Ewelme Walk (Swans Way 12)

Back on familiar ground today for what is planned to be the last segment of The Swans Way Walk. The walk has been a little disjointed as we have missed out parts already covered on The Ridgeway. 

I'm taking no chances today, back in the safety of four layers. The predicted snow and sleet hasn't arrived thankfully. It's a bit fresh but at least it is dry! If it stays like that I won't be complaining.  

The first part of the walk is on The Swans Way. It is very open countryside and few buildings. 

We get our first sight of the Red Kites which are numerous here.The high pitched cries will follow us for the entirety of the walk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I remember walking the perimeter fence of a large car scrapyard last time. There were cars stacked high all over the place. In particular there were lots of Ford Capri's and Ford Probes. They seem to have had a a bit of  a clear up! Not too many were visible, perhaps there has been a rise in scrap value and they have sold them on?  

A bit of a disappointment really as the old cars were quite interesting. I wasn't going to get any closer though as some rather over zealous guard dogs had shown a little too much interest in us.

Talking of old wrecks our path takes us  on to the Chiltern Way and Oakley Woods. The woods are littered with old farm machinery left to rot amongst the trees. The highlight was the old Blue Fordson Major Tractor. After 1964, the Fordson name was dropped and all Ford tractors were simply badged as Fords in both the UK and the US.

We pass the Blenheim Riding Centre as we make our way to where the Swans Way/Chiltern Way meets up with The Ridgeway. This is the furthest point on the walk today. 

We are met with the sound of gunfire and a pheasant shoot is taking place close by. We are close enough to see a flurry of feathers and the odd Pheasant and Pigeon hitting the deck. I notice a couple of Red Kites keeping a watching brief. No doubt hoping that they won't be collected and will be on their own meal table tonight. 

We backtrack up the lane to the main road and cross over. The route is sort of a 'figure of eight' shape. This part being the larger of the two 'circles'. We actually passed the car and took the opportunity to offload the rucksacks. 

We are now on the smaller, but top part of the figure of eight. In the distance I notice an interesting column! It is in the garden of Britwell House, built in 1727–28 for Sir Edward Simeon.

In front of the house to the southeast is a freestanding neoclassical column, with a large stone urn as a finial. It was built for Sir Edward Simeon in 1764 as a monument to his parents. To the  north of the house, is a limestone obelisk with a pineapple finial. It too was erected for Sir Edward Simeon in the middle of the 18th century. Now that would have been something to see! With a further sense of disappointment we continue on our way. 

We are probably seeing some of the best views of the walk looking towards Britwell Salome and Swyncombe Downs.

It is quite steep in places, and the poor old knees are feeling it particularly on the descent.

Darkness is also starting to descend but we are nearing the end of today's trek. In truth there hasn't been that many points of interest this time. That said it has still been a really good walk and a total distance of 11 miles. 

Another long distance footpath completed!