Given the rainy forecast, I thought there might be just two of us on this walk, but a third got off at Langley, and we discovered two more who had got slightly earlier trains. So 5 it was: a nice little group.

(For the record, two got the train from Liverpool Street, one from Farringdon and two from Ealing Broadway: it was really useful to have the train times from Liverpool Street.)

We set off in very light rain but it did not last long, being basically dry and grey and mild thereafter. The autumn colour was spectacular. I don’t think I have ever seen such a riot of yellow, gold and copper. Burnham Beeches was particularly mouthwatering. It did not photograph well in the gloomy light, but we “feasted our eyes” as one of the party said. Definitely a very good choice of walk for this time of year, and thanks from all of us to the walk poster.

The ground was sometimes very muddy, though lots of other bits were on firm gravel. Stoke Common was waterlogged, so a bit of a paddle at times, but not impassable. It was dotted with golden birches growing out of golden grass. (I wrote the word “golden” a lot in my nature notes - golden beeches, golden birches, golden oaks and larches….).

There was some muttering about having lunch in Fulmer, but this defeatist talk was firmly suppressed. Instead we pushed on to Farnham Common, arriving there sometime after 1pm. The rather too prettified Forresters pub here had plenty of room - there was only one other set of diners - and four of us ate there. One dish was “Cod Tempura”, served with mushy peas and chips: yes it was that kind of place. It had no vegan options, having apparently never heard of the concept, though rustled up a reasonable offering after some nagging. Pleasant enough food, I guess, but I note there is another pub 150 metres up the road that I might be tempted to try in future.

Again seditious talk at lunch about buses to Slough. Again rebellion was nipped in the bud. Four of us ploughed on (sometimes literally due to the mud), avoiding various temptations in the refreshment line to get to Cookham just as dark was falling. It did not feel that we had done 13.7 miles, to be honest, perhaps because of few stiles and almost no gradients.

The bridge across the river at Cookham was closed, but luckily only for cars (it would have been a long diversion otherwise). Once in the village, in absentia stagazeris, we breezed past the pubs and went to the nearly deserted Costa by the station for tea. Arriving on the platform for the 17.14 train we met walker number 5, who had gone on ahead after having sandwiches in Farnham Common. He had enjoyed a pint in the King’s Arms, having arrived in Cookham just too late for the 16.14 train.

It's worth noting that both options pass cafés & toilets in Langley Park & Black Park

The 9.27 is currently showing as 'cancelled'. The 9.43 is the next one after

The calm after the storm...

GWR was still cancelling most trains all day, and as a result the stopping services were reduced to 2 an hour from 4, ie we had a later start than planned, by 15 minutes.

A walk of two halves developed, so to speak.

2 walkers got off the 9.43 and bumped into 1 other who had arrived by bus from Uxbridge. West Drayton wasn't as dreary as I remembered from 7 years ago: new housing has sprung up in anticipation of the wonderful shiny new Crossrail/Elizabeth Line that should be running by now. The canal towpath though is still too rubbish strewn and the road through the imminently forgettable village of Iver is still annoying. [One wonders why the Beeches Way doesn't just follow the Colne Valley Trail here, which looks a nicer route. Maybe just to be different?] The weather was dry with some bright skies initially, then some drizzle developed, followed by a period of rain as we approached Langley Park CP. There we found 'The Park is closed due to high winds' signs, but assumed they were for yesterday. Not so: a kissing gate on the far side of the wood was padlocked shut with the same notice. Good thing then that by then we were off route due to some slack map reading by the 'leader' (ed.: the SWC does not have leaders!) and were actually outside the locked gate already!! Plenty of freshly fallen trees in this park and all the following woods. Here in the CP they had already been either cut to pieces or roped off for safety. Astonishingly quick work by the rangers.

On into Black Park then. This was 'open', as evidenced by no locks or signs saying otherwise and by both the cafe and the Go Ape! site being busy. Not long then to Fulmer and a pre-booked table at The Black Horse. The rain had subsided and the houses were more imposing than around Iver. Birdsong had been few and far between all day (still shell-shocked from the storm, maybe?), but we had seen two herons, flying off on approach. Snowdrops had been aplenty, but daffs didn't seem to be any further advanced than on walks 3 weeks ago. Mud though was also very rare, almost non-existent. The pub appeared half-busy only, but upon leaving we saw why: they have put up a 'function room'-type shed at the back for groups (which was full), and also have built numerous Covid-proof pods in the garden AND a massive barn-size Farm Shop/Deli. Clearly going places... The food was very good as were the drinks, the staff quick and friendly, we had a fireplace next to the table and some good conversation going, so stayed for nearly two hours.

