Bledlow Circular A10 mile circular route through the rolling Chilterns countryside Ride

Directions ? Leave Bledlow by the track running alongside the Lions and turn right after approximately 250 yards. ? Go straight ahead, crossing into at the Leather Bottle and continue on what is now the Upper Icknield Way for 1½ miles then turn left to join the road at Crowell Hill. ? At the road, turn right and after 600 yards, turn left intoVenus Wood.After a further 400 yards, turn sharp right, eventually emerging onto Town End Road and then left into Church Lane.After half a mile turn right onto another bridleway.The path emerges at the Chinnor Road close to Rout's Green. ? Go straight ahead through the village on a small road that is used as a bridleway and turn right where the bridleways fork.At the bottom of the hill turn left. ? The bridleway emerges at a bend in Wigan's Lane.Turn right at the road, then left at the Upper Icknield Way. After 500 yards turn right and follow the bridleway back to Bledlow. Features of Interest oldest track in Britain. It has been suggested that the track was used as a trading route by the Iceni, an iron-age tribe 1 The village of Bledlow has a public house dating from the based in what is now Norfolk and from whom the name 17th century.This was originally two may derive. Much of the top of the Chilterns is capped by adjoining pubs called the Red Lion clay and flint which in prehistoric times would have grown and Blue Lion which were later an impenetrable forest.The Icknield Way runs below this combined asThe Lions.The two front half way down the slope where drainage is better and the doors can still be seen. Bledlow undergrowth less dense. The word Chiltern is thought to Church dates back to the 12th and come from the Saxon term 'cyte' or 'chilt' meaning chalk. 13th centuries. At the end of the churchyard, the River Lyde runs in a deep ravine, which 6 Much of Church dates from has now been made into an attractive garden. around 1200. It has some 13th century wall paintings and a 2 Bledlow Cross was first recorded in 1827. It may be of magnificent 15th century nave roof. considerable antiquity but could simply have been cut in The village of Radnage consists of the the late 18th century to imitate the nearby Whiteleaf three hamlets of Town End, Bennett Cross. Over the years the area that it covers has grown End and the City. and now measures 80 feet by 75 feet. 7 Lodge Hill is of both archaeological and conservation 3 Chinnor Hill Nature Reserve contains a mixture of chalk interest.There are two tumuli (prehistoric burial mounds) grassland and scrub.As well as juniper trees,plant species as well as evidence of an iron-age settlement. The scrub include rock rose, pyramidal and twayblade orchid and growing on the hill contains a colony of juniper, which carline thistle.The reserve is also home to a wide variety dominated the area at the beginning of the 20th century. of birds,including several species of warbler. 4 Ideal for the making of cement,the soft Lower Chalk was Follow the Countryside Code: ? Be safe, plan ahead and follow any signs quarried south of Chinnor from 1908 ? Leave gates and property as you find them to 1999. The deep workings have ? Protect plants and animals and take your litter home become filled with water, which ? Keep dogs under close control appear a bright blue due to particles ? Consider other people held in suspension. The area will in due course be re-developed but it is Further Information: planned that some of it will be Rights of Way & Access, County Hall, Aylesbury, HP20 1UY retained for both conservation and Telephone:01296 382171 recreation. Email: [email protected] or visit our website at www.buckscc.gov.uk/rights_of_way 5 The Icknield Way runs along the chalk escarpment from the Dorset coast to East Anglia and is thought to be the 474000 475000 476000 477000 478000 479000 480000

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Chinnor 0 0 c 4 0 Wood 7 0 0 r 2 i

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H 1 o ll y Town La 6 ne End Crowell Wood

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with thepermission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the controller of Bledlow Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and maylead to prosecution or civil proceedings. © Copyright County Council Licence No. 100021529 2011 Ridge

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