodland. It is worth visiting for the flowers in spring and summer including bee orchids and chiltern gentians. See butterflies in summer and look out for Red Kites soaring above the woods.

(B) RADNAGE VILLAGE AND CHURCH
Radnage is a village of scattered hamlets (the City, Town End, Green End, Bennett End) nestling in the same valley, but it has no true centre.

The church of St Mary's stands apart from the main hamlets on the way up to Bledlow Ridge. It was constructed by the Knights Templar in the thirteenth century. From the outside the church appears attractively simple due to the flint and mortar walls and the squat tower, unusually positioned between nave and chancel. Inside there are wall paintings spanning 6 centuries.

(C) BLEDLOW CHURCH AND LYDE GARDEN
It is well worth taking time to visit the church which is to the right when you reach the main street. It stands a little above street level, its churchyard carpeted with primroses in spring. The church dates mainly from the 12th and 13th centuries and is largely unaltered. Inside are carved Norman pillars and font as well as remains of wall paintings.

Next to the church is the Lyde Garden, a sunken aquatic garden created by Lord Carrington and now open to the public (free). The spring that feeds the garden was a 'Holy Well'.