Another walk with three stops: an hour and a half for lunch at The Pheasant, on the terrace, a generous half hour at the wonderful The Hundred of Ashendon for 'tea', also outside, and a half hour at The Rising Sun for 'Farewell to Haddenham' drinks.

A group of 5 on this walk with low cloud initially, quickly breaking to sunny, then sunny with some clouds late afternoon, in very fine temperatures, ie mostly sunny

We saw kites and sheep as you would expect, but also donkeys and alpacas together in one field, which we certainly didn't expect.

There were also plenty of fields with cattle, cows, cows with calves or young bulls, incl. at the notorious Wombwell Farm, but all were extremely docile, incl. the bulls. No aggressive dog darted out of the also notorious Stud Farm. The grassy verges were all freshly mown, the hedges mostly cut back for autumn, arable fields were harvested (apart from corn), most also ploughed but the soil had absorbed all the rain of the last weeks and walking was quite easy. A little bit unpleasant proved a couple of fields with multi-year growth and only a narrow path through them. A very minor grumble that...

Group cohesion: 10/10.

19.34 train after all that.

To reconfirm, since the walk page says 9:30 start: this Saturday will be a 10am start, correct?

which walk page? 10.00 train...

It's here: https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/haddenham-circular-via-brill/index.html

"Saturday Walkers’ Club: Take the train closest to 9.30 hours."

That said: 10am - check!

ah, OK. cudve taken the 9.46 but it's a slower train

The “take the train closest to” in the walk document is a guide for the walk posters (or people doing the walk by themselves), Matthew. It helps the poster to pick a train that will enable the group to get to the lunch pub in time. Using this advice, the poster then checks the train times on the day and picks the one he/she thinks most suitable. So the train time in the walk post is always the one to take.

Consider this a Thank you on Matthew's behalf.

Sunshine, blue skies, mid-teens degrees, a breeze most of the times: these (in my book) are absolutely ideal conditions for walking. And today we had those and were rewarded with superlative far views, bone-dry field crossings, rape oil seed fields in yellow, kites everywhere, plenty cute villages, lots of mono-chrome cows (loads of white ones, but also plenty of black and brown ones) - all docile and non-aggressive. And we even saw some bluebells in good condition (in one wooded belt, for about 5 seconds)!

The group split into 5 long walkers and 4 short ones. And us longies had our picnic by the windmill in Brill, with those fabulous views into Warwickshire and Oxfordshire. We then joined the 1 luncher amongst us at The Pheasant for a drink. Later, the opportunity for a 'tea' stop in Ashendon was turned down and on we went. The dangerous dog at the stud farm on Musk Hill did indeed dart out from the barn as usual, but he seems to have lost a bit of his aggro: no snapping at calves this time around.

17.40 train for most of us longies.

1 walker had been abandoned on a field boundary just outside Ashendon (to lie down and stretch out his malfunctioning back), he caught the train an hour later.

9 sunny

Last summer I recall the designated crossing point of the railway was closed on the short walk. Does anyone have an update on this? This and the over-grown vegetation made for a difficult combo.

First I hear of the crossing being 'shut'. There also is no mention of the crossing being closed in the walk reports of last year's 2 outings for this walk (admittedly they seem written by people doing the long version of the walk). But the grass in the pastures may be high and nettles will be in attendance, yes... The Walk Author

I was one of the "foodies" struggling through undergrowth on the short walk last year. Can't remember a crossing problem but the pub is excellent!

11 off the train under initially cloudy skies clearing to largely sunny skies with a stiff breeze at times . I believe all did the long version of the walk (after a spell, one walker set a brisker pace than the rest (so assume he went long), with the remaining 10 sticking together for most of the day) -- well done to those who did not think they could mange the whole long route!

Atop the Hill in Brill 8 dined in the Pointer where all found the food very tasty; but microscopic in size -- most felt they could still manage another main course elsewhere....and one actually did buy some additional provisions at the Brill shop; one ate at the Pheasant with the opposite problem of an overly large portion; and one picnicked and later joined the Pheasant diner....

Eventually all reconvened at the windmill for the afternoon in warm sunshine. We stopped in the 100 of Ashendon for much needed refreshments before the final stretch into Haddenham, arriving about 19:30 -- 2 went straight to the station and the remaining 8 the House of Spice for a very tasty curry and the 21:40 back to London....

