{"id":499,"date":"2012-05-05T03:52:54","date_gmt":"2012-05-05T03:52:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/?p=499"},"modified":"2012-04-28T04:59:35","modified_gmt":"2012-04-28T04:59:35","slug":"skirmett-great-wood-and-hambleden-bucks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/?p=499","title":{"rendered":"Skirmett, Great Wood and Hambleden, Bucks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The sun had just risen over Hatchet Wood as we left the Frog Inn, pursued by the raucous \u2018Get-up-and-at-\u2019em!\u2019 of Skirmett\u2019s alarm-cock.<br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">window.onload = setupZoom; function popwalk(walk) {var url = \"\/Walks\/amap.php?f=\"+walk; var walkwindow=window.open(url,\"walkwin\",\"height=840,width=900,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes\"); if (window.focus) {walkwindow.focus()}}<\/script>First published in: The Times <a href=\"javascript:popwalk('Skirmett.gpx');\" rel=\"nozoom\" title=\"Click here to view a map for this walk in a new window\">Click here to view a map for this walk in a new window<\/a><\/script><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5322\/7065226285_718f12b562.jpg\" title='Cope and Martha D&#039;Oyley and their 10 offspring, Hambleden church'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5322\/7065226285_718f12b562_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5079\/7065233763_d4b8d670a4.jpg\" title='Hollow way in Great Wood'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5079\/7065233763_d4b8d670a4_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7180\/7065236701_618109a69a.jpg\" title='Hamble Brook valley 1'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7180\/7065236701_618109a69a_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5116\/7065239767_009a6faf01.jpg\" title='Hamble Brook valley 2'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5116\/7065239767_009a6faf01_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7081\/6919163902_e0ebe65b9d.jpg\" title='Hamble Brook valley 3'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7081\/6919163902_e0ebe65b9d_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7058\/6924054626_49f186c0ce.jpg\" title='Tangle of creepers in Great Wood'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7058\/6924054626_49f186c0ce_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7104\/6924056432_bf75b2e08b.jpg\" title='Turville windmill 1'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7104\/6924056432_bf75b2e08b_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7056\/7070137455_696f14684e.jpg\" title='valley looking to Turville windmill'><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7056\/7070137455_696f14684e_s.jpg\" alt=\"picture\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nFacebook Link: <script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"http:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/wordpress\/?p=499\" layout=\"button_count\" show_faces=\"true\" width=\"200\" colorscheme=\"dark\"><\/fb:like><br \/>\nBlackthorn and field maple, bramble bushes and wayfaring trees edged the track that climbed Elmdown to reach the skirts of Great Wood. Here we sat on a fallen beech, its trunk rotted and eaten by insects into bare sinews of black and brown, to watch two red kites circling and talking to each other with staccato, kitten-like mews. <\/p>\n<p>The long, narrow valley of the Hamble Brook, running north-to-south to meet the River Thames near Marlow, is thick with beautiful mature Buckinghamshire woodland, easy to get lost in if you don\u2019t keep your wits (and your Satmap GPS device) about you. Roe deer haunted the trackways of Great Wood, slipping away into the shadows as soon as glimpsed. Between beech trunks streaming with dusty sunlight we caught glimpses of the crossed sails of Turville Windmill, high and mighty on a sharp-cut ridge. Great tits went chasing through the pines, and at the edge of the wood a burst of feathers edged with blue and black showed where a jay had come to a sudden full stop \u2013 fox, peregrine or shotgun.  <\/p>\n<p>We emerged at last from the woods to a superb prospect over Hambleden and its valley \u2013 pale chalky green-and-white of ploughed fields, green pasture in squares and lozenges, the hanging woods above, and the red brick walls and tiled roofs of the village clustered round the grey church half hidden among its trees. If you ever have to illustrate \u2018essence of rural England\u2019 to a Martian, here\u2019s the view.