Chiltern Walks: Stokenchurch and The Ridgeway

View to Radnage

Start & Finish: Free on-street parking around or near The Common, Stokenchurch, HP14 3QA
Distance: 10.6 km (6.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 231m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Chiltern Way, The Ridgeway, Aston Rowant Discovery Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Stokenchurch at the start and finish, plus the Sir Charles Napier pub (2.4 km in)
Map: - OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
Links: Stokenchurch, The Ridgeway, Aston Wood & Juniper Bank (Woodland Trust)

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 retuned to Stokenchurch where we visited a week earlier for our Stokenchurch and Radnage walk. Parking at the same place opposite the Kings Hotel we retraced our steps along the Chiltern Way for 300m. Rather than continue along the Chiltern Way the route follows Park Lane for another 400m then takes a footpath heading north where Park Lane curves to the right. Keep following this path in a northerly direction until you reach the Sir Charles Napier pub on Sprigs Holly Lane. There’s a few path junctions to navigate on this section so keep a close eye on your map to make sure that you reach the pub.

Take a left onto Sprigs Holly Lane, walking in a north-westerly direction as it becomes Chinnor Hill (road). After 900m from the pub take a footpath into the woods when the road curves to the right. Descend steeply through the woods for 800m to reach the Ridgeway. Take a left onto the Ridgeway and follow it for 2 km to the junction with the Aston Rowant Discovery Trail. Take a left onto the trail, leaving the Ridgeway and ascend through Juniper Bank and Grove Wood to the A40.

Follow the A40 for 300m then take a left onto Kingston Hill (road). The A40 can be very busy but there’s a safe path on the left hand side. Follow Kingston Hill for 200m then take a right onto a road leading to a farm. The farm road becomes private property after the gatehouse so you’ll need to take the footpath on the left to divert around the field. Take the first right onto another path that crosses the front of the farm. From the farm continue along the path for 1.2 km to re-enter Stokenchurch at Chalk Farm Road.

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, National Trust, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Stokenchurch and Radnage

View to Radnage

Start & Finish: Free on-street parking around or near The Common, Stokenchurch, HP14 3QA
Distance: 9 km (5.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 182m
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: Several in Stokenchurch at the start and finish, plus the Mash Inn, just off the route (3.7 km) in Radnage.
Map: - OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
Links: Stokenchurch, Radnage

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 in Stokenchurch town centre near where the Chiltern Way crosses the A40. From here, the route follows the A40 towards High Wycombe for 450 metres before taking a left onto George Road. At the intersection of George Road and the oddly named Bartholemew Tipping Way take a right onto a footpath heading in a south-easterly direction running parallel to the A40. Continue along the footpath as it follows the perimeter of Stokenchurch Pre-School then crosses a field and onto a farm track heading in a north-easterly direction.

At 2.5 km into the walk the footpath ends at a driveway to a large house. Take a left onto the driveway and follow it into the woods where you’ll descend to Grange Farm Road. Take a right onto the road and follow it in an easterly direction. Continue onto Bennet End Road, right onto Town End Road and left onto Bottom Road. Approximately 180m along Bottom Road take a footpath on the left and ascend steeply into the woods until you reach the junction with the Chiltern Way. Take a left onto the Chiltern Way and follow it for 4 km back to Stokenchurch.

Although there’s no pubs directly on the route after Stokenchurch, the Mash Inn is just off the route at 3.7 km in Radnage. To get there take a left up Horseshoe Road when Grange Farm Road meets Bennet End Road.

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, England, National TrustComment
Hurtwood 50k Ultra Marathon

In The Hurtwood between Checkpoints 2 and 3

When: December 4th 2022
Start and Finish: Dorking Sports Centre, Reigate Road, Dorking, RH4 1SN
Distance: 50 km (31 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 1,084m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Leith Hill Greenway
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22, Surrey Cycleway
OS Trig Pillar:
- TP6411 - The Nower (2 km from start)
- TP2379 - Coneyhurst Hill (19 km from start)
Maps:
- Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
- Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Finish time: 7 hours 13 minutes
Links:
- Dorking, Milton Heath and The Nower, Wescott, The Hurtwood, Holmbury Camp, Holmbury St Mary, Winterfold Forest
- Leith Hill: Wikipedia, Peakbagger, Hillbagging, National Trust

My 10th Ultra was on familiar ground. Timea and I had been walking the Greensand Way in the Surrey Hills in small sections this year. As the Autumn finished we made it as far as Dorking and decided to pause until the Spring. I had signed up the the Hurtwood 50k in the Summer but hadn’t realised that the start and finish would be in the exact place as we finished our walks.

The course starts at Dorking Sports Centre and follows the high street for ~1km before reaching the Greensand Way. From here it follows the Greensand Way for 20km then takes an 8km circle around Winterfold Woods. After the circle the route retraces the Greensand Way back to Dorking. Along the way there’s >1000m metres of elevation, Leith Hill (Surrey’s County Top), Holmbury Hill, Pitch Hill, the Nower and 2 OS Trig Pillars. It felt like a Greatest Hits of the Surrey Hills walks that we had done over the Summer.

It was also the first winter Ultra that I attempted since my DNF on the Thames Path back in 2016. Wind and mud meant a very slow pace on that one and I had to pull out half way. That was a flat course too and I wasn’t confident in the weather or ground conditions for the Hurtwood after a wet autumn. As it turned out the ground was mostly dry, the air was nice and chilly and there was very little wind. These were perfect Ultra conditions for me.

This was my first out-and-back Ultra route. I wasn’t too excited about that as I normally prefer point-to-points. However, I found it to be a huge motivational advantage on the return stretch. It was still a long way but just seemed much easier as I was heading home. I found that I could run for longer stretches later in the race and the hills didn’t seem so tough. On the long descent from the summit of Leith Hill there was a moment when I thought I might beat my 50K PB of 6 hours 59 minutes.

The PB didn’t happen but I wasn’t bothered. I had forgotten about the return to The Nower, a steep hill on the approach to Dorking. In the end I finished in 7 hours 13 minutes, not far off my PB and not bad at all considering the more the double elevation of previous 50ks.

I’ll be doing some more distance events at this time of year. My mood dips from mid-November to mid-December due to a combination of a busy time at work and winter gloom. The focus on rest and nutrition leading up to this event kept me on track and the win of completing a very hilly winter Ultra will see me through till Christmas.

Thanks to Freedom Racing for hosting a well-managed, very rewarding event.

Richard gowerRun, Ultramarathon, Trig Pillar, National Trust, UK County Tops, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Chiltern Walks: Piddington and West Wycombe

West Wycombe Hill

Start & Finish: The Dashwood Roadhouse, Old Oxford Road, Piddington, Bucks, HP14 3BH
Distance: 8 km (5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 243m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Dashwood Roadhouse at the start and end
Map:
- OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
- OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Piddington, West Wycombe, West Wycombe Caves, Dashwood Mausoleum, National Trust - West Wycombe Park, Village and Hill

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 outside the Dashwood Roadhouse, formerly the Dashwood Arms. The pub is on the Old Oxford Road which runs parallel to the A40. There’s plenty of free parking spaces outside of the pub. From the pub cross over the road and follow the private road into Ham Farm. Turn right after the first set of farm buildings and take the footpath that climbs the hill in a north-easterly direction. Continue on this path crossing over Bottom Road, Chinnor Road and Slough Lane.