A great day out -- making full use of the long summer's day...Very pretty rolling landscape (dotted with buttercups) with a number of charming villages and pleasant pubs...Although there are a number of field crossings, all very passable and many very pretty with wheat/barley shimmering in the sunshine and dancing in the wind...Some pastures had long grass and some stiles had a bit of overgrowth --- but nothing too demanding or problematic...We saw 2 or 3 hares in the afternoon and heard a very talkative cuckoo on the outskirts of Haddenham....

5 dry pleasantly warm and sunny

5 familiar faces off the packed posted train, but two of those were equipped with contraptions they called 'bicycles'. Upon these metal chariots they intended to travel the lanes of Buckinghamshire and meet us at Brill for lunch. The 3 of us who were happy for the legs we were born with to convey us to the lunchtime stop, bid them farewell and good luck and set off from the station. Slowly but surely, but without any great effort, we ascended through the countryside, through grassy and ploughed fields and some fields of corn. Paths through the arable fields were usually clear. As we ascended, the views got better and better and we took a few moments to enjoy them from a bench at Chilton House, where one peeled off to do the shorter version of the walk. The remaining 2 soon caught up with 2 more who had taken an earlier train, so 5 walkers in total. More ascent to the village of Brill where the Pointer couldn't accomodate the 2 of us who wanted a pub lunch, so we moved on to The Pheasant and sat outside with views of the Brill Windmill. We were soon joined by the cyclists who had thoroughly enjoyed the first part of their day. The Pheasant was friendly and efficient, and though the choice was limited to Sunday roasts for walk-ins, they were very good. The 2 picnickers joined us for a drink, making for a very pleasant lunch in good company. The windmill was open to visitors, so some took the opportunity to explore it.

After lunch, the cyclists took off, but our paths didn't cross again for the rest of the day. Us walkers enjoyed the descent through fields from Brill, with the views laid out before us. Both in the morning and afternoon we spotted red kites hovering above the fields. And another feature of the whole day was the great abundance of ripe blackberries. Some of us ate as many as we could while still keping up with the walk, but there was much bemoaning of the fact that nobody had throught to pack a little box to bring some home in. We took a refreshment break at The Hundred in Ashendon, another friendly pub. We were even invited to help ourselves to the pile of left over roast potatoes and 'trenchers' on the bar. The 'trenchers' were slices of bread that the lunch roasts had rested on - lovely crisp bits of bread soaked in pork and beef fat. Absolutely delicious. Fortified, we set off for the final leg to Haddenham (with a diversion into pretty Cuddington, just for a look) where we had a quick drink at The Rising Sun (again, friendly), recommended by a local as the best pub in town (and happily, the closest to the station). We made the slightly-delayed, packed-to-the-rafters 19:38. And to round the day off, the 4 of us had a bite to eat and a drink at the sports bar in Marylebone Station. A great day out in a beautiful part of the English countryside, followed by chili dogs, burgers and mac 'n cheese and the Kansas City Chiefs vs the Pittsburg Steelers (go Chiefs!).

I very much enjoyed this walk, not least because I wasn't expecting such far views and such pretty villages. A bonus being the friendly pubs. And all just 33 minutes from Marylebone.

Also, I'll leave it to the number crunchers and statisticians to rule on whether two regular walkers doing a posted walk by bicycle count towards the attendance... I haven't included them in the numbers. Would be interested to hear how the rest of their day fared.

The cyclists had a very enjoyable afternoon, especially the high speed descent from Brill....a real highlight with great views all around...our route wandered into the Thame Circular walk which looks to include some nice villages and pretty countryside...tempted to give it a go on Sunday....After exploring an off road option, we stopped in the Rising Sun in Haddenham for a gin & tonic before catching the delayed 18:13 (had been aiming for the 18:39 -- but practically cycled right onto the delayed earlier train as it pulled in)….Great territory for walking and cycling -- people should definitely not be put off by the mileage....well-worth the effort with plenty of rest stops...I too will leave it to the official bean counters -- as to whether crossing the start line, finish line and spending 1.5 hours at the designated lunch check point count......

Count only people that walk a substantial part of the walk, in my view of the world. But not 'lunchies', however they got there...

Sorry, but to be counted as one of the persons who has done the walk, you have to actually WALK some of it. Turning up on a bicycle, car, horse or moped does not count. Nor does joining the group for lunch.

