The Bull and Butcher - Route 3

(S/E) With your back to the Bull and Butcher turn right and walk down the lane for 400m to the first lane on the right, Dolesden Lane, and with Watery Lane ahead, take the signed footpath between these two lanes. It is a gap in the hedge with a sign opposite, but partly hidden. Follow the grassy path, initially following a hedge on the left, then pass through the gap in the hedge, and at a junction of paths before a house, cross the style and take the permissive path.

(1) When you reach a road turn right into Skirmett and then take the signed footpath on the left, just before The Frog public house. Go through a gate by a bungalow and take the path to the right to reach a lane.

(2) Turn left along the lane then take the signed bridleway on the right, up to and through woodland following arrows, and ignoring signed footpaths to the left. Continue ahead passing the Old Sawmill, to reach a lane near St Katherine’s Parmoor.

(3) Turn left and cross the lane to walk on the signed grassy path along the edge of the lane. Just past the drive to Parmoor Park Farm turn right on a signed footpath leading through a hedge to a farm yard. Continue with a hedge on the left, then just past the barn turn right through a small gate and follow the path with another hedge on the left.

(4) Turn left at the way marked path into Frieth, passing the church, to a road. Take the signed path opposite and cross an open area. Continue to the lane, then turn left and follow the lane uphill to Little Frieth. Take the footpath on the right, by the post box, initially along an unmade road, and then as the road swings right, continue ahead into woodland along a narrow path between a hedge and a fence.

(5) At a junction of paths by a waymarker post, turn left and follow the woodland path to a gate.

(6) Turn right along a broad track and continue along the track passing a large pile of logs and through a gate into an open field, presenting an excellent view. Cross the open hillside and enter Fingest Wood. Follow the path in Fingest Wood downhill to a gate where there is a wonderful view of Fingest and its Norman church. Go through the gate, and continue downhill towards Fingest.

(7) Turn left at the lane and walk past the Chequers public house on the left and St Bartholomew’s Church on the right to a signed path on the right. Take this path up to a path junction, then turn left and follow a path through woodland.

(8) Cross a lane, taking the path opposite into a further stretch of woodland. The path emerges into an open field, follow the path across a field to a gate with the Cobstone Windmill visible on the hillside above and to the right.

(9) Turn left through a gate and take the track through another gate to emerge back in Turville. Go left along the lane to return to Bull and Butcher.(S/E)

How to get there ?
Driving: Postcode is RG9 6QU and there is a car park for customers.
Nearest station: Marlow train station is 7.8 miles away.
Local bus services: The number 28 bus service from Red Eagle.

St Katherine’s Parmoor is a large country house and the Headquarters of the Sue Ryder Prayer Fellowship. The estate was once owned by the Knights Templar. The house has an interesting history; initially a 16th Century farmhouse, it was largely rebuilt and extended during a 200 year period when it was owned by local wealthy landowners called Doyle. In the mid 19thCentury it was sold to Henry William Cripps QC, who further remodelled the house. In the 1940s the house was leased to King Zog of Albania who was forced into exile after the Italian invasion in 1939. In 1947 Lord Parmoor, a descendant of Henry Cripps, sold the house and 12 acres to the Community of St. Katharine of Alexandria. In 1995 the last surviving member of the Community gave the house and grounds, now a Grade 2 Listed Building, to Lady Ryder. The house and grounds are available for events, conferences etc., and like many locations in the Chilterns it has been used in films and TV programmes.

St Bartholomew’s church, a Grade I listed building, is surrounded by brick and flint churchyard walls, lined with ancient lime trees. The massive western Norman tower was built early in the 12th century and has unusual twin gables - it is believed that only one other similar construction exists in the country. Each side of the bell chamber has paired openings with semi-circular roll moulded arches. The tower once held two bells, only one of which remains, dating from 1830. The nave has impressive ancient woodwork to the roof, with five sets of principle rafters with collar beams supported by curved brackets and wind braces. The exterior of the church is roughcast and rendered in mellow ochre.