Wendover Circular Walk
Distance: 12 miles
Map: Explorer 181
Walk surveyed and described by Peter and Mooi Simon, based on Ken’s summary as follows:”Very hilly long morning. Usually some mud. Afternoon still several sharp inclines. Via Coombe Hill, Chequers, Whiteleaf Hill and Green Hailey to Parslow’s Hillock for lunch at The Pink and Lily (Rupert Brook’s pub). Return via Little Hampden and Dunsmore.”The description below turns the walk round so that the shorter bit is in the morning.
Description checked by David Bays and Maureen Colledge.
Start
From Wendover ticket office turn right on Station Approach and right again at Ellesborough Road. Cross bridge over railway and A413 bypass and immediately turn left across stile, followed by another stile, into field. Cross field diagonally towards houses and cross stile into minor road at other end. After house called St Benedicts, turn left on to bridleway. At end, pass through kissing gate on left and descend field to stile at bottom. Cross stile and climb through wood. At fork in path, take right-hand option to remain in wood. At junction, ignore path coming in from left and, shortly thereafter, take right-hand path out of woods along enclosed path between fields. Emerge onto drive between houses and continue to road at Dunsmore.
Turn right passing pond on left and cross stile into field, taking left-hand path to stile opposite. Path continues across 3 more stiles, eventually heading downhill. Continue to field corner at bottom to cross yet another stile. Turn left on to track by fence. At cross tracks, turn right and climb through wood. Continue on bridleway for around 700 metres to reach minor road at Little Hampden.
After house called Woodpeckers, turn right on to drive to houses (The Croft and Cherry Tree Cottages) and ahead on to enclosed path. Cross into field and continue ahead to enter Warren Wood on left, just before field corner. Once inside wood, go straight ahead on right-hand path following arrows on trees. Emerge from wood and head downhill with hedge on right. Cross road and climb to another road, this time with hedge on left. Cross road diagonally to left and cross stile to continue climbing across field. Cross stile in middle of field and head to left of gatehouse on top. (In crossing this field, look right for an impressive view of Hampden House.) Cross stile and turn right through electrically operated gate on to track to pass Hampden House and church.
Continue through 2 more gates to emerge on to field. Head for white post (if visible) in the largest clump of trees in the field. Pass through clump and continue in same direction across field. Enter wood by signpost on left edge of field. Continue straight through wood, ignoring path entering from right. Emerge on to road at Redland End.
Cross into road opposite (signpost Lacey Green 3). After houses, turn right on footpath into wood. Continue straight through wood, ignoring two unmarked cross tracks, to reach junction with bridleway. Turn left on to bridleway and emerge through a gate on to a drive, Turn left between houses to reach road. Turn right to the Pink & Lily pub, Parslow's Hillock. Picnicking is possible on grass verges near the pub but the best spot may be back in the woods in a clearing with logs on the bridleway before emerging on the drive.
Retrace steps to bridleway, turn right through the gate beside Hampden Lodge and continue straight along bridleway, eventually turning left and then, with field on left, right. Turn left on to road. Ignore first footpath to the right. Just past Hailey Cottage (painted white), turn right on to bridleway and cross field. Proceed straight ahead to cross another bridleway and enter wood. with field visible on left. Continue through wood along bridleway, turning left as necessary to keep field on left at all times. Just after field ends, reach gravel track (Ridgeway) and turn right to reach viewpoint atop Whiteleaf Hill.
From here, with one small deviation, follow the well-signposted Ridgeway back to Wendover. At top of Whiteleaf Hill, turn right and descend steeply to The Plough at Cadsden (pub). Turn left past pub to road, turn left on to road and almost immediately turn right, leaving Ridgeway, on to footpath into Grangelands and Pulpit Hill Nature Reserve. At clearing, turn left to rejoin Ridgeway. Turn right, then climb hill, ignoring side paths and eventually climbing steps to gate and wide track. Turn right on track, then climb steps to left through another gate, to remain on Ridgeway traversing grassy field with good views. The Ridgeway enters a wood and soon emerges. Continue on Ridgeway, eventually to reach the edge of the Chequers estate, with Maple Wood on right and views of Chequers to the left. Where Maple Wood ends, turn left and take track across field, crossing the main drive leading to Chequers and eventually reaching a road.
Cross road (signpost Wendover 2.8 miles) and climb through wood. Before reaching the top, turn left on Ridgeway and continue to reach drive at Lodge Hill Game Farm. Turn left parallel to drive and turn right on road. Turn left on to footpath opposite house and continue on Ridgeway through woods. At clearing, the Coombe Hill monument becomes visible. Head straight to monument for more good views.
Turn right at monument and proceed on a well-used path starting from a Ridgeway acorn post gradually downhill. Cross sunken track and continue downhill following Ridgeway waymarks. Emerge onto Ellesborough Road. Cross road and turn right on pavement. After crossing the A413 bypass and the railway, turn left on Station Approach to reach Wendover Station.