After Slough Lane climb the steep hill to Hearton Wood and take a right onto the main track that follows the ridge in a south-easterly direction. At the car-park leave the track to visit the Dashwood Mausoleum and St. Lawrence Church. If you have more time you can visit the Hellfire Caves under the hill. The entrance to this is on Church Road.

Descend the hill to the junction of Chorley Road and Oxford Road (A40), Take a right onto the Oxford Road and follow the pavement for 200m, then cross over to the south side to Towerridge Lane. Follow Towerridge Lane up the hill for 900 metres, curving to the right, until it stops at some private houses. When the lane becomes a foopath follow it in a south-westerly direction for 300 metres then take a footpath on the right into the woods. Follow this path in a westerly direction through Upper Dorrells Wood, cross over bullocks Farm Lane and onto a north-westerly footpath.

When you reach the village of Piddington take Queen Street to Princes Street, then follow that until you reach the Old Oxford Road and the Dashwood Arms.

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, England, National TrustComment
Chiltern Walks: Piddington and Bottom Wood

Between Horleys Green and Piddington

Start & Finish: The Dashwood Roadhouse, Old Oxford Road, Piddington, Bucks, HP14 3BH
Distance: 7.9 km (4.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 105m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Dashwood Roadhouse at the start and end
Map:
- OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
- OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Piddington

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 outside the Dashwood Roadhouse, formerly the Dashwood Arms. The pub is on the Old Oxford Road which runs parallel to the A40. There’s plenty of free parking spaces outside of the pub. From the pub cross over the road and follow the path that runs in a north-westerly direction along a farm track. After ~500m from the A40 you’ll meet a split in the path where you’ll continue along the farm track to the right. Continue following this track for 2km through Bottom Wood until you reach a field.

Instead of crossing into the field take a right and following the path in a north-westerly direction until you reach the end of Radnage Common Road. At this path junction take the path that’s straight ahead not the first left into the field. Continue for another 300m then take a left. Continue for another 350m, cross over Water End Road and continue until you’re back at the A40.

Carefully cross over the A40 and continue in a south-westerly direction through the wood for 400m. Take a left hand turn to follow a path through a field that takes you to Copse Drive in Horleys Green. At the end of Copse Drive take a right onto Bigmore Lane, than a left at onto Jones Way. When you reach the footpath at the entrance to the senior living estate take a right and follow the path south for 500m. Take a left to follow a path in an easterly direction for 2.2 km back to the Dashwood Roadhouse where you started.

This route is a variation on the Bottom Wood Walk with Peter Towersey published in the Chiltern Society magazine.

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 12 - The Nower and Dorking

Denbies Hillside. View towards railway and Westcott

Start & Finish: Reigate Road Car Park, 9 Reigate Rd, Dorking RH4 1SN
Distance: 10.8 km (6.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 222m
Greensand Way section covered: Bury Hill to Punchbowl Lane: 5 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22, Surrey Cycleway
OS Trig Pillar: TP6411 - The Nower
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Queen’s Head (6.5 km in) and several on Station Road at the start/finish
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Dorking, Milton Heath and The Nower, National Trust Denbies Hillside, Deepdene Estate

This is the twelfth of a series of short circular walks featuring the Greensand Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Haslemere in Surrey to Ham Street in Kent. Our walks take in short sections of the Greensand Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The Greensand Way is well sign posted however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

For this section we parked at Dorking Sports Centre at the northern end of the town. From here cross over Reigate Road and follow London Road until a footpath on the left that takes you onto a bridge over the Pipp Brook. Take a left onto the path that follows the brook. Pass the mill pond on your left, and cross the park to reach a footpath that cuts into a residential area called the Parkway. Continue in an westerly direction to Chalkpit Lane and take a right. Walk up Chalkpit Lane and take a footpath on the left after the railway bridge. Take a right onto Ranmore Road then a left onto a footpath immediately after the school.

You’ll now be in the Denbies Hillside National Trust property. Continue in a westerly direction for ~1.5 km until the path curves down to the south to meet the railway line. Carefully cross the level crossing and continue south for 1.2 km until you meet the A5 Guildford Road at Westcott. Shortly after the railway line you’ll reach a path junction in Clay Copse. Take the right hand path up through the woods to keep on track.

Cross over the A25 Guildford Road and continue south onto Milton Street. After 200m you’ll rejoin the Greensand Way at the point where you left it on section 11. Follow the Greensand Way for 5 km to Punchbowl Lane at Deepdene. Along the way you’ll pass up and over The Nower (with an OS Trig Pillar on top), the southern end of Dorking Town and what’s left of the Deepdene Estate. The Queen’s Head pub at 6.5km is a good place to stop for a rest.

At Punchbowl Lane you’ll leave the Greensand Way which heads in a southerly direction. Instead, take a left, heading north, then a right onto Ladyegate Road. After 200m take a right onto a footpath leading to Deepdene Park Road. Take a left, following Deepdene Park Road to Deepdene Drive. Take a right and continue to the end of the estate at the A24 Deepdene Avenue. Cross over and take the footpath leading to Moores Road. Take a right, a right again and you’ll be back in front of Dorking Sports Centre.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, Trig Pillar, National Trust, Railway, England, Surrey HillsComment
Walking the City of London Boundary

View of the Thames from the southern border of The City at the City/Tower Hamlets/Southwark Tri-point

The City of London is a unique place in the UK’s geography and governance. It’s part of Greater London but not one of the 32 London Boroughs. It’s inside a city but is a city itself. It’s a Ceremonial County and was within the boundaries of the Historic County of Middlesex but was self-governing.

The City is nicknamed the Square Mile as it’s internal area is 1.12 m² (2.9 km² ). The boundary is less that 11 km with negligible elevation change which makes it a very manageable walk of approximately 3 hours. As as walk it’s also fascinating as you’ll pass the 14 dragons that guard the boundary, 7 tri-points with the London Boroughs and the highest point of the City of London.

The dragons are cast iron statues the guard the main road entrances to the City of London. They were designed and installed in the 1960s. For a more detailed history of the dragons, see the post on IanVisits.

The page below describes the walk that we did in October 2022. Directions start at the Victoria Embankment Dragon, close to Temple Station, but there’s several other good starting points close to tube or rail stations. Let me know if you spot an error or have an interesting fact about the boundary to share. I’ll donate £1 to one of my causes for each update to the page.

Start & Finish: At the Embankment Dragons, Victoria Embankment, Temple, London, WC2R 2PN
Distance: 10.6 km (6.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 89m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Jubilee Walkway, Jack The Ripper Walk, Jubilee Greenway
Other routes touched (cycle): CS 3,7, C2,6
Map: London North Map | The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 173
Links: City of London, Dragon Boundary Mark

Route of the boundary walk showing locations of the Dragons (liliac icon), Tri-points (brown icon) and high point (red icon)

The City / Borough Tri-Points

Our boundary walk was partly inspired by David Natzler’s project to visit the Borough Tri-Points of Greater London. David’s project, documented in this blog post, visits 32 points where three London Borough’s connect. The City of London isn’t a borough so the 7 Tri-Points of the City with 2 boroughs was out of scope for that project. Given that all 7 of these are on the City of London boundary I wanted to find them all.

