Sunday 4 May 2025 - Maidenhead Thicket to Burchett's Green and Littlewick Green 7.2 miles - Leader: Malcolm Stone

Led a walk from Pinkneys Green, which went to Burchett's Green, then climbed to Keepers Cottage on Ashley Hill. Through the forest, we saw many displays of bluebells. From there we descended in the direction of Knowl Hill. Later, we saw a display of honeysuckle on a large hedge, and then reached Littlewick Green. From there we walked along part of the Knowl Hill Bridleway Circuit, by the side of some very large fields of flowering Rapeseed. After walking through the Little Thicket, we headed for the main Thicket Common and crossed it to reach our start point.

Sunday 1 December 2024 - Stoke Row Circular 6.2 miles - Leader: Malcolm Stone

Originally planned for the previous Sunday, but, cancelled due to the poor weather forecast. Despite that, it was a wet walk today, with light rain almost throughout the walk. We started from the Maharajah's Well which was built in 1863, and dug by hand to a depth of 368 feet, twice the height of Nelson's Column, impressive. We walked through many beautiful beech woods, which were all dripping rain! Early on, we passed nearby Wyfold Court French Gothic Mansion, which was built in the late nineteenth century for a wealthy Lancastrian cotton mill owner. Later, it served as a hospital before recently being converted into eleven prestigious properties within its walls. We passed through Satwell and Highmoor and worked our way back via the undulating countryside.

Wednesday 13 November 2024 – Stokenchurch Circular 6.6 Miles – Leader: Richard Whetton

The weather was glorious, a welcome change from the recent blanket cloud. There was a good turnout of 20 ramblers, we started from the centre of Stokenchurch heading west along the A40 before turning right through a small housing estate and into the fields and countryside beyond, heading north-west crossing fields to High Wood, then Crowellhill Wood, and eventually Crowell Hill.

From Crowell Hill we turned right heading south-east along the road for approximately ½ mile before heading north-east along a path towards Chinnor Hill, upon reaching the road we turned right along the road for a short distance before turning right heading south-east, in this field came across a paraglider attempting to launch off the hill, which was difficult as there was little wind at the time, further down we stopped by a fallen tree for our banana break with great views of the surrounding countryside and being buzzed by the paraglider gaining altitude.

We continued south-east to Town End, where we turned west joining the Chiltern Way, with great views of the countryside as we headed back to Stokenchurch.

Sunday 20 October 2024 - West Wycombe Circular 7.3 Miles - Leader: Malcolm Stone

Despite the awful weather forecast, four hardy souls including myself, turned up for the walk from the top of West Wycombe Hill. There was light rain at the start which never ceased throughout the walk, with the wind picking up later on and there was mud in places. Fortunately, on the recce, I had identified a farm barn as a shelter for the banana break, see attached photo. We descended down the hill and eventually crossed the A4010 and went under the railway bridge to then turn left and walk parallel to the railway line. We then headed up into the woods, and worked our way to Bradenham Manor and the Church. We then crossed into fields and climbed up again to get a hazy view of the valley below. After our break, we continued towards the outrskirts of Saunderton and recrossed the A4010 to shortly start the return journey. It was a long drag to climb up to the West Wycombe Ridge and then a long walk to the finish.

Sunday 9 June 2024 - Pinkneys Green Ramble - 12.2 miles - Leader: Malcolm Stone

The weather was fine, not too warm for Summer. We set off through the woods to reach Stubbings, and continued towards Burchetts Green. From there we headed for Warren Row, then dropped down to Knowl Hill. After crossing the A4, we walked down country lanes, muddy in places, to reach Waltham St Lawrence, where we had lunch at the church. From there we headed for a long crossfield path, through a field of Rapeseed. Thankfully, the path had been widened by the landowner, after I reported it been obstructed by crop falling across the path from both sides. Next, we reached the Knowl Hill Bridleway Circuit, and continued towards the Little Thicket woodland. After the recrossing of the A4, we crossed the main Maidenhead Thicket Common to return to the start point. An excellent all day walk.

5 May 2024 - Millennium Linear Walk Hurley to Boulters Lock - 8.5 miles - Leader: Malcolm Stone

The weather was fine. We met at Boulters Lock Car Park and four of us set off for Hurley Village Car Park. There, another two walkers met us.. We set off up Hurley High Street, and once across the  A4130 Henley Road, we started climbing up the steep Prospect Hill.  Once at the top, we walked along the woodside path where there is excellent views of the countryside. Crossing BCA grounds on a permitted path, we then recrossed the A4130 to reach the Temple Golf Club, where we crossed the fairways to reach more woods. On exiting the woods, we crossed underneath the A404 and climbed gradually, passing Lee Farm, to eventually reach the footpath to Pinkneys Green, where we saw our first Maidenhead Boundary Stone dated 1934. After a break at the National Trust Nature Reserve we began descending along lanes to Furze Platt. After skirting round Furze Platt, we reached low lying land, with floodwaters still evident. Later, we entered Widbrook Common and crossed it to reach the A4094 Cookham Road. There we crossed into Battlemead Common, and further on we reached the Causeway, after which there was a good view of the famous Cliveden National Trust property. We then reached the Thames Path and worked our way back to the Boulters Lock Car Park. 

