It was a beautiful autumnal morning when I started out from the car park at the top of Whiteleaf Hill and started the descent down the steep path towards Lower Cadsden. Nick Moon's book of "Chiltern Walks" (where I originally found the route) stays on the level along the inside of The Hangings but I find the more strenuous alternative to be far prettier.
But this means I end up forking right before the bottom of the hill through Giles Wood and then have to climb all the way back up through Ninn Wood to reach the path along the fields. This open stretch has great views of the Chiltern ridge in the distance.
Once I have crossed the road at Hampden Botton, the path goes up hill past the farm with views back the way I came.
Then into Widnell Wood and Hengrove Wood where the path meets the road at Buckmoorend. It then cuts across a field before crossing another road and into a finger of Pond Wood. Here there are views across to Beacon Hill and Chequers.
I found my way through Pond Wood remembering the time when I became temporarily lost. The path tracks gently uphill and eventually comes out at the top of Pulpit Hill with some of the best views in the county over Aylesbury Vale.
And towards Beacon Hill.
And to Coombe Hill and the monument.
A short descent for part of the way next to Pulpit Wood, the path then joins the Ridgeway and more open views of the route ahead.
With Whiteleaf Hill in the distance.
Just before the the path meets the road, there was a flock of sheep enjoying what was on offer in the shrubbery of The Grangelands and Pulpit Hill Nature Reserve.
The hardest climb is left until last. Past The Plough at Cadsden (famous for the Cameron's leaving their young daughter behind) and straight up the hill to the top. The view from the top of Whiteleaf Hill awaits at the end of the route, probably the prettiest but hardest of all my two hour plus circular walks.
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