David had the great idea of using an oak sprig in photos of each Tri-Point. I wanted to do something slightly different and used a fridge magnet of a London postbox to show the Tri-Point location. Scroll down to see details and the photo of each Tri-Point at the relevant part of the walk.

Dragons 1 & 2: Embankment

Type: Twins, either side of Victoria Embankment, mounted on stone pedestals.
Distance into walk: 0 km
Address: Victoria Embankment, Temple, London, WC2R 2PN.
Nearest Station: Temple (Circle, District)
Coordinates: 51°30'40.0"N 0°06'41.5"W
Links: Victoria Embankment, Inner Temple Gardens

Dragon 3: Temple Bar

Type: Large single dragon on top of a memorial obelisk.
Distance into walk: 0.4 km
Address: The Strand, Temple, London, EC4A 2LT
Nearest Stations: Temple (Circle, District) or City Thameslink
Coordinates: 51°30'49.4"N 0°06'42.9"W
Directions from previous point: Right onto Temple Place, up the Milford Lane steps, along Essex Street, right onto The Strand. Note that the boundary runs through the buildings east of Essex Street. Essex Street itself is actually in the City of Westminster.
Links: Temple Bar, Temple Bar Memorial, Royal Courts of Justice

City of London High Point

Distance into walk: 1 km
Address: Junction of Chancery Lane and High Holborn.
Nearest Station: Chancery Lane (Central)
Coordinates: 51°31'05.3"N 0°06'49.5"W
Directions from previous point: Left onto Chancery Lane, continue to the junction with High Holborn.
See this related post for more details and photos of the City of London High Point

Dragons 4 & 5: High Holborn

Type: Twin dragons on stone plinths either side of the road.
Distance into walk: 1.2 km
Address: Either side of High Holborn near exit to Chancery Lane Underground. Staple Inn 5, London, WC1V 7QH.
Nearest Station: Chancery Lane (Central)
Coordinates: 51°31'05.1"N 0°06'40.7"W
Directions from previous point: Turn right out of Chancery Lane onto High Holborn, continue east.
Links: Chancery Lane, High Holborn

This one is often referred to as the Chancery Lane Dragon, however High Holborn is a more accurate name for its location.

Tri-Point: City of London / Westminster / Camden

Distance into walk: 1.3 km
Address: Between the two carriageways of High Holborn at the corner of High Holborn and Furnival Street, WC1V 7QU.
Nearest Station: Chancery Lane (Central)
Coordinates: 51°31'05.0"N 0°06'37.6"W
Directions from previous point: Continue east along High Holborn.
Links: City of Westminster, Camden

Dragon 6: Farringdon

Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 1.7 km
Address: South side of junction of Charterhouse Street and Furnival Street, EC4A 4LL.
Nearest Station: Farringdon (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Elizabeth Line, Thameslink)
Coordinates: 51°31'06.6"N 0°06'19.1"W
Directions from previous point: Turn left onto Charterhouse Street at Junction of High Holborn/Hatton Garden/Charterhouse/New Fetter Lane.
Links: Farringdon, Smithfield, Smithfield Market

Look out for the 2 “bonus” dragons either side of the arch at the entrance to Smithfield Market on Charterhouse Street.

Tri-Point: City of London / Camden / Islington

Distance into walk: 1.7 km
Address: South side of junction of Charterhouse Street and Furnival Street, EC4A 4LL.
Nearest Station: Farringdon (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Elizabeth Line, Thameslink)
Coordinates: 51°31'06.6"N 0°06'19.1"W
Directions from previous point: N/A - at Farringdon Dragon.
Links: Camden, Islington

Dragon 7: Barbican

Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 2.5 km
Address: Junction of A1 Goswell Road and Baltic Street West. 38 Goswell Road, Golden Lane Estate, London, EC1M 7AA.
Nearest Station: Barbican (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan)
Coordinates: 51°31'06.6"N 0°06'19.1"W
Directions from previous point: Continue along Charterhouse Street until end, turn left onto A1 Goswell Road, continue north.
Links: Barbican, Barbican Estate, Golden Lane Estate

Dragon 8: Moorgate

Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 3.6 km
Address: South-east side of junction of Ropemaker Street/A501 Moorgate/South Place, EC2M 2RB.
Nearest Station: Moorgate (National Rail)
Coordinates: 51°31'08.5"N 0°05'15.9"W
Directions from previous point: Turn right into Baltic Street West, onto Baltic Street East, right onto Golden Lane, Left onto B100 Beech Street, onto B100 Chiswell Street, right onto Moor Lane, left onto Ropemaker Street.
Links: Moorgate

At the time that we visited in October 2022 the Moorgate Dragon was looking shiny and new having been recently replaced. The original had been removed to allow room for lorries accessing the construction site for Crossrail / The Elizabeth Line.

Tri-Point: City of London / Islington / Hackney

Distance into walk: 3.9 km
Address: North-West Corner of Finsbury Square / Sun Street and Wilson Street, EC2M 2PA.
Nearest Station: Liverpool Street (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Central, Elizabeth Line, Overground, National Rail)
Coordinates: 51°31'13.2"N 0°05'06.9"W
Directions from previous point: Continue east along South Place, left onto Wilson Street, continue to junction with Sun Street.
Links: Islington, Hackney

Dragon 9: Bishopsgate

Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 4.5 km
Address: Corner of Worship Street and A10 Norton Foldgate.
Nearest Station: Liverpool Street (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Central, Elizabeth Line, Overground, National Rail)
Coordinates: 51°31'08.5"N 0°05'15.9"W
Directions from previous point: Turn right onto Sun Street, curve to the left onto Appold Street, right onto Worship Street.
Links: Bishopsgate

This one is often referred to as the Liverpool Street Dragon, however Bishopsgate is a more accurate name for its location.

Tri-Point: City of London / Hackney / Tower Hamlets

Distance into walk: 4.5 km
Address: East side of A10 Shoreditch High Street opposite junction with Worship Street.
Nearest Station: Liverpool Street (Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan, Central, Elizabeth Line, Overground, National Rail)
Coordinates: 51°31'17.4"N 0°04'42.5"W
Directions from previous point: Opposite side of A10 North Foldgate to the Liverpool Street Dragon.
Links: Hackney, Tower Hamlets

Dragon 10: Aldgate

Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 5.5 km
Address: South-west corner of Middlesex Street and Aldgate High Street, E1 8AX.
Nearest Stations: Aldgate (Circle, Metropolitan) and Aldgate East (District, Hammersmith & City)
Coordinates: 51°31'08.5"N 0°05'15.9"W
Directions from previous point: Turn right out of Worship Street onto A10 North Foldgate, left onto Brushfield Street, right onto Fort Street, (briefly) right onto Artillery Lane, left onto Sandy’s Row, left onto Middlesex Street, left onto St Botolph Street.
Links: Aldgate

Dragon 11: Tower Hill

Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 6.6 km
Address: South side of Byward Street/Tower Hill, at 1 Tower Hill Terrace, London, EC3N 4EE.
Nearest Station: Tower Hill (Circle, District)
Coordinates: 51°30'34.1"N 0°04'43.1"W
Directions from previous point: Cross over Aldgate High Street onto A1210 Mansell Street, right onto Shorter Street, cross over The Minories and follow the north side of Trinity Square Gardens to Tower Hill (road). Cross over to South Side of Tower Hill (road).
Links: Tower Hill, Tower of London

