After a wet start to the day I was pleasantly surprised that 10 turned out on a day of light rain clearing by early afternoon . After a couple of wrong turnings in the morning, all gathered in the Old Swan to shelter from the drizzle, some after having a quick snack outside. A good lunch offering for a remote pub in midweek, and sandwiches, pies and puddings were sampled along with home-baked biscuits provided by a kind walker.

All did the posted "shortcut 1" route, enjoying improving weather through the afternoon though I can't really say the sun came out. Beautiful leaf colour. I think a few stopped for refreshments in Wendover but most caught the 1624 home.

The 2 at the station waited a bit in case there were any more . No. Just another two doing the same walk independently.

So they set off and, miracle of miracles, encountered a 3 rd waiting at the corner. It started cloudy and cool but got hotter A pleasant walk especially the cooler morning with lots of greenery. Foxgloves in the wood were at their best .

We mulled over taking Shortcut 1 but seeing how the Old Swan was probably “closed” we went on the 5.1 km loop via the Lee.

Pleased to see the Cock and Rabbit is open. The restaurant bit is being rebuilt and food consisted of burgers from the BBQ, which 2 enjoyed. A pleasant interlude spent in the garden.

And guess what, readers, The Old Swan is open too. There’s a big sign outside saying so. (Though not Wednesdays or Thursdays). We didn’t go in and Mr Tiger wasted no time in telling the others that was 5.1 km he didn’t have to have done. He was still banging on about it in Wendover. But if truth be told he quite enjoyed it anyway.

It was getting hotter and the group availed themselves of shortcut 2 and later dodged the circuit round Bodington Hill. (Maybe that could be flagged as a shortcut?)

The Gruffalo has returned to Wendover Woods but these days he has to sit down.

Got to W with a bit of a wait for the train so had to drop in the Shoulder of Mutton. Had to, didn’t we.

An enjoyable day.

Pete, As this lovely walk had such a (surprisingly) poor attendance and The Old Swan is open again, could you consider putting it on again soon,please? I guess the more obvious charms of Seaford won the day yesterday. Thank you.

Intend going.

Intend going and having pub lunch

Arrived at Marylebone to learn of the cancellation of all Aylesbury via Wendover trains until past noon due to a points failure just outside the station. A group of us took the Metropolitan to Harrow on the Hill from where they were running an hourly service between Harrow and Aylesbury.

9 of us gathered at Wendover just before midday. Weather warm and sunny all day. Reached our "early" pub at The Lee before 2pm for welcome refreshment and food for half of our number, (remainder picnicked on the green). After lunch 3 of us fell back and stopped for a while a couple of times on this particularly fine day....at Wendover Woods by go-ape, we decided / happened to go off script and make our own meandering way back into Wendover. Mistaken route choices - mainly mine - resulted in an extra couple of miles or so. Finished up at the Shoulder of Mutton PH for a light meal before catching the 20:28.

This is where it all began. Last went on this walk for the initial walk check about 10 years ago. Never did I imagine that the author of this walk (his first) would go on to write a "few" other walks.

11 off the train in warm sunshine with a cooling breeze - perfect conditions for this lovely walk through long stretches of woods with tall trees, large fields stretching over gentle hills, lovely old houses, many of them thatched, the picture perfect Lee with its inviting pub where two had lunch and two stopped for a drink while the other seven continued to The Swan which had only one member of staff - no chef - serving only drinks but happy to allow walkers to eat their sandwiches in the pub which we did before setting off on the afternoon stretch mainly through woods, all peaceful, with only the sound of birds to break the silence,very few humans encountered until we reached the Go Ape centre where we stopped for tea before continuing to Wendover where all eleven caught the 17.28 back to London.

Hi Peter, I have booked to join you. See you all at the station. My husband Nicholas Albery died on 3 June 2001. I am joining this walk in memory of him. We loved this walk!

Definitely will join you Josefine. Thank you for the invitation

Correction This is not now the Nicholas memorial walk as the route is different. Invitees now being asked to attend the Sunday walk tomorrow

There appears to be major disruption on the tubes this weekend - details at https://tfl.gov.uk/tube-dlr-overground/status/?startDate=2021-06-05T00%3A00%3A00&endDate=2021-06-06T23%3A59%3A59&dateTypeSelect=This%20weekend

Thanks, Mike. P. S. This is a great walk.

