Checkendon Walk, Chilterns

Start: The Highwayman Inn, Exlade Street, Checkendon, (RG8 0UA) (A). Grid ref. SU 659 818

(S/E) From the Highwayman Inn car park turn left along the road for 40m to a footpath on the right (North-East) just after Mulberry Cottage. Follow this footpath (often overgrown) for 100m to reach a field. Keep to the right of the field close to a hedge and head uphill to the corner of the field.

Take the footpath going half right into a copse. Just before a fence with a small gate in it turn sharp left and after 30m pass through a kissing gate into a field. Follow the fence to the left of the field for 390m to another kissing gate. Cross over a bridleway, through the next gate and continue straight on across the field towards a further gate at a road (Uxmore Road).

(1) Turn right along the road to Checkendon Church on the left and The Forge on the right (B).

(2) Turn right just after The Forge along a lane for 50m or join from car park on left of lane. Bear slightly left (almost straight on) onto a wide footpath opposite a timber yard. Continue straight along through woodland ignoring all crossing paths. After a metal kissing gate continue ahead across a track passing an overgrown gate. Cross the field to a further gate on the far side of the field to reach a road (Whitehall Lane).

(3) Turn right (South-East) along the road for 180m and turn right through a gate. Follow this footpath (South-West) keeping a fence bordering a field on the left and a wood on the right. At the corner of the field turn left onto a narrow footpath keeping close to fence and field to reach a gate. Continue through the gate maintaining the fence on the left and the wood on the right to a T-junction with a bridleway. Turn right (South-West) along the often muddy track for 400m to two isolated cottages.

(4) The track bends right but continue straight ahead following the bridleway between Beechwood Cottage on the left and another cottage on the right. Continue straight along the bridleway, ignoring the crossing footpath, to reach Lower Farm at a road. Cross the road and continue on the bridleway to the next road.

(5) Bear half right over the road and follow the bridleway for 270m to reach a wood. After a further 150m turn right (West) at an unsigned crossing path. Proceed slightly uphill and follow the path for 500m as it winds through the wood. Keep to the well-used path avoiding several vague paths towards the road. Eventually pass through an opening in a timber fence at a road..

(6) Turn right (North) along the road for 70m and left onto a bridleway. After a short distance cross straight over a busy road (A4074), through an opening in a timber fence and turn left along a well-defined path. In 160m at a crossing track, turn right and follow the path as it becomes a gravel track and follow it downhill ignoring paths to left and right. Just before the bottom of the hill fork right and follow the white arrows for 500m, ignoring other crossing paths, to a crossing bridleway at fence openings.

(7) Turn right (West) and follow the path through a wood keeping close to an open field on the right for 600m to reach several crossing tracks. Turn right (North), and on reaching the houses, turn right along a gravel drive passing Strings Cottage on the right. Stop and admire the extensive views from a couple of points along the way. Continue straight along a concrete drive to reach a road with the Black Lion pub on the corner (D).

(8) Turn right (North East) along the road using the pavement. After crossing Grimmer Way make use of the parallel tarmac path to the left. After a further 180m, turn right to meet the road as it bends left. Cross the road and enter the Oratory School (E) grounds (see the map on the sign at the entrance).

Follow the tarmac drive with golf course and playing fields on the left. Continue past St Phillip House. Pass the main entrance and drive keeping straight on past all buildings. Opposite the last, the Alf Gilham Range, bear left by the car park. Continue under the trees for 10m to the marker post then cross the playing field to a gate in the perimeter fence.

(9) Go through the gate and descend the steep steps to a road (A4074). Carefully cross the road and climb the steep steps passing through a gate at the top. Continue straight across a field to a kissing gate at a road. Turn right along the road to return to the Highwayman Inn.(S/E)

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