Tri-Point: City of London / Tower Hamlets / Southwark

Distance into walk: 6.8 km
Address: In River Thames between west end of Millennium Pier (north-side) and east end of HMS Belfast (south-side).
Nearest Station: Tower Hill (Circle, District)
Coordinates: 51°30'24.7"N 0°04'48.7"W
Directions from previous point: Turn right onto Tower Hill Terrace, continue onto Petty Wales then to the Thames Path.
Links: Tower Hamlets, Southwark

Dragon 12 and 13: London Bridge

Type: Twin dragons on stone plinths either side of southern entrance to bridge.
Distance into walk: 7.7 km
Address: On A3 London Bridge (road) at south end of #1 London Bridge (plus twin on opposite side of road), SE1 9AJ.
Nearest Station: London Bridge (Jubilee, Northern)
Coordinates: 51°30'23.6"N 0°05'16.5"W
Directions from previous point: Follow Thames Path in a westerly direction to London Bridge. Cross bridge to south side.
Links: London Bridge. Other bridges between London and Blackfriars: Southwark Bridge, Millennium Bridge.

The actual boundary of the City of London runs through the middle of the Thames between the City/Tower Hamlets/Southwark Tri-Point in the east and the City/Southwark/Lambeth Tri-Point in the west. Both London Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge are wholly within the City boundary and are overseen by the City of London Corporation (through Bridge House Estates). Two other bridges, between these: Southwark Bridge and Millennium Bridge are not part of the City of London, however the northern half of each is within the river boundary.

Dragon 14: Blackfriars Bridge

Type: Single dragon on a pedestal.
Distance into walk: 9.7 km
Address: Middle of carriageway at southern end of A2021 Blackfriars Bridge (road), SE1 9UD.
Nearest Station: Blackfriars (Circle, District, Thameslink, National Rail)
Coordinates: 51°30'30.7"N 0°06'15.8"W
Directions from previous point: Cross back over London Bridge to north side of the Thames, continue along Thames Path in a westerly direction to Blackfriars Bridge. Cross bridge to south side.
Links: Blackfriars Bridge

Tri-Point: City of London / Southwark / Lambeth

Distance into walk: 10.5 km
Address: In River Thames between Inner Temple Gardens (north-side) and west end of the Oxo Building (south-side).
Nearest Stations: Temple (Circle, District) or Blackfriars (Circle, District, Thameslink, National Rail)
Coordinates: 51°30'35.2"N 0°06'41.3"W
Directions from previous point: Cross back over Blackfriars Bridge to north side of the Thames, continue along Thames Path in a westerly direction.
Links: Southwark, Lambeth

Tri-Point: City of London / Lambeth / Westminster

Distance into walk: 10.6 km
Address: In River Thames between east end of HQS Wellington (north-side) and The London Studios (south-side).
Nearest Station: Temple (Circle, District)
Coordinates: 51°30'35.5"N 0°06'33.1"W
Directions from previous point: Continue along Thames Path in a westerly direction.
Links: Lambeth, City of Westminster

A Load of Bollards

If collecting the dragons, the tri-points and the high point isn’t geeky enough for you, there’s also the bollards. We noticed that most of the bollards have a date at the bottom and decided to see if we could get the full set. We completed 1991 through to 2000 plus 1988 and 2007.

More London posts

Richard gowerTrek, Thames, Middlesex, London, EnglandComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 9 - Pitch Hill and Holmbury Hill

Pitch Hill Viewpoint

Start & Finish: Hurtwood Car Park 3, Pitch Hill, Cranleigh, GU6 7NL
Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 239m
Greensand Way section covered: Pitch Hill Car Park to Holmbury St Mary: 5.25 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): Various mountain bike trails in The Hurtwood
OS Trig Pillar: TP2379 - Coneyhurst Hill
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Royal Oak at Holmbury St Mary (5.8 km in)
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: The Hurtwood, Pitch Hill (Peakbagger), Holmbury Hill (Peakbagger), Holmbury Camp, Holmbury St Mary

This is the ninth of a series of short circular walks featuring the Greensand Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Haslemere in Surrey to Ham Street in Kent. Our walks take in short sections of the Greensand Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The Greensand Way is well sign posted however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

For this section we parked at Pitch Hill Car Park at the far western end of this section of the route. This is the same parking spot as we used for section 8. You can follow the Greensand Way directly out of the south-eastern corner of the car-park, ascending to Pitch Hill summit. For the first half of the walk you’ll be following the Greensand Way signs mostly along the ridgeline through the Hurtwood. Pitch Hill and Holmbury Hill are the 2 literal high points of the walk with great views to the south. At Holmbury Hill you get a clear view over to Leith Hill, Surrey’s County Top and your destination for section 10. After the Holmbury Hill viewpoint you’ll descend through the site of Holmbury Camp, an Iron Age hillfort.

When you reach Horsham Road at 5.25km you’ll leave the Greensand Way and take a left, heading north to the village of Holmbury St Mary. The Royal Oak pub in the village centre is a good place to stop for a mid-walk rest. After the Royal Oak take a left onto Felday Glade and follow it for 200m taking a footpath on the right. The path ascends steeply and takes you back into the Hurtwood. Continue in a westerly direction along trails in the Hurtwood to Ewhurst Road, crossing over, then continuing in a south-westerly direction back to the car-park. There’s a lot of different trails in the second half so a GPX route and/or good map skills is essential.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, England, Trig Pillar, Surrey HillsComment
Walking the Akrotiri Monastery Katholiko Trail, Crete

Descending to the monastery

Start & Finish: Gouverneto Monastery, Chania 731 00, Greece
Distance: 2.8 km (1.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 164m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Katholiko-Stavros
Links: Akrotiri, Agia Triada Monastery, Gouverneto Monastery, Arkoudiotissa Cave

The Akrotiri Peninsular, not to be confused with the one in Cyprus, sticks out of the north coast of Crete to the east of Chania. We took a day trip at the end of our holiday to drive round the edge and visit the beaches. The monasteries in the mountains to the north are worth a visit as is the short but steep walk to the Katholiko ruins. The Katholiko was opened in the 11th century and abandoned in the 16th century due to pirate raids.

To get to the walk, drive to the Holy Trinity (Agia Triada) Tzagaroli Monastery. This is an interesting place to stop and visit the church and museum. From here follow the road for 4.2 km to the car park next to the Gouverneto Monastery. This monastery was closed when we got there so we did the walk to the Katholiko first.

There’s a very obvious path from the monastery down to the ruins. After 1km you’ll reach the Arkoudospilio Cave, also known as the Bear Cave. The name comes from the large bear-shaped stalagmite that is ready to drink water. The legend is that the Virgin Mary turned the bear that was stealing the water of the monks living nearby into stone.

After another 400m you’ll reach the ruins of the Katholiko Monastery. There’s another trail that we considered walking that joins from town of Stavros to the west. Another option is to descend further along the trail to the beach. Both options were tempting but it was a very hot day so an out-and-back from the Monastery to the Katholiko was enough for us.