The restaurant at the Cock and Rabbit is open on Saturday, but booking essential.

At the station, 9 gathered briefly & set off, with an early direction finding issue helping to get to know the 3 newcomers. The mixture of woodland and open space ideal for this sunny day. 4 stopped at the Cock & Rabbit and the rest carried on to the Swan. The Swan allowed us to eat our sandwiches with their beer in the garden as the kitchen was closed. (they did have a food van operating). We caught up with a non-dining person from the C&R group. The 6 of us split up a bit in GM, getting coffee & quick peronis (Matilda's quick service) before the 1632 train

Brilliant choice, Marcus. Thank you.

Just to note, there are a number of footpath closures in the area in connection with High Speed Two. The tunnel portal is next to Kings Lane, a few hundred metres from The Lee church. Last time I was there, several footpaths between Great Missdenden and The Lee were closed.

Kieran

Speaking as a regular HS2 nerd who has made several trips to the area this summer, I would be surprised if any path closures for the HS2 route affect this walk. I was last there on 29 July when I walked the early part of this walk without issue. Part of my reason for going there was to see if the route was affected, but I concluded it was not. For reference, the route almost exactly follows the line of electricity pylons which run along the valley and which are clearly shown on the OS map. This walk is to the north west of them at all times. Major construction is not supposed to start on this section till next spring anyway.

Oh, and the tunnel portal is immediately to the north of Small Heath: a good way from Lee church by my reckoning, but let’s not squabble over details.

Hi. I was there two weeks ago. Footpaths are already closed and works and protests are well underway. You can see the BBC coverage here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-54386394

Details of the closures are here:

https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/environment/public-rights-of-way/changes-to-public-rights-of-way/hs2-construction-closures-and-diversions/

Kieran

Which of these footpath closures (or protests) affect THIS walk? Scanning the list, I can’t see a single one. But if I have missed one, point it out to me.

Happy to leave it to you to check. Good luck.

Kieran

Rather sour, Kieran. A pity.

Is there any chance of a South Downs walk for Weds 28th please? e.g.

129 Berwick to Birling Gap

181 Lewes to Seaford

316 Winchelsea to Hastings

I'm afraid not, Mike. If I post a walk for Wednesday 28th it will be closer to London - probably Ockley to Warnham,'twixt Surrey and Sussex.

Please post any walk, Marcus. Ta.

I did this walk over the weekend, there was no foot path closure. The autumn colour is the best around Wendover Woods although not in full display yet. I was surprised to see that the walk is already a bit muddy in places.

Just 4 of us today - our fair weather walking colleagues stayed away - and missed a wonderful day's walking through woods in full leaf colour - and not just Wendover Woods, although the latter's displays were the best. I hope leaves stay on trees for Dirk's Book 2 Wendover walk on Saturday week - if they do SWC participating walkers are in for a treat.

OK - the weather could have been better. I was hoping to report brilliant, warm sunshine, with bikini-clad nymphs a-sunbathing in the meadows: but back in the real world, although it was not cold, it rained steadily for most of the day , only relenting briefly over lunch and for the last hour of our walk. No matter, we never encountered downpours and everyones waterproofs held up, so the weather did not spoil our walk.

We stopped at the Cock and Rabbit and the four of us dined as individuals in the otherwise empty pub and Italian restaurant. Service was very friendly - they were glad to have some customers - and we enjoyed some delicious pasta in the pub's very comfortable surroundings. It was a bit of a wrench to up sticks and leave, but the afternoon leg of the walk beckoned, so off we set as the rain returned. We found the walk directions taxing 1 km after Swan Bottom, and spent ages - without success - in figuring out the correct way ahead. Note to self: contact the walk author to ask him where we went wrong. After some "off piste" road walking we eventually found the Ridgeway path to continue back on the route-proper, soon to enjoy the leg up into Wendover Woods in full leaf colour. The descent from the Woods to the outskirts of town can be slippery and after rain the path tends to be treacherous. Having just warned my colleagues to take care and avoid the chalky bits, I then did a somersault (score 5 out of 6) and came crashing to the ground. It took me ages to get back on my wobbly legs but fortunately I landed on my well padded trash-can, so no harm done.