Uxbridge-man then turned right to walk on to Gerrards Cross for a train or bus home, as he only wanted "a 10 miler or so". The other two turned left up the road. Mud was a bit more of an issue in the pm: some fenced paths and some of the woody sections were naturally muddy, but two of the worst stretches were only muddy because of misuse of Public Footpaths by mountain bikers or horseriders. The cafe in Burnham Beeches was doing a roaring trade. We did not encounter any rain after lunch, and finally saw some proper birds as well in the shape of plentiful red kites. As we exited the last wood before Cookham, sunset was just starting, and the few fluffy clouds about got some very intense pink tinges. Crossing the Thames at 17.40, we knew we could afford to stroll on to the station, while still comfortably making the 18.14.

The journey to London then took longer than posted as train services from Maidenhead were still much reduced, and in fact there seemed to be no fast trains at all from Slough to change on to, so the stopping TfL service it was all the way.

A fine day out, all in.

Group Cohesion Factor: one could say 10/10, as the group stayed together for as long as it wanted to, but then again: one did peel off, so let's say 8/10.

Number of abandoned or left-behind walkers or walk posters: nil.

3 mostly dry

is this walk 13.7 miles if no short cut taken?

OK, just checked on the GPX. Yes it is.

Hi Guys looking forward to this walk and a good distance as well. Hope to see some of you at Paddington train station for 09.27 train. Weather dry and sunny too.

Monica

Just realized that this walk has a high degree of road walking and since I often struggle with road walking decided to miss this walk. Enjoy the walk those who is going.

Monica

Just FYI, Monica: there was hardly any road walking.

22 on this walk on a glorious sunny day . Despite it being 12.8 miles to Cookham (13.7 to the station) we arrived there in daylight, as the sun was setting, without undue rushing. The reason, I think, is that this is a largely level walk, often on tracks or broad paths, and with no stiles whatsoever.

Easy walking, in other words, and delightful scenery throughout, perfectly suited for autumn - beech woods, some heath, a few fields, a couple of pleasant villages. Some stopped to lunch in Farnham Common, but a good number of us carried on to the “perhaps too late for lunch” Blackwood Arms on Littleworth Common, which we reached at 1.30pm. It was full inside but we got seats on the covered patio (which had heaters, but the thick rugs provided proved handy too). The food was a bit slow in coming but I think this is because we arrived just after a number of other tables had ordered. The staff were friendly and the kitchen (visible through an open door) was a hive of activity. A couple of the Gerrards Cross to Cookham walkers were at the bar.

Autumn colour throughout the walk was wonderful - a riot of golds - but we are really down to the dribs and drabs phase, with many trees bare and others looking thin. In the golden afternoon sunlight it all looked lovely, however.

In Cookham several went to the King’s Arms and fraternised with some Gerrards Cross walkers and five of us had tea at the Teapot Tea Room. Eight of us then had a lovely night walk along the Thames to Marlow - four miles under the stars, with a slightly more than half full moon providing perfectly adequate illumination. After a brief drink and some gooey “sharing plates” at the Marlow Donkey we caught the 20.15 home.

Hi Walker glad you all had a great time. I read on past comment that this walk has a lot of road walking and thus I decided to skip it next time I know better should this walk present itself again. Bad day for me my alternative to Ashurst was cancelled as Southern trains as usual no trains. Too late to switch to any walk thus content myself in the gym. Anyone attending Tring walk tomorrow otherwise I will be going solo.

Monica.

For the record, Foresters at Farnham serves gourmet food, I would rank it amoungst top three pubs on our walks and well worth a try next time. At least one walker took bus at Farnham to Slough.

Yes. I would be up for a Moonlight Walk. And I want to end the Walk at Marlow on the day. That's providing if I make it on the day.

Another short cut option is 9.6 miles - lunch at Fulmer (4.3 miles) then walk till Farnham Common (7 miles - tea if desired), then from there, it is 2.6 mile walk to Burnham station. Buy a day return to Burnham.