6 got off the busy shopping train bound for Bicester into the bright warm sunshine at Haddenham warm and sunny .Within a few minutes we were ploughing through fields full of knee-high grass, nettles, poppies and various crops. Few had well-defined paths so the going was slow but pleasant, apart from the nettle stings.

At Chilton the group split with the three foodies, including the lunch monitor, taking the short route to Ashendon and the other three climbing to the lovely hilltop village of Brill for a picnic.

The three foodies didn't arrive at the pub until 13.55 having been given an extra 10 minutes to deal with the overgrown conditions. The Hundred of Ashendon Inn did not disappoint and they enjoyed a leisurely lunch sitting outside in the sunshine.

The three long routers did a couple of tours of Brill before choosing to picnic beside the windmill and enjoy fine panoramic views of four counties - not quite as spectacular as the Highlands on a sunny day but where is!

After Brill it was downhill all the way with plenty of stiles, bridges, nettles and pretty villages. At some point the long routers caught up with the foodies and all but one headed for The Rising Sun in Haddenham, tired and parched but satisfied.

Sorry for forgetting to mention the good company. It always is on a Wednesday.

Anyone interested in this walk?

regards,

SP

Apologies for earlier erroneous train time, post now corrected

A meagre 3 came out for this undulating excursion in very good walking weather, namely sunny with passing clouds later overcast . Views as good as always, field crossings a doddle due to well-cleared paths and firm ground, although plenty more acreage under the plough this year, with a high percentage of broad beans. Not pretty.

Very nice lunch indeed at The Pointer, Brill, which has gone even more upmarket (apparently featuring in the Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurants in Britain recently). They also do rooms now in a building opposite.

17.38 train after all that.

Intend going and will print 2 spare copies of the walk for those without access to a printer.

10 walkers on a sunny day with light northerly winds, meaning very clear air providing for fantastic, far views. A perfect day for this walk, as the ground was dry throughout, which with several large fields to cross made quite a difference.

En route we had a look into the NT-run Long Crendon Court House, which had a pretty comprehensive exhibition on the lives and times in the area, and also had several short breaks for views and watering.

The Hundred of Ashendon pub was strangely empty (as we learned, due to the road through the village being closed for 3 months), so we had a free choice of the tables. A pretty faultless gatro-pub meal was served (fixed price menu: 2 courses for £14) and one walker couldn't resist the quince trifle for closure. The SWC lunch monitor even suggested posting this walk again in the week b4 Xmas, as the Xmas set menu looks very appealing...

Only one of the sandwichers had moved on, so 9 of us trundled on together, with some more fine views towards the Chilterns.

Our long stay at the pub unfortunately meant that we got back to Haddenham in the middle of the 'dead' half hour between the cafe shutting and the pub re-opening for the evening, so we went straight to the platform, where a delayed, then cancelled train (signalling problems at Bicester apparently) meant a 1 hour wait (in the comfy, draught-free waiting room though).

The train was then quite full, mainly because 'Spurs were going to Wembley', but we survived in good enough spirits to have a farewell drink at the Marylebone station pub. A very fine day out.

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addendum: with this early train, fast walkers can of course tackle the full walk (27.6 km/17.2 mi, 8/10 rating, 6 1/4 hours of walking - assuming 5 km/h on the flat) and still finish in daylight. pub lunch would be in one of the two splendid pubs in Brill...

Looking forward to doing this walk. Anyone else?

I will come along :)

18

Perfect sunny winters day !

16 off the train at Haddenham & Thame Parkway. 2 (including the walk-poster!) were fractionally late for the suggested train but managed to catch up with the group up by lunch.

The morning was a lovely wander across fields and valleys. Despite recent heavy rain the potentially dubious river crossing was perfectly navigable and the ground was generally firm enough under foot to be able to look UP and enjoy the stunning views.

6 scampered off on the extension to Brill (where lunch at the The Pointer was apparently very good). The remaining group headed to Ashendon, where 2 had a picnic at the church, and the rest devoured a delicious lunch at The Hundred of Ashendon Inn. The food was so good most of us opted for dessert before our afternoon of admiring even more beautiful views.

The Rising Sun (en-route ro the station) was the pub of choice for post walk drinks. The majority reached it well before sunset, then we all had a bit of a mad-dash for the 17:38 train back to London.

Thanks for a fab day everyone!