Back in Wendover, and now later than envisaged - 6 pm - we purchased takeaway teas and coffees from a tapas bar, to enjoy on the 18-26 hrs train home.

A lovely day's walking, despite the weather.

Hi Guys

Was in Wendover yesterday some autumn colours not fully yet. Amazing no mud but I am sure there will be this weekend. The cafe in the woods had been revamp very smartly updated especially the bathrooms! I believe the food is good judging by the empty plates. Plenty of outside seating for picnic. Did not get any good mushrooms nor chest nut but plenty of watercress - very tasty soup!Enjoy the walk on Saturday.

Monica

some drizzle to lunch rain thereafter at times hard

Just 1 on the walk today. Plenty of autumnal colours in the trees, but most of the leaves are already on the ground... Some mushrooms about (parasols mainly), but not many. Unsurprisingly some mud, but less than it has been, certainly on the most notorious stretches of the walk, in the early woods for example.

Lunch at The Old Swan was a delight as it usually is, and I stayed on extra long to make use of the Wifi to follow a football game to the final whistle. Being just by myself, I then decided to actually walk the Wendover ending, as that bit of text needed a check more than the Missenden ending.

Leaf-strewn holloways and paths, the rain falling, the mist descending through the trees, and hardly a soul about (apart from dog walkers and joggers in Wendover Woods), it was very autumnal indeed.

Hi Guys aiming to do the full walkof 13.4 miles and hope to see some of you. Shall board train at Harrow on Hill at 09.39.

Monica

8 on the early train on a sunny day. One left at the first short cut and part of the group missed a turning, but we met up again near the Cock & Rabbit. Remarkably for a Saturday walk, just two of us ate in The Swan. Not crowded with speedy & friendly service & great food. As we left the Swan, we met 4 who were doing the later train option (but apparently not the short cut).

Very muddy in the first woods with forest operation churning up the track. The seven of us all met up again at the station for the return train to London. A great day out.

12 by the sound of it. (Note to those doing walk report: only one “n=“ allowed per walk report: the system does not do maths.)

6 on another hot day. I lost most of the group just before the Old Swan, I presume they'd headed for the Cock and Rabbit. Myself I was up for every shortcut going. Perhaps not the best of strategies on this walk - I'd reached the Gruffalo (yes Gruffalo, it's a sculpture, not a pub) by 2, and the Shoulder of Mutton (a pub, not a sculpture) by 3. Needless to say. I dropped in to revive myself.

Mr M Tiger'S route was to obviously maximise the opportunities for cheap cider (;>)!

5 of us stopped at the Cock and Rabbit with 2 lingering there with three of us continuing on for further refreshments at the Old Swan. By 4pm it was grindingly hot despite the woodland trails so by judicious use of gps we crossed the Grimms Ditch and took alternative trails back to Wendover turning the walk into a 10.6m 4/10 excursion. I had a drink at the pub nearest to the station joining the 2 others for the 5.26pm train

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A couple of us will get the 09.57 from Marylebone arriving at Wendover at 10.53 as we are doing the short version - others are welcome to join us if they wish

For those of us with an all zones travel card Apparently on this line when you buy a BZ6 ( Boundary Zone 6 ) to Wendover return, it can be quite expensive because they don’t recognise Amersham as the BZ6 station. One always needs to be vigilant!

Stephen

Amersham is in TfL Zone 9. A Zones 1-6 Travelcard is only valid as far as Moor Park, but a Freedom Pass (or a Zones 1-9 Travelcard) is valid to Amersham. With the latter, you should be able to buy an extension ticket from Amersham to Wendover.

I'm planning to do the short walk but will be joining the train at Chorleywood rather than Marylebone.

I am intending to do the long walk any takers? I think the main walk is only 10 miles and not 13.4 miles unless I am mistaken perhaps someone can correct me.

How long is the short version? I live in Harrow so this walk is close to home for me. Many thanks.

