Pete's Walks- Ewelme and Swyncombe (page 2 of 3)
Near the end of Swynburn Downs, the path forked and I went right, the path heading uphill through trees to reach a section of the Ridgeway national trail. I turned right and went over the wooded end of Swyncombe Downs, then descended into a steep-sided valley with a large green field on my left before climbing up the opposite slope to reach a lane junction at Swyncombe. I took the lane starting ahead of me, and soon reached the ancient church of St Botolph's.
The same path after it turns to join the Ridgeway and go over the eastern end of Swyncombe Downs
The Ridgeway, as it crosses Swyncombe Downs
The Ridgeway heading towards Swyncombe
The valley between Swyncombe Downs and Swyncombe
Looking right from near Swyncombe, out to the Oxfordshire Plain<
Looking back along the Ridgeway, from near Swyncombe
The short lane to Swyncombe church
St Botolph's church, Swyncombe
Leaving the Ridgeway, I took a path through the churchyard. Through the gate on the far side, the path turned left, crossed a drive and then entered the park land surrounding Swyncombe House. The path now rose gently uphill to reach Church Wood. Almost immediately on entering the wood I turned right at a path junction, the new path climbing at an easy angle up the wooded slope. Near the top it met another path, where I turned right again. Almost immediately there was a gap between Church Wood and Haycroft Wood, with a nice view to the right, over Swyncombe and out to the Oxfordshire Plain. The path soon crossed a drive going to Swyncombe House, then continued on through the wood.
The footpath after going through the churchyard
The footpath through the park around Swyncombe House, rising to Church Wood
The path after I turned right after entering Church Wood
Approaching the end of the same path (where I turned right again)
View out over Swyncombe, from the small gap between Church Wood and Haycroft Wood
The path in Haycroft Wood
The path in Haycroft Wood
The path then entered more of the park land around Swyncombe House, with the trees of Straights Plantation over a fence on my left. As always this was a very pleasant section to walk, with fine views over Swyncombe to Swyncombe Downs and out to the Oxfordshire Plain.
The path continuing through the park land above Swyncombe House
Looking right, over Swyncombe to Swyncombe Downs
The path through the park land above Swyncombe House
The path through the park land above Swyncombe House