27 April 2024 - Middle Assendon, Bix and Stonor - 6.2 miles - Leader: Malcolm Stone

The weather was overcast, and there were four of us on this very hilly walk. A popular starting point from the long layby, shown by three separate walking groups starting walks there that morning! The walk climbed up to Bix Common and from there we entered a field path and later headed towards a woodland path which eventually descended to Bix Bottom, where there is the ruin of a 14th century church whose walls have been reinforced, to retain the structure. Nell Gwynne is reputed to have worshipped there. We then climbed up to Maidensgrove and crossed another field to descend through woodland and reach a vantage point that gave a view of Stonor Manor House. The house is famous for having a priest hole used by Catholic clergy to hide in during the Protestant reformation. After a banana break, we descended to Stonor village and eventually reached a steep climb up to the ridge walk, which gave us lovely valley views and took us back to the start point.

10 January 2024 - Watlington Hill and Christmas Common - 6.7 miles - Leader: Malcolm Stone

It was a cold but fine day, with the overnight frost nicely hardening the expected mud. There were twenty two of us on the walk, which shortly after reaching Christmas Common went down a gradual 2Km descent to the outskirts of the Wormsley Estate, We then turned onto the Chiltern Way, and on a steep incline in the forest, encountered fallen trees, some after Storm Henk a few days earlier. After exiting the wood, we passed a large house via a narrow footpath, and then reached open countryside. The weather was perfect for a Winter's day walk, with some sunshine appearing. On entering another forest, we turned onto the Oxfordshire Way. Thereafter, we worked our way to the outskirts of Watlington Park, and as shown in the photo above, we had a panoramic view of the South Oxfordshire countryside. After a steep descent, we then tackled the long climb back up to the National Trust car park, our start point.

Sunday 15 October - Beacon HIll Circular - Joint Walk with Wycombe District Ramblers; Leader: Malcolm Stone - 7 miles

There were eleven of us on the walk. The weather was cold, but, there was a good amount of sunshine. We descended from the Aston Rowant Nature Reserve car park to the Ridgeway, and walked along for just over two miles, until we reached Crowell Hill, the one major climb of the day. After ascending the long climb, we headed for Sprig's Alley and a bit further on, stopped for our banana break. Our photo is at this stop. We then entered Town's Wood and on emerging from the wood we were faced with a large tilled field with no path showing at the moment. We safely negotiated the field and entered some more woods, descending then ascending, to reach the busy A40 main road. Finally, we entered Aston Wood and walked along a very long winding woodland path. On exiting the wood, we had a short road walk back to the Start Point.

Sunday 11 June 2023 - Knowl Hill and Warren Row - 4.1 miles

Nine of us set off, and luckily there was a lot of shade along the route. All the ascent on the walk was at the start, as we climbed up Ashley Hill. We then passed Keepers Cottage and started to descend, eventually reaching some country lanes. We walked along the Chiltern Way for a while, then passed through the village of Warren Row before starting our descent back to Knowl Hill.

Burchett’s and Littlewick Greens Joint Walk with Wycombe District Ramblers  - Sunday 23 April 2023 – 7 miles – Leader: Malcolm Stone

There were seventeen of us who set out on the walk, with five different Ramblers Groups represented, plus a lady trying us out, who came with an existing Ramblers member. The weather was poor in that there was drizzle or rain during most of the walk and there was plenty of mud.

The walk headed towards Burchett’s Green through fields before which we passed the historic Stubbings House and a new Special Needs School. We then headed towards Ashley Hill passing the Keepers Cottage, then descended to Knowl Hill where we had our ‘banana break’. After that we headed towards the village of Littlewick Green, where Ivor Novello the Welsh composer and actor lived for the last years of his life. His first big hit in 1914 was the song ‘Keep the Home Fires Burning’. We then walked through the Little Thicket before crossing the A4 and then Pinkneys Green Common.

Henley and Rotherfield Greys – Joint Walk East Berkshire and Wycombe District Ramblers - Sunday 12 March 2023- 6.5 miles – Leader: Malcolm Stone

There were eight of us on the walk, including two individual persons who were trying us out. The weather was fine, but, overcast, and remained so until near the end of the walk when sunshine suddenly appeared. We had our ‘banana break’ in Gilsmithers Wood, just before we reached Binfield Heath, where we encountered a flooded section of a road which was passable through the centre of the road. After going through another wood we reached Harpsden Golf Club where strangely, we did not see one golfer on the course, very unusual. The steep descent through the grounds was matched by a short sharp ascent up Drawback Hill soon afterwards.

Thereafter, we gradually descended back down towards to our start point Greys Road, Henley car park, arriving with five minutes to spare before our parking tickets expired!