Pete's Walks - Old Amersham and Seer Green (page 5 of 5)
Beyond Bottom House Lane, the path continued eastwards, initially beside a fence on the left. It then went diagonally left across a large green field, with a couple of small ups and downs in it, then crossed a meadow to a gate. Here I left the Chiltern Way (but rejoined the route of that Old Amersham and Beaconsfield walk I did in January 2011), turning left and following a long farm track that gradually descended north-westwards into a valley where I came to Upper Bottom House Farm, spread on either side of Bottom House Lane (this was the third time today that I crossed this lane).
The Chiltern Way continuing south-eastwards just after Bottom House Farm Lane
Looking back towards Coleshill
The Chiltern Way just east of Welpley's Wood
Near the start of the track going north to Upper Bottom House Farm
Looking north to the Misbourne Valley, from just south of Upper Bottom House Farm
Beyond the farm a path continued north-westwards, now going uphill through another green arable field, initially by a row of trees and then turning slightly left at a waymark in the middle of the field. On reaching a tall hedgerow I had to go a few yards right to reach a gate or stile. The path continued across another field - the OS map shows the path heading for the far corner of Day's Wood, but the path on the ground seems to go to the near corner and then turns left to follow the edge of the wood. A little further on, the path switched to the right of a hedgerow. On my right there was a huge stubble field that gradually fell away into the Misbourne - I'd walked along the other side of this field earlier, and yes, it still stank of freshly spread manure! The views over the Misbourne Valley did make up for the unpleasant odour, however. When the hedgerow turned left towards a farm, the path continued across the field to the end of another hedgerow, then crossed a green field of winter corn to reach Rodger's Wood.
Looking back over Upper Bottom House Farm
The path beside Day's Wood
The path going northwest from Day's Wood towards Rodger's Wood
The path approaching Rodger's Wood
The path started to descend as it then went through a corner of Rodger's Wood. It continued to gradually descend through a field of some root crop and then an empty pasture or meadow, all the while with nice views ahead into the Misbourne Valley around Old Amersham. In the valley bottom I turned left, and followed a track that soon passed under the A413 and took me across a field and back into Old Amersham. I went left along the main road and then turned right into the churchyard, passing to the right of the impressive church. Just before reaching the river Misbourne, I turned right and soon came back to the car park where I'd started (I'd just gone past the entrance to the car park as I walked along the main road, so I could have shortened the walk by a few hundred yards by omitting the visit to see the church).
The path through Rodger's Wood
The path beyond Rodger's Wood, looking ahead towards Old Amersham
From the same spot, looking east across the Misbourne Valley
The path continuing from Rodger's Wood towards Old Amersham
Approaching the A413 bridge
Market Hall, Old Amersham
Old Amersham church
I really enjoyed this walk, it had been a surprisingly long time since I'd walked in this area. Apart from the last couple of miles into Old Amersham (a very nice path that I'm always happy to walk) and a short section around Bottom Wood, I don't think I'd walked any of these paths for at least three years. The section of the Chiltern Way was particularly nice to re-visit, and the path along the Misbourne Valley was nice, if undemanding. The new section of paths northwest of Seer Green were interesting, especially the bridleway north from near Wood Cottage - I may well incorporate that into other walks in the future.