The Gouverneto Monastery was just opening by the time we got back there at 17:00. We were just in time to observe the service in the church. If you visit note that you can’t enter wearing shorts but you can borrow a skirt at the entrance to cover your legs.

Richard gowerTrek, Mountain, Coast, Crete, GreeceComment
Walking the Samaria Gorge, Crete

Near the Trailhead.

Start: Samaria Gorge Trailhead, Μονοπ. Φαράγγι Σαμαριάς, 730 11, Greece
Finish: Ferry dock, Agia Roumeli, Hora Sfakion 730 11, Greece
Distance: 16 km (10 miles)
Elevation change: +442m / -1,657m. Net -1,215m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Papoures Trail
Links: Samaria Gorge, Lefka Ori (White Mountains), Agia Roumeli, Sougia

If you’re a fan of hiking and the outdoors in general then Samaria Gorge is a must-do for a trip to Crete. Wife and I had planned to do it together but she was sick for the first half of our holiday. We decided that I should do it alone while she recovered. This turned out to be the right plan as you really need to be on top form to do the trip.

The trailhead is an hour from Chania, the nearest large town. Unless you stay near the start overnight you’ve got at least 2 hours of driving time to get there and back. The gorge walk is a point-to-point from the entrance at 1,230m elevation down to Agia Roumeli on the coast. There’s no road access to the town so you need to get a ferry to Sougia and a bus back to the start. From leaving my hotel (90 mins from the trailhead), I was back 13 hours later.

It’s definitely worth it though. The whole of the gorge walk was stunning with photo opportunities at every turn. The first section, a steep descent through pine forest, reminded me of parts of the Inca Trail. The path is narrow and can be difficult to overtake other hikers at times so it’s good to go when it’s quiet. I was there in early October, just out of peak season. My first hour, starting at 10:00, only had a handful of other hikers on it. It got busier when I caught up with a bus party who had spread out a little formed a convoy along the path.

There’s several water and toilet spots along the route. You’ll need to take enough food and your own toilet paper if you don’t want to risk the supplies on the route. At around 7 km in you’ll reach the old village of Samaria which is a great place to stop for a while and have lunch before the final sections.

I found the path to be quieter after the old village. This was probably as I was on a brisker pace than most and only took a short stop for lunch. This second half is less steep and has a different, more barren environment. There were also more people coming in the opposite direction, presumably doing an out-and-back between the coast and the village.

The final few kilometres are a highlight as the route criss crosses the flowing river across rickety wooden bridges. The walls of the gorge close in funnelling you through some tighter, more dramatic sections.

At the end of the walk you’ll find another booth where you give them half of your entry ticket. This is so that they can tally the numbers to check that no one is left in the gorge at the end of the day. There’s a couple of cafes immediately outside the National Park boundary but, unless you’re starving, it’s better to get to the town for food.

From the end of the trail it’s an extra 2.5 km to the coast. There’s a private shuttle bus operating the last 2 km for 2 euros each. As ready for a rest as I was I wasn’t tempted by the bus. I’d completed a 15km gorge walk so I wasn’t going to take a bus for a flat 2 km.

The main option to return to the start is to get a ferry to a Sougia then the bus to the trailhead. Ferries were fairly infrequent when I was there so I had to wait 3 hours for the 17:30 boat. Although the town is small and seems to exist only for the ferries, I was glad of the time for a long, slow lunch and a rest at the end of the walk.

You’ll need to buy your ticket ahead of getting on board but there’s a few options to do so. You can book online, as I did, and get an email confirmation. Alternatively you can buy them at the trailhead cafe or at the ticket office on town’s main street. Don’t expect to buy them on the boat though, as one couple found out when they were left behind by the last ferry of the day.

You can buy your bus tickets either at the trailhead or Agia Roumeli ticket offices or at a small booth in Sougia. Personally I wouldn’t risk leaving it until Sougia so I bought mine at the trailhead. The bus operation is very efficient with several of them waiting near the ferry terminal, departing shortly after the boats arrived.

The ferry takes 50 mins for the larger car and passenger ferry or 25 minutes for the smaller passenger only ferry. The bus takes 50 minutes to return to the trailhead and drops off next to the main car park. Although you can park for free at the side of the road leading up to the trailhead, the car park is safer and saves you another walk at the end of the day back to your car.

If you don’t have a car there’s several options to go with an organised tour. The options were around 40 euro per person as a part of a large bus tour or in in the hundreds per group for a private tour. If you do have a car then getting to the trailhead yourself is by far the cheapest and most convenient option.

My costs for the trip, excluding hire car costs and petrol were:

  • Parking: 5 euro

  • Gorge entrance fee: 5 euro

  • Ferry ticket: 13 euro

  • Bus ticket: 4.80 euro

  • Total 27:80 euro

Red = The Samaria Gorge Walk, Blue = ferry route to Sougia, Green = Bus route back to the Trailhead

Richard gowerTrek, Mountain, Coast, Crete, GreeceComment
Walking In The Surrey Hills

The Surrey Hills is a National Landscape (formerly Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), covering parts of the North Downs and Greensand Ridge in Surrey, England. The area shown in the map below also shows land covered by the Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV). It is very close to London with the M25 running near or through the northern boundary.

It’s a beautiful part of the countryside with many options for walking, running and cycling. This page is an index of the circular and point-to-point walks that I’ve done in the Surrey Hills.

Circular Walks In The Surrey Hills

Walks shown in alphabetical order of the 2-letter abbreviation on the map above. The letter and number in brackets refers to the grid reference. For more details on each, click on the link on the name of each walk.

Point to Point Walks In The Surrey Hills

Walks shown in alphabetical order of the 2-letter abbreviation on the map above. Map shows the start point. The letter and number in brackets refers to the grid reference. For more details on each, click on the link on the name of each walk.

Other Circular Walks Near The Surrey Hills

Walks shown in alphabetical order of the 2-letter abbreviation on the map above. The letter and number in brackets refers to the grid reference. For more details on each, click on the link on the name of each walk.

Walking The North Downs Way

The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent. Our walks took in short sections of 10 km to 13 km which we did with a friend over the course of a couple of years when our schedules coincided. White numbers in the orange circles on the map above show the start point for each section.

Walking The Greensand Way

The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Haslemere in Surrey to Ham Street in Kent. Our walks take in short sections of the Greensand Way and loop back to the start on other paths. White numbers in the green circles on the map above show the start point for each section.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, Surrey Hills, EnglandComment
Allermuir Hill and Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh

North face of Arthur’s Seat from Whinney HIll

Allermuir Hill and Arthur’s seat are two very different hills, linked only as being short walks very accessible from Edinburgh Centre. For us they were two “bonus peaks” that we squeezed in on our Edinburgh Crescent County Top trip.

Allermuir Hill

Member of: Marilyn
Parent Peak: Scald Law NHN = Turnhouse Hill
Elevation: 493m
Date climbed: 25th September 2022
Coordinates: 55° 52' 57'' N, 3° 14' 14'' W
Route Start / End: Midlothian Snowsports Centre, Hillend, Biggar Road, Edinburgh, EH10 7DU
Route Distance: 4.0 km (2.5 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 240m
Subsidiary tops on route: None .. but Caerketton Screes could easily be added to the route
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Pentland Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
OS Trig Pillar: TP0816 - Allermuir Hill
Map: Edinburgh Map | Musselburgh & Queensferry | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 350
Links: Wikipedia (Pentland Hills), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Having completed Blackhope Scar earlier in the day and with some time to spare, I picked Allermuir as our bonus walk as it was close to our hotel in Dalkeith. We parked at the Midlothian Snowsports Centre and to the track heading west towards the Pentland Way. We chose to ascend via the col between Allermuir and Caerketton Screes. In hindsight, and with better planning, I would have ascended before Caerketton Screes to bag that summit too in the way to Allermuir.