Monica

The full walk is 13.4 miles, for which the recommended train is the 9.27 from Marylebone (departs Harrow 9.39 according to the post). The shorter version is the 10.2 mile walk for which the recommended train is the 9.57 from Marylebone, which by my reckoning should get to Harrow about 10.09.

Thanks Bill I shall do the short version and catch the 10.09 train from Harrow on the Hill. See you guys.

Monica

Wendover to Great Missenden (shorter route)

5 on the later train. Chiltern Railways excelled themselves with Christmas Messages on the train's internal and external dot matrix displays. Morning mist clearing to a rather dull grey day as walkers resisted temptation to call in to Rumseys Chocolataire and headed off to join the Ridgeway with the mist cocooning them in quietness and serenity. Great Widmoor and Lordling wood probably provided the best full on mud experience this year, but this was thankfully short lived as the walk emerged into Swan Bottom and the Lunch time Pub "The Old Swan". All agreed the food was excellent and well priced here with attentive and unpretentious staff.

The afternoon section was uneventful and shortened slightly following some of the Chesham to Great Missenden route. The Twit Cafe was shut for the holidays, so walkers took tea and puddings in the Cross Keys before heading back from Great Missenden station. A pleasant and easy walk pre-Christmas within easy reach of London.

9 off the 'early' train to walk the full walk. The terrain was muddier than expected, but even then it's always nice to walk through a succession of woods. We got to The Old Swan a little after the short walkers (both groups having had booked a table each), and - between us - quickly succeeded in ordering all the breasts of pheasant that there were, and what a good choice it was.

Some nice undulations in the arvo. And half way through we overtook and incorporated 2 other walkers that had taken an earlier train. No shortcuts for the full walkers and at the end we split between The Cross Keys and Matilda's, the 'independent' coffee shop. 17.02 train for most. 16 very low clouds initially then lifting a bit

6 at the station There was also a large meetup group following at least the early part of the walk. Every time I thought we’d seen the last of them they popped up from round a corner or behind a hedge. Eventually they disappeared, along with the rest of our group. Last I saw of them was the whole lot marching off over the horizon. However, I was soon in the lead. Havent they heard of shortcuts? (The idea was to catch up but, instead I was catapulted far in front.) Never saw them again. Got the 15:56 train. Weather was cloudy am light rain pm cool

8 off the 09.27 train (incl. 1 first-timer), 1 on a later one having missed the train due to the lengthy, Bicester Village-bound, queues at the ticket machines (tip: just oyster through the barriers, there's no ticket inspectors/conductors on that line anyway), 1 off the 10.27 doing the short walk, all 10 meeting at The Old Swan in Swan Bottom. A largely uneventful walk, with a perfect Chilterns feel to it, despite the leaves now mostly off the trees. Not yet turned to a dark mush though, so pleasant walking through the layers on the ground. Some muddy patches, but not yet annoyingly deep.

Our stay at the pub was much longer than hoped for, as we (all of the original 8 plus the short walker had a pub lunch) arrived just after another even larger group, and - as all meals are commendably produced from the ground up - we faced a long wait for the food to arrive, and then another long wait when paying, as the other mob got up seconds before us tp pay individually as well... After an hour 45 minutes we could finally move on...

Meantime the weather had changed from cloudy initially to sunny in the afternoon , so a very enjoyable 10 km through the woods followed, with the sun breaking through the tree tops, and - on nearing Wendover - a dark orange sun dominating the horizon.

We arrived at 16.15 and 6 of us opted for skipping Rumsey's and the Whitewaters Deli to give the Lady Grey Tea Room a chance, which had a very pleasant selection of cakes and (thankfully raisin-free) scones.

One quick drink at The Shoulder followed, then onto the 17.23 train. Nice.

I wound up paying a penalty fare when I did a variant of this walk a few weeks ago, even though I walked the length of the train in search of a human to give some money to. Oyster is good as far as Amersham, for which reason there is no guard until that station. On other lines, I have the impression that guards get a modest commission when they sell you a ticket; they seem happy to do so. Not so much on this line.

4 wet

Four walkers apparently. 2 first timers, 2 regulars. All doing the full length walk. V muddy, v nice.

As being told today on Cowden to Eridge...