Walk Report

This walk was remarkable for taking place during a run of intense "named" storms and more general long days of heavy rain, and requiring 5 trips to come up with a passable route; yet on the day not a drop of water fell on the group until literally just after getting back in the cars afterwards.

This was a figure of 8 walk from Stokenchurch with the two loops crossing at Loosley Row and Lacey Green. After crossing the Yoesden nature reserve and Bledlow Ridge, the morning stop was at Lacey Green itself, offering a choice between the windmill and an ornate bus shelter! Via the Chiltern Way and a wooded section, avoiding a bridleway which had been almost impassable the week before, the route visited Pulpit Hill with its hill fort and spectacular views on the way down. A way had been found to avoid a heavily logged section only the day before. The lunch stop was on Whiteleaf Hill which could have been an ordeal in the prevailing conditions but actually was sunny with excellent views. The return route headed back down the Ridgeway for a loop through Loosley Row to the bottom of Slough Hill, then the opposite end of Bledlow Ridge from the morning, and on up to Radnage. A level but very wet farm track - not avoided via a previous recce - led back to Stokenchurch.

Text and photos by Helen Abbott (leader).

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