17 on this walk, a nice saunter through an interesting mosaic of woodland, heath and stately home park, with pubs nicely scattered en route. Despite the lack of written directions, navigation was not an issue, enough people having GPX or phone map apps to make wayfinding easy (at least, as far as I am aware: if anyone got lost, do say).

The weather was white cloud with sun for a time . The sun actually broke through during lunch, which we had at a big table in the garden of the first possible pub, The Black Horse in Fulmer. The food here was tasty and came quickly, and personally I thought it a nicer place than the recommended lunch stop in Farnham Common. Many of us stopped for tea in that pub, which had a sumptuous rear veranda with sofas and hanging basket chairs - surely the best "smoko" in the country. However several of us were then peeved to find a nice open air cafe a few hundred metres beyond the village which would have been an even better tea stop. This and two other outside cafes (in Langley Park and by Black Park Lake) were not mentioned on the walk's home pages, an omission that will be rectified.

A good number of walkers decided to head south from this point to Burnham station to have a shorter walk. It would be interesting to hear how they got on. Seven of us ploughed on, eschewing a cute rural pub in Litttleworth Corner, to get to Cookham after 5.5 miles. It was by now cloudy and so after drinks and some deep fried acrylamide in The Crown, we set off for the station.

Two of us then noticed that despite cloudy skies at dusk the full moon was hazily but definitely visible and so we hastily set off for a moonlight walk, enjoying a peaceful and enchanting four mile stroll in the very mild - almost summery - night air along the river to Marlow. Sorry if anyone else would have liked to join us on this but it was very spur of the moment. Nice to get one more moonlight outing done before the clocks go forward and they become impractical on SWC walks.

6 after lunch headed off to Burnham station. This was a good short cut option, as it reduced walk to a more manageable 11-12 miles versus 13-14 miles or even longer moonlight walk. It should be mentioned if the walk comes up again.

We initially followed the same route as to Cookham, entered a large wooded park (also saw the cafe building in the park). We then went south followed a foot path along a stream to Druid's Oak - one of the best woodlands on this walk. Then on to Crow Piece Lane with fields on both sides and continued to the station. In fact, various routes could be followed including going through some woodlands but we decided to do the most direct route to the station. Everyone caught 4:54pm train from Burnham and two changed at Slough for a faster train back to London.

Good choice Chris. I was about to request someone post this walk... Thanks! Farnham Common also has coffee shops and (I think) a Tesco Metro. Photos and feedback would be appreciated.

Happy to see this long walk posted for Sunday as I can't do a Saturday walk this week. Huzzah!

Huzzah indeed. I can't make Saturday either & don't fancy another Djokovic/Federer final on Sunday

5 overcast but dry until mid afternoon then drizzle followed by rain

Very pleasant walk up to Langley Park, with varied woods, a few short climbs, pretty villages, well waymarked, if a little heavy on the tarmac count. Very nice lunch pub in Fulmer. Black Park then probably a little to tame to count as country walking. Langley Park though very pretty, although not 'wild' either.

But then the stretch from Langley Park to West Drayton had little of interest (one tree-lined avenue in Coppins, Colne Valley Park and the Grand Union Canal near the end) to justify it. The rest was spent either roadside or through industrial estates or crossing the M25, and of course there is also the disappeared footbridge over the Slough Canal, which necessitates yet more road walking.

This would work well as the short walk Cookham-Langley, preferably ending in Cookham though, as it's a much nicer place.

The group stayed together to near Uxbridge, where one walker left us for a direct route back home (in Uxbridge), and then one more cut short in Iver to the station there. After a long-ish wait then: the delayed 18.12 train for the rest.

There are no trains from Iver on Sundays so I wouldn't recommend that as a short cut

The first two thirds of this walk were quite lovely - much nicer than I anticipated. Walking through the heathland was particularly nice. There were also lots of nice sections through woodlands, so it would probably be very lovely in the autumn.

There is quite a lot of roadwalking on this walk, and the last section from Langley to West Drayton is not very inspiring, even less so on a wet afternoon like the one we had today. Agree that a Langley to Cookham walk would be pleasant.

Lunch at The Black Horse in Fulmer was very good. The route (the Beeches Way) is also well waymarked.