Pete's Walks - Ibstone, Skirmett and Wheeler End (page 3 of 5)
The bridleway ran gently uphill between old hedgerows, with occasional views right towards Arizona Farm in the Hambleden Valley. When the bridleway reached Hatchet Wood, I left it and took another path that was new to me, forking half-left through the wood, initially with a fence on my left. The path was fairly level and passed a stand of Yew Trees. At some point the wood became Hill's Wood as it curved from east to north, and I passed an area of conifers just before I left the wood.
The bridleway going southeast from Skirmett (to St Katherine's Convent, Parmoor)
The bridleway going southeast from Skirmett (to St Katherine's Convent, Parmoor)
Start of the footpath through Hatchet Wood
The footpath through Hatchet Wood
The footpath through Hatchet Wood
The footpath through Hatchet Wood
The footpath reaching the northern edge of Hill's Wood
The path then continued northwards, rising slowly along a headland between two grassy fields. It became quite windy and rather chilly here. There were fine views westwards (left) back over the Hambleden Valley (where Skirmett was hidden from view) to Combe Wood. I crossed a lane (the same one I'd initially followed out of Skirmett) and carried on northwards, between a fence and a hedgerow on my right, with more fine views to my left - I could see a long way across the wooded slopes of a valley to Turville Court where I'd been earlier. I considered stopping for lunch on a bench near the end of this path (it was now about 12.40pm), but decided to carry on a bit longer. The path turned right through a gate and went through a garden to reach a lane in Little Frieth.
The footpath going north from Hill's Wood
Looking west, back over the Hambleden Valley to Combe Wood
The footpath going north from Hill's Wood, approaching the lane from Frieth to Skirmett
The footpath from the lane to Little Frieth
Another view west (Turville Court is just right of the small wood on the far hillside)
I turned left for a few yards, then when the lane turned right I took a path between fences going half-right - I'd walked this path for the first time just three weeks ago on a walk Southeast from Cadmore End. The path soon took me to Mousells Wood, and after a few yards I turned right at a path junction - I walked this path on one of my exploratory walks for my Chiltern Chain Walk but I don't think I've mentioned it on this web site before. The path ran through an area of mainly young and small trees. I reached a path junction at the southeast corner of the wood, where there was a nice view ahead over the next section of the walk, which was again new to me.
The path from Little Frieth to Mousells Wood
Path going east through Mousells Wood
Path going east through Mousells Wood
The path continuing northeast from Mousells Wood (the route continues along the edge of the wood on the left)