Beyond the Young Offenders Institution, the path continued just inside Hazel Wood. It descended into a small valley, where I turned left onto a bridleway that takes the southern extension of the Chiltern Way westwards from Park Corner (two weeks ago I had reached this junction from the opposite direction - see the Watlington Hill and Russell's Water walk I did on 2nd April). I stopped somewhere along the bridleway to sit on a log and eat my packed lunch. The bridleway progressed slowly down the small valley with trees either side, until after about half a mile the Ridgeway national trail crossed the bridleway.
The path continuing through Hazel Wood
The bridleway taking the Chiltern Way through Hazel Wood
Further along the bridleway
Further along the bridleway
I turned right onto the Ridgeway, following it across a large arable field and then along a short track that took me to Ewelme Park (a grand house with an adjoining farm complex). Here I left the Ridgeway, turning left by a white cottage on the left onto a bridleway that headed slowly downhill towards the Oxfordshire Plain (I'd only walked this bridleway once before, in the opposite direction - see the Watlington Hill, Swyncombe, Russell's Water walk I did at the end of March 2010). On a clear day there would have been extensive views ahead, but they were rather limited on what was now a grey and cloudy afternoon.
The Ridgeway, heading north towards Ewelme Park
The Ridgeway, approaching Ewelme Park
The bridleway going northwest from Ewelme Park, looking towards the Oxfordshire Plain
The bridleway going northwest from Ewelme Park
The bridleway going northwest from Ewelme Park
After about a mile, I came to a track crossroads where I turned right (joining the route of Swan's Way). A wide track led past arable fields, where I spotted my first Field Pansies of the year, and ahead I could see the slopes of Swyncombe Downs. Further on, I followed a hedge-side path to reach a lane, where I turned right and soon reached the small car park at the foot of the western end of Swyncombe Downs. I turned left off the lane here, and almost immediately left again - I was then briefly on the Chiltern Way again as I followed a public byway along a farm track northwest from the car park, but beyond a track crossroads I was entering new territory again.
The bridleway taking Swan's Way north towards Swyncombe Downs
Swan's Way, approaching the foot of Swyncombe Downs
The public byway heading northwest from the foot of Swyncombe Downs
Looking back along the public byway
The track gradually turned to the west, and ahead of me I could see Didcot Power Station and the twin hills of Wittenham Clumps on the hazy skyline. After about two-thirds of a mile the track ended, a footpath continuing ahead with a field of pigs on my right. After maybe another third of a mile, I took a footpath going half-left across a large arable field, carrying on to enter Ewelme close to the church. Here I turned left to return to the car park where I'd started.
The public byway continuing westwards - Didcot Power Station and Wittenham Clumps are on the horizon
The public byway continuing westwards
The footpath back to Ewelme
This was an enjoyable walk, mainly because much of it was new to me. I had long wanted to try the long public byway from Woodhouse Farm, and the section to and through Mongewell Woods proved to be very good. Thereafter it was often a bit more like a lane, but it was still worth doing and I'm sure I'll incorporate parts of it into other walks in the future. The paths going north from English Farm weren't anything special, but I'd be happy to walk them again. I'd also like to walk the bridleway going west from Ewelme Park again (I always prefer paths that go downhill!), on a nice sunny day when the views would be at their best.
To see this walk done in the opposite direction (with one slight variation) on 7/1/12, click here - Circular walk from Ewelme.