A Hilly 12km Walk visiting Radnage in Oxfordshire.

Starting off on the edge of Bledlow Ridge the walk heads out to visit Radnage Church then returns back above Chinnor still managing to have a few climbs on the way.

This walk starts off at a lay bye where The Ridgeway Path crosses Wigans Lane - there is also a bit more parking space a little further along by a left hand bend. Wigans Lane can be found by turning off from Chinnor Road in Bledlow Ridge, follow the road down passing a recycling centre and then Shimmels Farm (called Old Farm on googlemaps) which is on a sharp right hand bend. The road goes up hill, flattens and reaches the lay bye on the left - (this is roughly post code HP14 4BH). Taking a map with you for this walk is very useful - most of the walk is on map Ordnance Survey Explorer no171 however a tiny bit is on no181.

Lodge Hill path, The Chiltern Hills, England.

Lodge Hill Ridgeway, The Chiltern Hills, England.

Routs Green path, The Chiltern Hills, England.

Path to Radnage, The Chiltern Hills, England.

From the lay bye cross the road and through the metal gate along The Ridgeway Path heading towards Lodge Hill (picture above) - in The Spring this is a beautiful walking area with loads of shrubs and trees. The way crosses two fields and reaches a junction - turn right along a fenced path and then soon climbing up Lodge Hill. This is quite a steep climb and once up to the top takes you along a ridge with beautiful views. The path eventually turns sharp left back down the ridge to reach a gate - here turn right i.e. leave The Ridgeway. This is now a wide path which skirts the hill - at a field edge continue straight ahead finally climbing steeply up to Routs Green. Follow the lane and look out for a path on the left - this starts as a narrow enclosed path which opens out as it dips down and up a field and continues to reach Chapel Lane. Go straight across onto another narrow fenced path which can be extremely overgrown in the Spring. Stay ahead on this path to reach a driveway and houses - follow the driveway to then reach Chinnor Road in Bledlow Ridge.

Toadstool tree, The Chiltern Hills, England.

Radnage Church St Marys, The Chiltern Hills, England.

Go across Chinnor Road and take another fenced path which this time takes you down. At the wood's edge take the path on the right, go through the woods and still going down eventually into a more open area to reach a gate and a junction. Keep ahead crossing several fields to a gate which goes into Radnage Church's graveyard.

St Mary's Church at Radnage is a good stopping place for lunch since there are several bench seats available. Often as not the Church is open and is well worth a quick snoop round - they have recently taken some of the lime-wash off the interior walls and there are some interesting old frescoes and texts to be seen.
From the Church go through the main gate, cross the road and take the footpath opposite which this crosses a field to reach Springs Holly Lane where you turn right. Follow this narrow lane - after passing several houses and as the lane turns sharp left continue straight ahead on a lane marked to Dawes Hill Vineyard. Where this lane turns right towards to the Vineyard keep straight ahead on a narrow bridleway - this high-hedged "path" is beautiful to walk along as it gradually climbs up the valley.

Daws Hill Lane, The Chiltern Hills, England.

path in woods, The Chiltern Hills, England.

path junction, The Chiltern Hills, England.

Hedgerley Woods, The Chiltern Hills, England.

On reaching a wood edge take the right-hand up through Hedgerley Woods (Path marked as CH32). Yet another steep climb through more beautiful woodlands, the path eventually reaches Chinnor Road once again. Sadly there is now a short section along the road - although there is a widish grass verge care is needed because some idiots do drive quickly along it. So turn left along Chinnor Road for about 750 yards to where the road turns very sharply left. Take the small road on the right (Hill Top Lane) and follow this until reaching a small parking area on the edge of Chinnor Hill.

Chinnor Hill path, The Chiltern Hills, England.

View of Chinnor, The Chiltern Hills, England.

Wain Hill path, The Chiltern Hills, England.

Ridgeway Junction, The Chiltern Hills, England.

The path continues almost straight ahead by a notice board - go through the woods to reach the open area of Chinnor Hill - again there are lots of good views this time looking down to Chinnor and the surrounding area. You may also get to see a steam train chugging along way below - usually on weekends and holidays. Having crossed the hill go through a gate and turn right into the woods (Wain Hill) - there is a clear path through the woods which is not shown on the map.

Lodge Hill, The Chiltern Hills, England.

The Ridgeway, The Chiltern Hills, England.

Follow this wide path through lovely trees as it stays in the same direction and more or less follows a ramshackle wire fence on the right before eventually turning into a narrow sunken path which makes it's way down through the woods to a track junction. Now back on The Ridgeway, turn right and almost immediately turn right again into a huge field this is all clearly marked with The Ridgeway's Acorn sign. Follow the grassy path which manages to descend before heading back up for a while. Look out for where The Ridgeway leaves the field through a hedge on the left after which it turns right and follows a hedgerow to quite soon reach the start point at the lay bye.