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Home , Cow Roast, Icknield Way, The Ridgeway

Linear A 23 mile route through the Chilterns for walkers, cyclists and horseriders Walk

Features of Interest The Icknield way is thought to be the oldest track in Britain, dating from Neolithic times (4000-2000BC). It was the trade route of the , an early British tribe, linking the Coast to the downlands of south-central . 1 The lckneild way connects with the Swans Way, a 65 mile bridle route running from Goring on Thames in to Salcey forest in Northamptonshire. Also crossing the Ickneild Way at this point is the Bledlow Circular Ride. This is a 10 mile ride through Bledlow, Radnage and . 2 National Trail runs for 85 miles, from Beacon to in . The Icknield Way Rider's Route is a 23 mile ride crossing the Chilterns from Bledlow to , following as close as possible to the Ridgeway where quiet roads and bridleways allow. 3 Whiteleaf Cross is of ancient origin although the exact date of this chalk figure is unknown. Adjacent to the path is a Neolithic long barrow, dating back to 2000 B.C. From the top of Whiteleaf Hill there are extensive views across the Vale of . 4 , the country residence of the Prime Minister, can be seen at the end of the tree-lined drive. The house was built in the 16th Century and used to imprison Lady Mary Keys, a great Grand daughter of Henry VII and sister to Lady Jane Grey. Lady Mary was held by Elizabeth I to prevent her having any claim for the throne. Chequers was given to the nation in 1971. 5 Great and Little Hampden parish was part of the Hampden family estate from Saxon times. In 1641 John Hampden, the MP for , refused to pay an unpopular ship tax on some of the land. This led to an unsuccessful attempt at his arrest and in turn helped to ignite the English Civil War. During the war he was one of the leaders of the Parliamentary Army, until he died from wounds sustained in the Battle of Chalgrove. 6 Hale Lane is an old drovers' road. The drovers drove their livestock using the Icknield Way tracks, as they were below the Chiltern escarpment and so drier. 7 The obelisk in the woods that rises above Park is known locally as Nell Gwyn's Monument. It is thought to have been designed by the architect James Gibbs along with the classical Summer House near by. 8 This area was once part of the Duke of Bridgewater's estate. A monument to the Duke, who was an 18th century pioneer in England's canal building, can be seen amongst the trees. , at the height of 230m (760ft) is topped by the remains of an Iron Age fort, last inhabited during the eighth century Follow the Countryside Code: BC. There are ?Be safe, plan ahead and follow any signs also round bar- ?Leave gates and property as you find them row burial ?Protect plants and animals and take your litter home mounds here and ?Keep dogs under close control as with the ?Consider other people Whiteleaf long Further Information: barrow, these are Rights of Way & Access, County Hall, Aylesbury, HP20 1UY thought to date Telephone: 01296 382171 back to 2000 B.C. Email: [email protected] Ivinghoe Beacon is the most eastern end of the or visit our website at www.buckscc.gov.uk/rights_of_way Ridgeway trail. Icknield Way

?Directions ?Starting at Hempton Wainhill, walk eastward on Upper Icknield Way (Byway) to the junction with Bledlow Ridge Road. Cross the road and continue onto Upper Icknield Way on metalled road. Cross Lee Road and continue going under railway then over another railway. Turn left at junction with Shootacre Lane. ?At next junction before the railway bridge, turn right onto Picts Lane. Continue on the lane and merge into Station Road. Turn right onto Poppy Road (B4444). Come out to Wycombe Road, turn right towards Wycombe and cross the road. At the Byway signpost, turn left onto Upper Icknield Way. ?Continue on stone surfaced track, crossing 2 roads towards Whiteleaf. At Whiteleaf continue straight ahead then turn right into bridleway by Thorns Close, between Greensleeves and Marrons. ?Turn right at Reservoir onto footpath then turn left onto Bridleway after 30 metres. Walk southwards, passing Whiteleaf Cross until the junction with bridleway at waymark and turn left. Continue on bridleway until next bridleway junction and turn left onto the path. ?At meeting with footpath, turn right and then after 20 metres, turn left north eastwards onto bridleway. Carry on the bridleway until junction with the road. Walk along the road for 45 metres and re-enter bridleway on opposite side of the road. Walk Eastwards and after the kink, take left hand side bridleway to walk up the hill. ?When bridleway meets the road, cross the road and walk up on the set aside verge. Continue along the verge and enter the bridleway. Walk around the field with hedge separating the road and bridleway. ?At Lee Cottage, go up the hill into Goodmerhill Wood and turn right at first junction with the bridleway. Walk south eastwards following the waymarks. When the track changes into tarmac road, look for left turn into woodland track, signposted as bridleway. ?Carry on the bridleway following the waymark towards Dumsmore. Walk through village of Dumsmore and rejoin bridleway. At fork, take right hand side bridleway heading towards Wendover. At the tarmac road by Smalldene Farm, turn left. Continue on tarmac road passing roundabout of A413 on right hand side. Walk bridleway parallel to A413 and cross using the bridge. Turn right into South Street then turn left again onto chapel Lane. At end of the lane, turn right onto Hale Road. At next junction turn left onto Hale Lane. ?At the Hale, veer onto bridleway through garden off Hale Farm Cottage instead of track. At end of the bridleway, turn left onto the track and walk northward for 790 metres then take right at bridleway as signposted. ?Walk along the bridleway then cross road and take another bridleway on right hand side and continue to end. At end of the bridleway, cross junction and continue straight ahead onto Gadmore Lane. At next junction, turn left onto Marlin Hill then veer right onto bridleway as signposted into Tring Park. ?At the major junction in the park, turn right and come out onto Fox Road in village of Widdington. Walk down Fox Road which changes its name to Vicarage Road. At the junction by the War memorial, turn right onto Cheseham Road. At the fork junction, take left onto Harvest Barn then carry on down and at the next fork junction, take left to Wiggington Bottom. ?At end of Wiggington Bottom, turn left on junction onto Crawley's Lane. Carry on the road and go under A41. After the underpass, take second track right as entering the gate to Tinkers Lodge. ?Walk towards Cow Roast, at the junction, turn right for 40 metres then turn left. Walk on the road, parallel to canal and at next junction turn left and go over the railway bridge. Turn right at Norcott Court and take left at end of the road. Road changes to track enters field. ?Carry on the track following the waymark through fields and woods. At end of the Common, path changes to a natural surface track. Turn right and walk up the hill. Continue on the track to Bridgewater Monument. Following the cycle way sign, walk northwards into wood behind the Monument. ?Walk through the wood and path will eventually comes out into the field and then onto farm track. Continue the track and walk through the stable. At Stocks Road, turn right towards Ivinghoe. Walk ends by the car park near Ivignhoe Beacon. The Holloway Lower Cadsden Monks Risborough

