Walking the Ridgeway - Chinnor to Watlington

We picked up the path last visited a few weeks ago in Chinnor. Well known in the 19th century for it's production  of lace and chair legs. The plentiful supply of Chiltern Beech provided the wood for the chair legs.
The path is flanked by huge pits of the local quarry.
It is a fairly straight and uneventful part of the walk  along this stage in all honesty.

The plan today was as usual a circular walk and we wouldn't really be covering a great deal of the Ridgeway unfortunately. Another very hot and humid day and with three dogs in tow we were glad for any shade provided.

Parched fields

This Summer shows no sign of letting up with the heat and sunshine. It must be at least 6 weeks since we saw any rain.

We cross a junction signposted 'Kingston Blount'.
A small village that isn't really worth a detour although it does have a pub, a tempting proposition even at this early stage.

 As mentioned this part of the Ridgeway was very easy walking .

We excited the Ridgeway at the junction with the A40and picked up the footpath leading to Aston Rowant Nature Reserve , a good place to see Red Kites.
The Reserve is also bordered by the Swans Way.This path starts at Salcey Forest in Northants and ends in Goring on Thames , Berkshire .

About a seven mile walk in total so definitely one of the shorter legs we have done so far.
We stopped off afterwards at the Fat Fox inn Watlington . A Brakspears house. I opted for an expensive yet forgettable pint of 'Oxford Gold (4.6%).  It didn't matter too much as in the heat of the day anything would have gone down well.