The Health Walk 06 (17) and Winter Hill Centre 04 June 2017 – 10am start Walking Group

We meet the car park, The Moor, Cookham SL6 9SB (this is the postcode of the nearby Crown PH. The meeting point is 100 yards past the Crown on the right) OS Explorer map 172 - ref: SU 894854

Directions to meeting point Drive along the A4 towards . Immediately after crossing , turn right at the roundabout towards Cookham. On reaching the village, turn left along the High Street. Beyond the shops, the road passes through a grassy area of land called The Moor. The (free) National Trust car park is on the right, 100 yards past The Crown PH.

Walk description This walk is about 5¾ miles long and is hilly in parts. A shorter, less hilly walk of 3 miles is available. Initially, the route passes along the old disused road raised above the flood meadows out of Cookham. It then follows the Green Way through agricultural land before traversing a golf course. As it climbs Winter Hill, there are wonderful views of the towards the . On descending to the , the route offers lovely views again. It then follows the river and on returning to Cookham, there are a number of landmarks relevant to and his paintings. Beware of traffic on the roads.

Walkers may wish to stop at The Crown PH for refreshments at the end of the walk.

Guest walkers are very welcome. Please remember, guests will be expected to contribute £1.00 to the charity ‘The DASH charity’ on the day of the walk. Guests and occasional walkers will be asked to become members if they attend more than 2 walks in any one year.

1. From the car park, cross the road and walk up to the disused roadway that traverses the flood meadows. Turn left and walk towards Cookham village. Just before the War Memorial, turn sharp right towards Moor Hall. After about 100yds, turn left down a footpath signposted Green Way East. Follow the path for about ½ mile, and then turn right along a rutted farm track through a field. On reaching a public footpath, turn right again. The path passes through a series of gates and eventually emerges on to a road. Turn left on to the pavement and cross the road to join Terry’s Lane.

1. Walk down the lane for about 100yds and then turn left down a well-hidden footpath just past a house named Tremayne. The path eventually joins Terry’s Lane again. Bear left and walk up the lane a few yards before crossing over to where there is a sign for two footpaths. Take the left-hand path and continue straight ahead. Pass through a gate and follow the path that passes between Winter Hill Golf Course on the right and a railway cutting on the left.

2. Look out for a footbridge over the railway on the left. For the shorter walk (about 3 miles), do not cross the bridge but continue straight ahead. The path descends and eventually meets another path after some steps. Turn left and pass beneath a railway arch to continue along the path with the escarpment of Winter Hill on the left and on the right. After ½ mile there is a signpost indicating four paths, the main one of which climbs up the slope of the hill ahead. Turn right here and pass through a gate into a farmed field. Continue the walk from instruction 5 below. For the longer walk , turn left over the rail bridge and continue straight ahead. Follow the footpath signs up a grassy path that traverses four golf fairways as it gradually climbs Winter Hill. Watch out for flying golf balls!

3. At the top of the hill, the path divides. Veer left, and on reaching the lane pass through the gate opposite and continue along the path. After 200 yards, pass through another gate on the right and follow the path until it emerges on to a junction of lanes. Cross the lane, climb the stile directly opposite (look for the green footpath sign) and continue along the path ahead.

4. The path eventually joins a lane. Continue in the same direction along the lane but beware of traffic, as there is no pavement. After a left bend and opposite a house named Chimneys on the left, turn sharply right and walk down a signposted, gravel footpath. As it emerges from the woods, the path provides wide views of the Thames Valley and surrounding hills. Keep to the main track as it traverses down the hillside. At the bottom of the hill, turn left at the signpost and walk through a gate into a farmed field.

Adrian and Helen Dalton [email protected] The Datchet Health Walk 06 (17) Cookham and Winter Hill Centre 04 June 2017 – 10am start Walking Group

5. At the far side of the field, turn right along a broad grass path that heads towards a white building named Ferry Cottage. Continue along this path for about 1½ miles with the close by on the left, Cock Marsh to the right and Winter Hill beyond. The path passes through the private gardens of riverside houses and then The Bounty PH. Continue along the path beneath the railway bridge and back towards Cookham.

6. For the shorter walk , as the river swings left and before the entrance to Cookham Reach Sailing Club, bear right through the broad grassy area of Marsh Meadow. Walk towards the gate in the distance. Just beyond the gate turn right to the car park close by.

7. For the longer walk, continue along the Thames Path, past Cookham Reach Sailing Club and approach . Just before the bridge, follow the Thames Path right and walk through the churchyard. Stanley Spencer’s gravestone is on the right of the path at the far side of the churchyard. Leave the churchyard through its main entrance and follow the pavement beside the main road ahead. Turn right down the High Street and follow the path past The Crown PH on the right and back to the car park.

Adrian and Helen Dalton [email protected]