From the Trig Pillar at the summit of Allermuir you get a great view over to Edinburgh, including Arthur’s Seat, the Firth of Forth and, in the other direction, the Pentland Hills. We were there on a very windy afternoon so didn’t hang around on the summit for long so descended following the Pentland Way to the north-east then back to the Snowsports Centre.

Arthur’s Seat

Member of: Marilyn
Parent Peak: Allermuir Hill (to be verified) TBC NHN = Caerketton Hill
Elevation: 251m
Date climbed: 26th September 2022
Coordinates: 55° 56' 38'' N, 3° 9' 42'' W
Route Start / End: Parking area near Duddingston Lodge, Old Church Lane, Duddingston, Edinburgh, EH15 3PY
Route Distance: 3.7 km (2.3 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 195m
Subsidiary tops on route: Crow Hill (238m), Nether Hill (237m), Whinney Hill (174m), Dunsapie Crag (146m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
OS Trig Pillar: TP0893 - Arthurs Seat
Map: Edinburgh Map | Musselburgh & Queensferry | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 350
Links: Wikipedia, Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Arthur’s Seat is an icon of Edinburgh, an extinct volcano dominating Holyrood Park to the east of the city centre. We had completed Meikle Says Law in good time and were keen to fit it in on the way back to the airport. Rather than a simple out-and-back from the closest car park, we ended up having enough time for a small circuit covering 4 smaller peaks on the east side of Holyrood.

Most people access Arthur’s Seat from the west, closest to the city centre. Instead we found a small, quieter car park in the east at Duddingston Village. The simple out-and-back option would have taken us less than 40 minutes and we did the whole circuit in only an hour and a quarter. With more time I would have included Salisbury Crags and Haggis Knowe on the west of the park to do the full Holyrood Circuit. I reckon that the full route would have taken around 2 and a half hours.

Bagging Arthur’s Seat was a satisfying conclusion to our Edinburgh County Tops weekend. We had a a clear day and had a good view to several of the peaks that we bagged over the weekend and the city itself.

Richard gowerTrek, Trig Pillar, Midlothian, ScotlandComment
Edinburgh Crescent County Tops

Ascent of Innerdouny Hill

Our UK County Top bagging trips have now got into a rhythm of an annual long weekend at the end of September. Our group has also grown to 6, although there’s always the inevitable last minute cancellation due to house move / new job / failing body / [*insert excuse here]. For our second Scottish adventure we tackled the “Edinburgh Crescent”, a collection of 6 high points covering 7 historic counties, all within an hour of Edinburgh airport.

We also managed to bag a couple of “bonus peaks”, Allermuir HIll and Arthur’s Seat over the weekend. See this post for details on these.

West Lomond

Significance: Highest peak in Fife (Historic CT)
Member of: Marilyn
Parent Peak: Ben Cleuch NHN = Innerdownie
Elevation: 522m
Date climbed: 23rd September 2022
Coordinates: 56° 14' 43'' N, 3° 17' 49'' W
Route Start / End: Bunnet Stane Car Park, Cupar, KY14 7RR
Route Distance: 4.5 km (2.8 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 365m
Subsidiary tops on route: None
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 1 / EV12 passes Bunnet Stane Car Park
OS Trig Pillar: TP0674 - West Lomond
Map: Glenrothes North, Falkland & Lomond Hills Map | Auchtermuchty & Cupar | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 370
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir)
Links: Wikipedia (West Lomond), Wikipedia (Fife), Bunnet Stane, Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Having landed in Edinburgh Airport mid-morning on the Friday, we picked up a rental car for the 40 minute drive to West Lomond. This is the most north-easterly of this trip’s peaks and a nice warm-up for the longer treks to follow. We met with Joel, who drove from Northern Ireland, at Bunnet Stane Car Park. Don’t let the “car park” label fool you though, it’s just a layby for about 4 cars with a parking sign on it.

The walk to the summit is fairly straightforward, initially flat before getting steeper after Bunnet Stane. This is a rock formation with a man-made cave at the bottom and a information sign describing the history and myth around it. It’s worth stopping here to check it out before the ascent to the summit.

There’s several footpaths to the Trig Pillar at summit but we chose the most well-trodden. For the descent I originally planned to return on the same route but decided at the top to mix it up a bit and make it a circle. This didn’t work out too well as the path I chose to follow was cut of by a fence ahead of a steep drop. We took a alternative, slightly less steep, route down to meet the path we came up on. In hindsight we would have been better off sticking to the out-and-back.

Innerdouny Hill

Significance: Highest peak in Kinross-shire (Historic CT)
Member of: Marilyn
Parent Peak: Ben Cleuch NHN = Innerdownie
Elevation: 497m
Date climbed: 23rd September 2022
Coordinates: 56° 14' 55'' N, 3° 33' 48'' W
Route Start / End: Forestry Commission Car Park at Littlerig on B934
Route Distance: 9.2 km (5.7 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 220m
Subsidiary tops on route: None
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
OS Trig Pillar: TP4108 - Innerdouny Hill
Map: Perth & Kinross Map | Ochil Hills East & Loch Leven | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Active Map 369
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir)
Links: Wikipedia (Innerdouny Hill), Wikipedia (Kinross-shire), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

After West Lomond it’s a half an hour drive to the Littlerig Forestry Commission car park at the start of the walk to Innerdouny Hill. The car park didn’t come up on our sat-nav so we just headed north along the B934 looking out for it on the right. In the end it was easy to find and enough parking for several cars. Given the relative obscurity of the peak, it’s unlikely that you’ll be fighting for a parking spot here.

This is a longer walk than West Lomond but much less elevation. The first 3.9 km follows a wide Forestry Commission track before taking a right turn up a narrow path to the summit. We were there on a very clear day and got great views over the Firth of Forth and some of the other peaks of our trip.

As with West Lomond an out-and-back would have been the best plan. Instead we followed a clearing between a wooded area and a wall to try a more direct route down to the start of the track. It definitely made a more interesting route but in reality didn’t save much time or distance vs. retracing our steps from the summit.

Ben Cleuch

Significance: Highest peak in Clackmannanshire (Historic CT)
Member of: Marilyn, Donald, Graham
Parent Peak: Ben Chonzie NHN = Carn Chois
Elevation: 721m
Date climbed: 24th September 2022
Coordinates: 56° 11' 8'' N, 3° 46' 10'' W
Route Start / End: Free on-street parking at Upper Mill Street, Tillicoultry, FK13 6AX
Route Distance: 7.9 km (4.9 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 650m
Subsidiary tops on route: The Law (638m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
OS Trig Pillar: TP0672 - Ben Cleugh
Map: Stirling & Ochil Hills West Map | Alloa & Dunblane | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 366
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir)
Links: Wikipedia (Ben Cleuch), Wikipedia (Clackmannanshire), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Day 2 started with the University of Stirling parkrun, right next to the hotel where we were staying. Stirling is a good option for an overnight stay on the trip and our hotel, part of the University campus, worked out well.

