Exploring the Oxfordshire Chilterns Part 5 - Maidensgrove

This was my fifth expedition to the Oxfordshire Chilterns. It all started when I traced the route described at the beginning of Ian McEwan's book Enduring Love in 2008 - see posting 6th July 2008. The other walks are on postings 9th November 2008, 16th July 2009 and 4th September 2010.

This year I chose a route from Nick Moon's Circular Walks along The Chiltern Way. For once, the forecast was for a sunny morning with rain not arriving until late afternoon. So I could not miss this window of opportunity in our wet summer.





I left the car at Russell's Water Common near Maidensgrove. There were a few other cars around, so it seemed quite safe.

Most of the walk follows The Chitern Way, so once I had finally found the signpost hidden in some bushes off the road, I was on my way. The path skirts around Big Ashes Plantation and Stocking's Plantation so there were great views of some beautiful rolling hills.

The first village on the route is Crocker End. The village green is surrounded by some picturesque old cottages. This is a remote but highly attractive hamlet, until recently the home of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

Just a short way away is Soundess House, reputedly the home of Nell Gwynne. Again there are great views as you leave Crocker End on an uphill path that leads to Wellgrove Wood. As you leave the wood there are views at the top of the hill overlooking Bix Bottom.

At the point that the path joins the road lies the ruins of the old Norman church of St James in the ancient village of Bixbrand which has now disappeared.

 Modern Bix Bottom is tiny and only Valley Farm is of any note. More good views on leaving Bix Bottom with Henley apparently in the distance. A short walk down the B480 is next before heading up into Paradise Wood. Coming out of the wood, the path follows a track all the way above a valley that leads to Stonor. So this was a good time to have some lunch.

Past Coxlease Farm at the end of the valley (and a diversion after missing the right path out of the farm), I eventually found the deer fence to Stonor Park. The path skirting Almshill Wood is the only steep downhill I encountered.

The attractive village of Stonor, with it's sixteenth to eighteenth century cottages, extends along the road at the bottom of the hill. Here is The Quince Tree pub and restaurant that used to be called Stonor Arms.

The uphill path that leaves Stonor is through grassy fields. The views to Stonor House, built about 1280,  in the middle of Stonor Park are about the best of the whole walk.

The last stretch is through Park Wood which leads to Maidensgrove. The village is quite something as superb houses are situated in the trees set off the single track "road". It is described as perhaps the most remote hamlet in the Chilterns. I'm not surprised.

Fortunately the weather lived up to it's forecast. Lots of sun and cloudy at times. A fresh 14 degrees at the start and a reasonable 19 degrees to finish. A fortyfive minute drive each way, starting the walk at 10.30am and finishing four hours later, so home at 3.15pm. The rain came at 4.30!