(S/E) Leave the pub car park and turn left along the road. Just beyond the T junction you will see a path on the right hand side of the road bearing to the left, follow this grassy path between two fences. As you approach a hedge, the path bears round to the right and at the next path junction turn left between two hedges. This path goes right past a house and its garages before becoming a track. Follow the track until you see a path going to the right into the woods.
(1) Follow this path which leads through a mixed woodland with some ancient coppiced oak trees, and carpets of bluebells in May. The path begins to go downhill; at the next path junction go to the right. Note the long bank here, probably an old boundary. As you move down the slope the woodland changes to a stand of mature beech trees. On your right you will notice some hollows, perhaps where building materials, clay or flints were dug up. The path continues gently downhill through woodlands for about 1.25 miles/2km.
(2) You gradually leave the beech woodland and move into a younger mixed woodland, with glimpses through the trees of this quiet, remote feeling valley where there are no public roads. The path crosses an area of open grassland, a vista with an old stone urn on the left, and beyond that a Haha and a walled garden. Soon after this the path bears round to the left, passing between coppiced hazel trees with a brick and flint wall on the left. The path is now on the route of the Chiltern Way.
(3) When the path meets a lane, bear slightly right on the lane then turn left through a wooden kissing gate and cross the field to another wooden kissing gate in a hedgerow. Go through the gate and walk straight across the lane and through another kissing gate. Walk straight on across a large pasture, enjoying views of the valley and the wooded hillsides all around.
(4) On the other side of the field, go through the kissing gate and turn right onto a bridleway between two hedgerows. Note the pheasant release pens on the left, planted with trees and seed bearing plants. Follow the bridleway until you reach a lane where you bear slightly left and then turn immediately right up a very steep hill with banks and hedgerows on each side, and glimpses of fine views each side. The path levels out sightly and joins a track; follow this through a gate and then onto a lane in the village of Northend.
(5) Cross the road and take the lane ahead across the village green, heading towards Fingest and Turville Heath. There is a pond on the right hand side. On the other side of the green turn right along the lane towards Northend Common. The lane becomes a track, passing several houses on the left, afterwards look out for a fingerpost footpath sign on the right hand side, which sends you left down a very narrow path between two gardens bound by hedges. The hedges come to an end and you will see an open field with woodland beyond. The path goes between two fences and then through a metal gate.
(6) Turn left and walk downhill along the field margin and then turn left onto a path following down the valley across the field heading towards a mature woodland. The path enters the woodland and continues downhill.
(7) When you reach the valley bottom, turn right onto a track which is on the Oxfordshire Way. Where the track opens out, ignore a path branching left up a slope, and continue to walk straight ahead along the valley bottom, marked with a white arrow. The route continues through woodland, bearing to the left where the track becomes a narrower path which leads on to a lane (Hollandridge Lane).
(8) Turn right and continue along here until you reach the road, bear left at the road then turn left again at the junction and The Fox and Hounds is on your right.(S/E)
