Tuesday 1 December 2009

Whiteleaf Hill


My circular walk on Saturday from Whiteleaf Hill is the hardest of all my two hour walks. Saturday morning was chilly but with bright sunshine, perfect for a strenuous march. From the car park at the top of the hill I head downhill on the Ridgeway towards Lower Cadsden, but before the bottom there is a right turn which heads towards the valley floor. Heading through Nimms Wood, another detour and the path heads uphill until finally coming out onto fields. This is a nice open and level stretch before crossing Cadsden Road and gently up to Dirtywood Farm.
Up once again into more woods and an undulating path before reaching a minor road towards Buckmoorend. Here the paths heads downhill across a large field with views towards Chequers before crossing a main road and up into Pond Wood. The path through the Pulpit Wood rises gently before eventually reaching the top of Pulpit Hill. The views here over Aylesbury Vale are wonderful, especially on a sunny day. The Ridgeway has been joined again, this time to head first downhill and then left onto the open ridge. Here is Grangelands and Pulpit Hill Nature Reserve as the photo above. The ridge path is now open and high, so the views are good.
But it is not long before the downhill section reaches the road at The Plough at Lower Gadsden. I often think how nice it would be to stop for a pint, but lunchtime beckons and so does the steep uphill climb back up Whiteleaf Hill. Just time for the magnificent views at the top over Princes Risborough before heading back to the car park. There are so many ups and downs on the walk, but I felt good after an energetic couple of hours.

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