Thorns Lane Whiteleaf

477000 478000 479000 480000 481000 482000 Mound Whiteleaf Peters LaneCross Bus Stops Princes 204000 The Hanggings Riding Route Risborough Footpath 3 Open Access P Chilterns AONB Promoted Route The Ridgeway Swans Way Green Hailey B4444

Kop Hill Road 203000 Henton 0 0.250.5 km Station Road Brimmers Road Poppy Road Upper Icknield Way Station Ridgeway B4009

Picts Lane

Bledlow

Shootacre Lane A4010 202000

Lower Icknield Way Bledlow Ridge Road Oddley Lane

Woodway Bledlow Road TheIcknield Way Route Pink Road

1 Wycombe Road

Upper Icknield Way 201000 Loosley Row Woodway Bledlow Cross

2 Lee Road Foundry Lane

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with thepermission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the controller of 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

P Bledlow Great Wood 477000 478000 479000 480000 481000 482000

Little Lane

Little Lane Kimblewick Road

Ellesborough

482000 483000 484000 485000 486000 Smokey Coombe Row Ellesborough Road Hill Cymbleine's Castle Bus Stops Moat Beacon Riding Route Hill P Footpath Open AccessGreat Chilterns AONB

Kimble 206000 Promoted Route B4009 The Ridgeway Great Kimble P Warren Chequers

Missenden Road

0 0.250.5 km A4010 Dumsmore

Aylesbury Road 4 Askett

Fort 205000

Pulpit Hill

A4010 Cadsdean Road

The Holloway Lower Buckmoorend Cadsden P Monks Risborough Missenden Road Cadsdean Road Thorns Lane P Whiteleaf

Mound Whiteleaf TheIcknield Way Route Peters LaneCross

5 204000 Princes The Hanggings Risborough Little Hampden 3 P

Cobblershill Lane

Green Hailey Peters Lane

This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with thepermission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the controller of Kop Hill Road 203000 Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and maylead to prosecution or civil proceedings. © Copyright Buckinghamshire County Council Licence No. 100021529 2011

Brimmers Road Upper Icknield Way 482000 483000 484000 485000 486000

Grim's Ditch

Ridgeway Halton

Weston Turville Marlin Lane Reservoir 487000 488000Halton Camp 489000 490000 491000 Church Lane

Hastoe B4009 Gadmore Lane Bus Stops

Riding Route P 209000

Footpath Shire Lane Open Access Chilterns AONB Promoted Route Wendover Wood The Ridgeway A4011

P

Wendover The Crong

A413 0 0.250.5 km

Wendover 208000 Bypass

Lanes End Wendover Icknield Way The Hale Grim's Ditch Bottom Road 6 St Leonards Buckland Common

Hogtrough Lane 207000

TheIcknield Way Route A413

Arrewig Lane 206000

Kingsash

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

King's Lane 487000 488000 489000 490000 491000 Dumsmore

London Road 492000 493000 494000 495000 496000

Bus Stops Tring Riding Route Footpath

Open Access

Chilterns AONB 211000 Promoted Route

The Ridgeway Obelisk 7 Norcott Hill

A41

0 0.250.5 km Vicarage Road Hemp Lane Tring Park Cow Roast

Wiggington A4251 210000

Tinker's Lodge Cow Roast

Marlin Lane Chehsham Road Wigginton Crawley's Way Bottom Church Lane

Hastoe Gadmore Lane

TheIcknield Way Route 209000

Shire Lane 208000 This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with thepermission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and maylead to prosecution or civil proceedings. © Copyright Buckinghamshire County Council Licence No. 100021529 2011

492000 493000 494000 495000 496000

Bottom Road St Leonards The Coombe

The Icknield Way Route

215000 Bus Stops 215000 Riding Route Stocks Road Footpath Open Access Chilterns AONB Promoted Route The Ridgeway 214000 214000

0 0.3750.75 km

Bridgewater Monument 213000 213000 8

Tring Rail Station Aldbury Common Aldbury 212000 212000

Grand Union Canal 211000 211000

Norcott Hill

A41

2 Hemp Lane Cow Roast 6 A4251

210000 This map is reproduced from Ordnance Survey material with thepermission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the controller of 210000 Her Majesty's Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and maylead to prosecution or civil proceedings. © Copyright Buckinghamshire County Council Licence No. 100021529 2011 Tinker's Lodge

495000 496000 497000 498000

Wigginton Crawley's Way Bottom