A circular walk around Ibstone in Buckinghamshire.

The Walk Itself. Take the narrow lane (Holland Ridge Lane) which is signposted to Stonor - this initially passes some houses and then becomes a sunken track. The track is really nice to walk along - moss sided banks, lots of bluebells and other wild flowers plus plenty of birds flying around. Follow the lane until just before Holland Ridge Farm - take a signed path on the left (The Oxfordshire Way) - go along and then half left down the field to enter Fire Wood.

The woods and trees are really beautiful to walk through at any time and this area also has millions of bluebells on show in The Spring. At the path junction go right now on a track - this track goes through the woods then swings round to eventually pass Turville Park Farm. Stay on what is now a green track with fields on the right and the trees and hedgerow on the left - look for a gap in the hedgerow and continue on the path - now with the hedging on the right of course. When you reach a cross track by a barn go left steeply up hill - you reach some trees but the path continues climbing now with a thin line of trees either side. When you reach a metal kissing gate on the left go through here into a field - cross the fields plus two more fields to reach the lawns of a fairly large house on the left.

The path goes to the left edge of the lawn and then through a metal gate and ends up shortly on a narrow road opposite a bus shelter (Turville Heath). Go right on the road and almost immediately go left at the junction (signposted Turville) and follow this for a short distance - look for a signed footpath on the left - follow this along to reach Turville Heath. Bear left across the common and find a path leaving between houses - this very stoney and sunken path goes quite steeply down through woods - then flattens a little to eventually reach Hollow Way Lane. Cross this sunken lane, go up the bank and turn right - follow this unmarked path through the woods. Cross a private road and then bearing slightly left keep to the main path - ignore a path on the left and at the next junction take the left hand path (no.14).

This crosses a concrete road and arrives at a stile at a field edge - cross the stile and head steeply up to another stile. Continue on up heading along the side of the valley - this is always a really good spot for seeing red kites - they fly in very low and there are lots of them. The path ends at a stile on the right - cross this into woods - now another short but really steep climb takes further into the woods - the path bears left but ahead of you is Ibstone Church - this pretty church is surrounded by lots of trees and there are always plenty of wild flowers around in the Spring. There is a seat by the church and we have many a time picked this beautiful spot for our lunch break.

From the church return to the path - turn right and follow this path (still no.14) as it undulates through woodland - this is another good area for bluebells when in bloom. The path eventually drops down and at the bottom you will find a steep path leaving on the left - once up the top (and with usually aching legs due to it's steepness) you arrive at a driveway and with a narrow road just in front of you. Turn right along the narrow road and then shortly go left on a stoney track passing several houses and then crossing over onto Ibstone Common. Keep on the path staying on the left side of the Common - at the far end of the Common the path goes back into woods - here go left and follow the track - which soon turns into a sunken path. Heading steeply down hill look out for a path on the left - take this path which goes very steeply on down through the woods to reach a field edge. Continue around the field on the path to eventually reach a narrow track. Cross the track into a field, cross this to reach a private road - go ahead into the next field and at the far side reach another small road. Turn right and very shortly turn left along a grassy track.

At the next track junction stay right and pass a decorative urn - continue on this wide grassy path (SH4) which eventually enters woodland and becomes more of a wide path. Follow this steadily climbing path (still SH4) until you get to the top of the woods. Ignore the first path leaving on the left - continue round to the right to reach another path going left (SH4 continues on). Take this left hand path - this location is an absolute mass of bluebells. The path arrives at a stoney track - turn left and continue on passing a house on the left - turn right at a junction and follow the grassy path pack to a road. Turn left and you are back at your start point.