From Stirling it was less than a 30 minute drive to the start of the walk to Ben Cleuch. This was a shorter distance than the previous 2 walks but much higher elevation. Navigation is straightforward as there’s a very well-trodden path to the summit.

Learning from Day 1 we stuck to the out-and-back plan and didn’t attempt a creative alternative route back to the car. The Woolpack Inn, close to the start point, is a good place for a pint and a rest before heading to the Lothians.

Cairnpapple Hill

Significance: Highest peak in West Lothian (Historic CT)
Member of: Marilyn
Parent Peak: West Cairn Hill NHN = West Cairn HIll
Elevation: 312m
Date climbed: 24th September 2022
Coordinates: 55° 55' 22'' N, 3° 37' 18'' W
Route Start / End: Cairnpapple Hill parking, 2km from Torphichen, Bathgate, EH48 4LD
Route Distance: 650 km (0.4 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 14m
Subsidiary tops on route: None
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Map: Falkirk, Cumbernauld & Livingston Map | Linlithgow, Bathgate & Kilsyth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 349
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir)
Links: Wikipedia (Cairnpapple Hill), Wikipedia (West Lothian), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Our original plan for Cairnpapple was to follow the short circular route in Jonny Muir’s guidebook. We parked at the small Cairnpapple parking area and took the well-marked south-westerly path to the burial mound. Cairnpapple is commonly regarded as the highest point in West Lothian although the Ballencreif Hill Trig Pillar to the south is higher. Jonny Muir’s guide has the walk continuing in a straight line south from the burial ground to the Trig. Some boundary work must have been done in the meantime as we found a new fence in the way and no obvious means to walk straight to the Trig. Note that Historic Scotland charges an entry fee to the burial ground, although it’s easy to avoid it as the ticket office is not on the gate.

Separate walk to The Knook and the Trig Pillar:

Route Start / End: Top Point Parking, Unnamed Road (south of Cairnpapple Hill), Bathgate, EH48
Route Distance: 1.1 km (0.7 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 16m
OS Trig Pillar: TP0991 - Ballencrieff Hill
Links: Peakbagger (Knock)

To access the Trig Pillar we returned to the car and drove south down the minor road to a layby near the gate to the field containing the Trig Pillar. Alternative parking can be found on the south side of Knock Hill, another contender for West Lothian’s high point. After climbing to the toposcope on Knock Hill we cross the field to bag the Trig Pillar.

Blackhope Scar

Significance: Highest peak in Midlothian (Historic CT)
Member of: Marilyn, Donald, Graham
Parent Peak: Windlestraw Law NHN = Windlestraw Law
Elevation: 651m
Date climbed: 25th September 2022
Coordinates: 55° 43' 25'' N, 3° 5' 31'' W
Route Start / End: Small parking area on southern end of Gladhouse Reservoir
Route Distance: 17.7 km (11 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 518m
Subsidiary tops on route: The Kips (542m), Bowbeat Hill (636m), Bowbeat Rig (585), Dundreich (623m)
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
OS Trig Pillar: TP1448 - Blackhope Scar and
Map: TP1448 - Blackhope Scar and TP2914 - Dundreich
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir)
Links: Wikipedia (Blackhope Scar), Wikipedia (Midlothian), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Blackhope Scar was the longest and most interesting of the weekend’s peaks. The small parking area on the southern edge of Gladhouse Reservoir is the best, and realistically only, place to start the walk. The first 2 km is fairly flat as the route follows the private road through a farm and up to the ruins of Hirendean Castle. After the ruins the route ascends in a south-westerly direction to the summit. I had read that the route is very boggy and was preparing for a Meikle Fell style swamp. As we were there following a particularly dry summer the ground was solid and much easier than expected.

Jonny Muir’s guidebook shows the route as an out-and-back to the summit but there’s a more interesting circular route. See this post on Walk Highlights and this video on YouTube for good detailed descriptions on the full circular. As well as being more interesting as a circular, you’ll bag an extra Trig Pillar and a couple of extra summits.

Meikle Says Law

Significance: Highest peak in East Lothian (Historic CT)
Member of: Marilyn
Parent Peak: Windlestraw Law NHN = Windlestraw Law
Elevation: 535m
Coordinates: 55° 50' 49'' N, 2° 40' 13'' W
OS Trig Pillar: TP0685 - Sayers Law
Links: Wikipedia (Lammermuir Hills), Wikipedia (East Lothian), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

Meikle Says Law - Southeast Slope

Significance: Highest peak in Berwickshire (Historic CT)
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Meikle Says Law NHN = Meikle Says Law
Elevation: 535m
Coordinates: 55° 50' 45'' N, 2° 40' 15'' W
Links: Wikipedia (Berwickshire), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

For both peaks:

Date climbed: 26th September 2022
Route Start / End: Layby opposite to gated entrance to Faseny on Gifford-Longformacus Road
Route Distance: 10.7 km (6.6 miles)
Route Elevation Change: +/- 251m
Subsidiary tops on route: None
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Map: Lammermuir Hills Map | Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg & Gifford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 345
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir)

For our final walk of the weekend we headed to the eastern end of the Lothians for Meikle Says Law. As with Blackhope Scar this involves a short section from the parking area followed by a circular route. We took an anti-clockwise direction on the circular section following a track running parallel to Faseny Water. There’s a few places where the stream crosses the track but we found it easy to jump over without getting wet. It would be a different story after very wet conditions so be prepared to search for other places to cross or make sure that you have good waterproof boots.

Taking the anti-clockwise direction turned out to be a good plan as the track takes you right up to the summit. The Trig Pillar marks the high point of East Lothian. It’s very close to the border with Berwickshire and it’s a 100m walk to the south to bag the high point of that county. There’s nothing to mark the Berwickshire top so we just took a bearing from the gate near the Trig Pillar to the coordinates. It certainly didn’t feel like a summit but there’s was nothing else notable around so we decided to call it there.

From the Berwickshire top we retraced our steps to the Trig Pillar and followed a path on the south side in an easterly direction. The path comes and goes and it’s quite heavy going, but keep to the left of the fence and you’ll be fine. You’ll cross the East Lothian/Berwickshire border a few times on this path but with nothing to mark the boundary.

When you reach a small gate in the fence where another path comes in from the east, you’ll leave the fence, now heading in a north-easterly direction back down to Faseny Water. After crossing the footbridge you’ll have closed the loop and can return to the parking spot on the road.

Driving Distances and Times for the Edinburgh Crescent Road Trip

Based only on connections between the walks. Add more based on accommodation, bonus walks etc. Driving times based on light traffic.

  1. Edinburgh Airport to West Lomond: 32 miles / approx 40 minutes.

  2. West Lomond to Innerdouny Hill: 18 miles / approx 30 minutes.

  3. Innerdouny Hill to Ben Cleugh: 13 miles / approx 30 minutes.

  4. Ben Cleuch to Cairnpapple Hill: 35 miles / approx 60 minutes.

  5. Cairnpapple Hill to Blackhope Scar: 50 miles / approx 90 minutes.

  6. Blackhope Scar to Meikle Says Law: 42 miles / approx 90 minutes.

  7. Meikle Says Law to Edinburgh Airport: 39 miles / approx 60 minutes.

Total drive: 239 miles / approx 6 hours 40 minutes.

