Pete's Walks - Circular walk from Ewelme (page 3 of 4)
When the wood ended, the public byway called English Lane continued between a fence and tall hedge on my right. The field on my left sloped uphill, to where I'd been walking minutes earlier just after passing Oakingham House - indeed, I saw two people on a connecting footpath that I could have used to shorten the walk by almost a mile. The byway followed the valley bottom, soon with hedges either side - after a while I passed a section of new-laid hedge on the right.
English Lane
English Lane
Newly laid hedge along English Lane
I then turned very sharp right at English Farm (no footpath signs were visible here) a track curving round the outside of the farm buildings and heading north down into a small valley. I turned right (again no sign) and passed a ruined building on my left. I was then pleased to see a footpath waymark on a stile - I could have forked left here and crossed a long pasture diagonally, but instead went round two sides of a long triangle by going straight on, then turning left behind the next hedgerow. It was then a long way along the hedge, in a large grassy field.
The track by English Farm
Ruined building near English Farm (Update 11/02/17: the ruins are now hidden by undergrowth)
The path from English Farm - a path goes diagonally across the long and large field on the left, but I went straight on then turned left behind the hedgerow
Looking back from the start of the path beside the hedgerow - the ruined building is in the trees in the centre of the shot
The footpath along the hedgerow, heading north towards Hayden Farm
At the end of the field I went straight on at a junction where several paths or bridleways met. I was now on a track called Hayden Lane, and soon passed Hayden Farm. I then crossed the A4130 main road again, continuing on a footpath that was on a long strip of grass between two ploughed fields - I was pleased to see and hear a Lapwing here.
Hayden Lane and Hayden Farm
The path going north-east to Huntercombe End Lane
After about half a mile I came to Huntercombe End Lane, where I turned left. I passed a couple of houses and then took a path on the right that entered Park Wood (I think this is in the parish of Nuffield), very soon keeping right at a fork in the path. This was a delightful beech wood with the best display of Bluebells I'd seen so far this year. I then turned right at the next path junction, following a tall hedgerow on my left behind which lay a Young Offenders Institution, according to the map.
Huntercombe End Lane
Path through Park Wood, Nuffield
Bluebells in Park Wood, Nuffield
The path past the Young Offenders Institution