<\/p>\n<p>Down among the half-timbered Arts &#038; Crafts gables, terracotta chimneys and flint cobble walls of the village, a herd of pedigree cattle stood under a massive beech. I put my hand over the fence, and one of them licked it with a pale muscular tongue as abrasive as sandpaper. Out along the Hamble valley, red kites had gathered over the pastures; we counted 18 in the air at the same time, their red, white and chocolate forms brilliantly lit in strong sunlight. Under these fork-tailed guardian angels we followed the field paths back to Skirmett.<\/p>\n<p>Start &#038; finish: Frog Inn, Skirmett, Nr High Wycombe, Bucks RG9 6TG (OS ref SU775902)<br \/>\nNB: Alternative start: Hambleden (more parking). If starting from Frog Inn, please ask permission, and please give inn your custom!<\/p>\n<p>Getting there: M40 Jct 5, and minor roads via Ibstone; or A4155 (Henley-on-Thames to Marlow) to Mill End, then minor road.<\/p>\n<p>Walk (9 miles, moderate, OS Explorer 171) <font color=\"red\">NB: Many unmarked paths in woods. Use these detailed instructions, and take Explorer map\/GPS\/Satmap to help you!:<\/font><br \/>\nFrom Frog PH, right along road (take care!). Round right bend (776899; \u2018Hambleden\u2019), then left bend. In 30 m, right (775898) over stile, up hill path. At top of rise, follow path to right along ridge. In \u00be mile it curves right to top of ridge (766897), then begins to descend (footpath sign on tree). In 200 m, at fork with footpath sign, keep downhill. In 200 m path forks (766900); keep ahead, (not left downhill). In 150 m, where track bends sharp left along bottom of wood (766901) keep ahead, forking immediately left (yellow arrow\/YA) across open field. Through woodland to road (765905). Left for 100 m to bend, left (\u2018bridleway\u2019) along wood bottom.<\/p>\n<p>In 1\u00bc miles, just before green \u2018Bridleway Users\u2019 notice and wooden railings (757891), left uphill (YA) through Gussetts Wood. Cross stile (758889) and field to road junction (758887). Ahead downhill for \u00bc mile. At Upper Woodend Farm, left (578883; bridleway fingerpost) up driveway (ignore \u2018Private Road\u2019 notices). In 150 m, before gate, right (759882; bridleway blue arrow\/BA) down hedged green lane between fields. In 150 m cross footpath (760881); continue on bridleway. In \u00bc mile it re-enters wood (762878); follow it as a hollow way, then a path, close to wood edge. Follow path and hollow way down to major track crossing in wood bottom (767877). Go over crossing (uphill) on path which bends right.<\/p>\n<p>Now follow \u2018Shakespeare\u2019s Way\u2019\/SW arrows. In 500 m pass a yew grove and fork right (772875; white arrow\/WA on tree). In 100 m fork left (SW). In 300 m, reach track crossing (773872); turn left out of wood, on path across field and down left side of wood (SW) to track at bottom (778871). SW crosses it, but you turn right (WA on tree) on bridleway which bends immediately left to run inside wood edge. Follow BAs. In \u00be mile path bends right (782860); go left here (bent BA) on bridleway. In 50 m, left (YA) on path. Descend to cross road (783864) into Hambleden.<\/p>\n<p>Cross churchyard; leave by far left (NW) corner; follow road. In 100 m, right through kissing gate\/KG (783867; fingerpost). Cross 3 fields (KGs), then hedged path past Pheasant\u2019s Hill, then 4 fields (KGs) to road at Colstrope Farm (782881). Forward to bend; forward here along Chiltern Way\/CW (782882; \u2018bridleway\u2019). Cross road at The Hyde (781887); forward on CW (YA) for 5 fields (KGs) to road (777899). Left, then right to Frog Inn.<\/p>\n<p>Lunch: Stag &#038; Huntsman Inn, Hambleden (01491-571227; www.thestagandhuntsman.co.uk)<br \/>\nLunch\/accommodation: Frog Inn, Skirmett (01491-638996; www.thefrogatskirmett.co.uk) \u2013 friendly, cheerful and helpful place<\/p>\n<p>Information: Henley-on-Thames TIC (01491-412703)<br \/>\nReaders\u2019 Walks: Come and enjoy a country walk with our experts!  Dates, info etc.: http:\/\/www.mytimesplus.co.uk\/travel\/uk\/1867\/times-walks.<br \/>\nNext walks: Lindisfarne, Northumberland, 13 May; Scottish Borders, 10 June;  Northern Ireland, 8 July <\/p>\n<p>Breast Cancer Care\u2019s Pink Ribbon Walks:<br \/>\n0870-145-0101; www.pinkribbonwalk.org.uk. Next walk: Scone Palace, Perthshire, 12 May.<br \/>\n<A HREF=\"http:\/\/www.ramblers.org.uk\/\">www.ramblers.org.uk<\/A> <A HREF=\"http:\/\/www.satmap.com\/\">www.satmap.com<\/A> <A HREF=\"http:\/\/www.LogMyTrip.co.uk\/\">www.LogMyTrip.co.uk<\/A><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The sun had just risen over Hatchet Wood as we left the Frog Inn, pursued by the raucous \u2018Get-up-and-at-\u2019em!\u2019 of Skirmett\u2019s alarm-cock.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-walks","category-3-id","post-seq-1","post-parity-odd","meta-position-corners","fix"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/499\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.christophersomerville.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}