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| Nuffield bound |
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| The route |
First Ridgeway trek of 2019 ! A good route planned as always with options to cut short if need be. The thought of finishing by going up Watlington Hill again had very limited appeal I must say.
Not a great deal to report really , standard flat going until we reach the Hamlet of Swyncombe and St Botolphs Church. About
4 1⁄2 miles (7 km) east of Wallingford , in an area of outstanding natural beauty.
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| Swycombe |
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| St BotolphsChurch |
St Botolph's parish church was originally early 11th century Norman , and a Grade II listed building.
Despite the remoteness it is a large place. There is a well populated cemetery and some overspill across the road. The Church is famous for its blanket of Snowdrops that cover the grassy areas in February. Quite a sight I'm reliably informed.
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| Ted in full stride |
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| Always interesting trees on the walks |
There followed a steep walk down through some woodland , it was quite noticeable that there seemed to be quite a lot of other walkers out in force today. No doubt a few Christmas excesses being walked off early this New Year.
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| Ewelme Park Estate |
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| Ewelme Park House | | |
Following a stony track we then went through a farmyard and encountered a rosy cheeked fellow who introduced himself as 'Lester' the 'Head Gardener'. I asked him how 'Ewelme' was pronounced? He explained that it was as follows, 'Ewe as in Sheep and Elm as in tree' very simple 'Ewelme'. Old Lester was quite an authority on local history explaining the estate was formed some 450 years ago. A large quantity of Roman coins were found during a tree planting. Probably explains why there are so many trees!The main house is very impressive with it's gatehouse but is probably not as old as it looks ? Some Peacocks on the lawn and Pheasants in the hedgerows complete the idyllic scene.
Lester did warn us 'keep away from the even bigger house down the lane'. 'Belongs to the Russians'. Putin's Financial Advisor he'd heard. Grounds patrolled by armed guards!
We went the opposite way ......
We left the Ridgeway completely cutting off the bottom chunk of the planned route. Passing the edge of Hayroft Wood up to Cookley Green. We then cut back across Dame Alice Farm back on to the Ridge way and back to the car. Despite missing off parts of the planned route we still covered 9.1
miles. Which left a little time for a beer at Ye Olde Leathern Bottel'
and that is the correct spelling. A pint of the local Brakspeares Bitter
3.4% (Brewed at Henley On Thames) went down nicely !
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| The Gatehouse |
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