Start Lions of Bledlow pub, Bledlow (HP27 9PE), Grid ref. SP 775 020
(S/E) 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.
(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. The path descends through the left hand edge of a patch of woodland. 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 you follow 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) Take the second path to the right, a bridleway (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/E)
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