Pete's Walks - Cowleaze Wood and Turville Heath (page 1 of 2)
I took the path going north from Turville Heath, through a wood (Idlecomb Wood, I think) and on to Holloway Lane (which I walked along recently on another exceptionally fine Chiltern Walk, Watlington Hill, Cadmore End, Turville). I continued straight on across the lane, downhill through another pasture with another herd of young bullocks - they approached me as I neared the stile on the far side, but I didn't hang around to meet them (I think they were just inquisitive again). The path then led uphill across a ploughed field and across a short section of scrubby bank (where I saw two or three Common Blue butterflies - Speckled Wood and Orange Tip were the only other species I noticed today). The path then joined a bridleway, continuing gradually uphill through Beech and Holly to reach the end of a lane that led into Ibstone.
The bridleway going north from Turville Heath
The path across the Wormsley Valley, heading for Ibstone - you can see the path continuing as a narrow chalk strip just before it reaches the bridleway
The bridleway to Ibstone
Ibstone Common
As usual on this route, I had my packed lunch sat on a bench beside the cricket pitch in Ibstone. I then continued across Ibstone Common, passing the Millennium Stone, and took the bridleway down through Commonhill Wood into the Wormsley Valley. I continued along the bridleway northwards, soon joining a drive to the grand house over to my left. By a small cluster of cottages I left the drive, following the bridleway as it went fairly gently uphill towards Langleygreen Plantation. Here I saw some Bugle growing beside the path.
The path back down from Ibstone into the Wormsley Valley
The Wormsley Valley
Farm track through the Wormsley valley
The drive through the Wormsley Valley
The path through Langleygreen plantation
The path through Langleygreen plantation
At a path crossroads I turned left, going downhill through the trees and across a meadow before passing Lower Vicar's Farm (where I saw a False Oxlip). There was then a long steady plod uphill across a huge empty pasture to reach Cowleaze Wood. There were several family groups and other visitors enjoying the Bluebell-filled wood as I followed the path through the trees for about half a mile to return to the car park.
The path down from the Langleygreen plantation
Looking across Lower Vicar's Farm - my route re-enters Cowleaze Wood at the top of the hill on the right
The path up to Cowleaze Wood
Looking back over to Langleygreen Plantation
The path through Cowleaze Wood
The path through Cowleaze Wood
The Oxfordshire Plain from the car park
As ever this was a brilliant walk, with lots of woodland walking interspersed with field paths and some great views along the way. It was a really warm day (about 24C I think) with perfect blue skies, and lots of colourful wildflowers to brighten up the footpaths, bridleways and hedgerows. If somebody wanted to just do one walk in the Chiltern Hills, this is the route I'd recommend.