Chiltern Walks: Freith, Skirmett and Moorend Wood
Looking west between Skirmett and Hambledon
Start & Finish: Frieth Village Hall, Frieth, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 6PR
Distance: 8.9 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 136m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Yew Tree in Freith and The Frog at Skirmett (just off route at 3.1 km)
Maps:
- OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
- OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Frieth, Skirmett
This is part of a series of short circular walks in the Chilterns. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.
For this walk we parked on the road just outside Frieth Village hall. From here walk in an easterly direction along Church Road and take the first footpath on the left. Continue on the path heading north-west then take a left onto Spurgrove Lane. Take the first road on the right after the curve on Spurgrove Lane. Keep heading north onto a footpath into the woods. At the footpath junction take a left and head in a westerly direction. When you meet the Chiltern Way at the entrance to Adams Wood, take a left onto the Chiltern Way.
Follow the Chiltern Way for 2.9 km until you reach a small lane that connects Skirmett Road with Bagmoor Shaw. Take a left onto the road and follow it until the first footpath on the right that climbs steeply into the woods. Take a moment to visit the shrine just at the top of the hill. At the top of the hill there’s a field where you get a great view over the Hambledon Valley. At the southern corner of the field the path takes a sharp left and follows the edge of the field to Colstrope Lane. Take a left onto Colstrope Lane, following it to the T junction and cross over to take the footpath through a field and into Brushes Wood. Continue through to Moorend Lane and take a left.
Follow Moorend Lane for 800m then take a left hand footpath into the woods before the Lane meets Freith Road. Continue in a north-westerly direction to Moor Common Road. Take a left to return to the village centre, passing the Yew Tree pub along the way.