Other High Points in the Edinburgh Crescent Area

Richard gowerTrek, UK County Tops, Mountain, Trig Pillar, West Lomond, Fife, Kinross-shire, Clackmannanshire, West Lothian, Mid Lothian, East Lothian, Berwickshire, ScotlandComment
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.

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 8 - Winterfold Wood and Reynards Hill

Reynards Hill Viewpoint

Start & Finish: Hurtwood Car Park 3, Pitch Hill, Cranleigh, GU6 7NL
Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 204m
Greensand Way section covered: Long Copse to Pitch Hill Car Park: 4.62 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Wey South Path
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22, Surrey Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
and Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Winterfold Forest

This is the eighth of a series of short circular walks featuring the Greensand Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Haslemere in Surrey to Ham Street in Kent. Our walks take in short sections of the Greensand Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The Greensand Way is well sign posted however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

For this section we parked at Pitch Hill Car Park at the far eastern end of this section of the route. The first half of this route heads west back to where section 7 leaves off. There’s a lot of paths through Winterfold Wood with many junctions and few sign posts. You’ll highly likely get lost without a GPX route and/or map. We inadvertently took a route through private woodland, only realizing once we exited and saw a sign on the gate. I’ve since edited the route to follow public rights of way.

From the car park cross the road and take the right-hand, northerly headed path (not the Greensand Way). This will cross Barhatch Lane and into the Winterfold Wood Estate. Continue in a north-westerly direction along the estate road to a junction where the road becomes private. Take a left and continue heading in a westerly direction. Continue heading west through the wood until you reach Madgehole Lane and follow this to the junction with Woodhill Lane.

Take a left onto Woodhill Lane, heading south-west then take the first left to join Stroud Lane. Follow Stroud Lane south for ~50 and you’ll rejoin the Greensand Way. Continue along Stroud Lane and stay on the Greensand Way when it leaves the lane on a footpath to the left. Continue following the Greensand Way for another 4km back to the car park.

Take a moment to see the viewpoints at Winterfold Hill and Reynards Hill, both with beautifully carved benches. The final point of interest is the Ewhurst Windmill, a listed building now privately owned by visible from the trail.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment
Chiltern Walks: Lane End, Fingest and Moorend Common

Fields near Bolter End Common

Start & Finish: Village Car Park, 1 The Ferns, Lane End, High Wycombe, HP14 3HB
Distance: 8.7 km (5.4 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 160m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Lane End village centre, plus The Chequers Inn, Fingest (4.3km in), The Prince Albert (6.9 km in)
Map:
- OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
- OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Lane End, Fingest

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 at the free village car park opposite the village hall. From here cross the B482 Finings Road and follow Church Path round the right hand side of Holy Trinity Church. When you reach the old pub, now a house, turn right and follow the footpath down through the woods. At path junctions in the wood keep to the right until you reach the farm track at Bolter End Common. Take a left and descend for 1 km down to the woods. At the woods you’ll meet an east-west path. Take a right through a gate onto a private road and descend until you meet Fingest Lane.

Take a right onto Fingest Lane and look out for a clearing with a bench dedicated to Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee. Here you can take a footpath that runs in a north-westerly direction parallel to Fingest Lane. Follow this path and take a left at the end where the road curves to the right. Follow this path along the edge of fields in a south-westerly direction until you reach the village of Fingest. The Chequers Inn is a good place to stop for a rest at this half way point of the trip.

When leaving the Chequers Inn walk in an easterly direction along Fingest Lane and take the footpath on the right signed The Chilterns Way. Follow this path up the hill keeping the woods on your right. After ~500 metres, the path will briefly enter Mousell’s Wood then across a field and into another woods. In this second woods, leave the Chiltern Way as it takes a sharp right. Instead continue along the path heading east to a path junction at Adams Wood. Take a left and follow the path into Adams Wood in a northerly direction for only a few metres before the path curves back to the east. Follow this path for just under 1 km until you reach the far eastern side of the woods. Take a right turn and head south until you meet the junction with Spurgrove Lane. Take a left on a path through the hedge and descent through a field until you meet Fingest Road.

If you need a rest here the Prince Albert Pub is not far down the road on the right. Otherwise cross Fingest Road and follow the path past some houses on the left up through the woods. There’s a few paths here that all interconnect but you’ll need to make sure you’re heading north-east to connect with Church Road. Take a right onto Church Road and follow the pavement alongside it until you see a path on the right with a sign to a house called Chiltern View. Follow this path and take a right at the junction so that you’re walking north with the allotments on your right. You’ll reach the back of Holy Trinity Church where you can either take a right or left hand path around it to connect back to the start.

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Walking The Greensand Way Part 7 - Shamley Green and Grafham

Near Gate Street Farm

Start & Finish: Shamley Green Christ Church, Church Hill, Shamley Green, Guildford, GU5 0UD
Distance: 10.3 km (6.4 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 107m
Greensand Way section covered: Gate Street Farm to Long Copse, Stroud Common: 4.4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Wey South Path
Other routes touched (cycle): Downs Link
Pubs / Cafes on route: None, however the Bricklayers Arms and Red Lion are a short walk from the start/finish
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Shamley Green, Grafham, Gate Street Farm

This is the seventh of a series of short circular walks featuring the Greensand Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Haslemere in Surrey to Ham Street in Kent. Our walks take in short sections of the Greensand Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The Greensand Way is well sign posted however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

For this section we planned to park in the small car park on the opposite side of the B2128 (Church Hill) to Shamley Green Christ Church. Normally this would be OK but there was a wedding at the church at the time so we parked near the village green. Although it adds 10 minutes to each end of the walk, there's more parking options and 2 pubs for a pre or post walk rest. The Greensand Way crosses the B2128 by the church. Follow the trail initially in a north-easterly direction and continue as it curves to the south-east. After 1.6 km (from the church) you'll leave the Greensand Way at a fork in the woods and follow the right hand path for ~400m until you reach a small road.

Take a right onto the road and follow it down to meet the B2128 again. Take a right onto the B2128 and follow it north for ~300m to take the first footpath on the left. Be careful here as there's no pavement, although there's a narrow grass verge so you don't need to walk on the road. Cross the field then take a left onto Upper House Lane. Follow this south until you meet Run Common Road.

Take a right onto Run Common Road and follow it for 1.1 km before taking a left hand footpath opposite the entrance to a farm. Be very careful on this road. There's no pavement and, although the road isn't busy, cars can go quite fast. Once you cross the River Wey there's a 300m section where you can walk on a protected path to the left of the road.

Having left Run Common Road, follow the path alongside the left hand side of the field to the A281 Horsham Road. Take a right onto the road, following the pavement, and take the first footpath on the left. Follow this path to Gate Street.

Take a right onto Gate Street and continue past the farm and back onto the Greensand Way. You'll now be on the same part of the trail where you left off on section 6. Continue to follow the Greensand Way back to the start at Shamley Green Christ Church.

Richard gowerTrek, Surrey, England, Surrey HillsComment