The Chequers - Route 1

(S/E) Coming out of the pub, turn right and follow the road round to the left. Take the first turning on the right on to New Road; walk to the end and turn right again onto Church Street. The road ends at a white metal rail, leading to a footpath.

(1) Where the path forks at the entrance to Mansle Gardens; bear left and keep following the path past the entrance to The Meadows and between houses until you reach a road. Cross the road to another short path, then cross straight over the next road (B4009). Turn right and walk along the pavement to the next junction where you turn left onto a lane called The Goggs.

(2) Follow the lane, which twists between houses, until you reach a kissing gate. Go through the gate into West Meadow; follow the hedge round to your right, which leads to another kissing gate. Go through this gate and turn left, following a small stream, which is dry for much of the year. When you reach a track, turn left. The track goes past the Willow Pond.

(3) Keep walking straight along this track, up the hill, round to the right and then onto a narrow path on the left. Follow the narrow path beside a field; at the end of this path, go straight across a lane and through an opening into a grassy field; there is a conveniently placed bench here with a good view towards Watlington Hill. You are now on the route of the Ridgeway. Walk along the edge of the grassy field, an alternative route to the adjacent lane.

(4) When you reach the road turn right; this is quite a busy road but there is a narrow path along the raised road verge. After about ¼ mile/400m, cross road with care then fork left onto a track, and through a wooden kissing gate. Walk a very short distance along the track and then fork left again onto a footpath, which winds between a narrow strip of trees. Keep going straight along this path, through two kissing gates.

(5) At the next kissing gate turn left, onto a path that climbs up through a small area of yew woodland and out onto the open hillside of Watlington Hill, a patchwork of chalk grassland and scrub. Keep following the same path past some silver birch trees, do not leave the path until you reach a waymark post. Turn left at the waymark post and follow this path downhill past the White Mark, a large triangle carved in to the chalk. At the bottom of the white mark the path bears to the right and goes past a gate. Keep following this path which leads down to Hill Road.

(6) Walk straight down Hill Road, past the car park on your left. At the cross roads turn left and then go across the zebra crossing. Walk past the Town Hall and along the High Street and at the war memorial, turn right on to Chapel Street. Walk along this road, following it round to the right past a long thatched cottage. You will then see the Chequers pub ahead of you. (S/E)

Willow Pond – Fed by one of the numerous springs located at the foot of the Chiltern escarpment, the pond is dry for much of the year, perhaps due to increasing levels of abstraction.

The Ridgeway Long Distance Trail – An 87 mile route from Ivinghoe Beacon in Hertfordshire to West Kennet Barrow in Wiltshire. Following a route used since prehistoric times, the trail passes through open downland, secluded valleys, woodland and hedgerows, linking many archaeological sites.

Watlington Hill – This site of scientific interest is owned and managed by the National Trust. Look out for flower rich chalk grassland, scrub areas that are good for birds and areas of dense yew woodland.

The White Mark – A local landmark visible from miles around, this triangular chalk mark was carved in to the hillside in 1764. The National Trust and volunteers ensure that the white mark remains white and clear of plants.