Checkendon, 664830, 11 miles, Explorer 171, (Checkendon, Well Place, Hailey, (Crowmarsh), Nuffield, Howberrywood, Stoke Row, Checkendon)

Park in front of church, follow footpath sign to left of church along drive. At gates turn right. Following the main path ignore footpaths to right and left. Follow path around to right, cross stile, over the road to stile opposite and across field to the nearest corner of the wood.  Over stile into wood (Braziers Common) and follow the arrows. Bear left at footpath junction, at footpath crossroads go ahead downhill. At road turn left then right to follow enclosed footpath passed farm. Over stile into wood ( Berins Hill), following arrows, fork right at footpath junction. At wood edge over stile follow path to left of shed, over stile to cross right hand corner of field to gap in hedge ( ignore track at right hand corner of field). At road left and immediately left onto footpath. Keeping the field boundary on your immediate left cross two fields, at footpath junction bear right down to a road. At road turn right then left at next bridleway sign (Warren Farm). Follow this track uphill to a ‘T’ junction, turn left. Pass pub on right (King William) (Hailey). At footpath sign turn right and follow track. Keep forward passed barns, track narrows to path , go downhill across field to enter Wicks Wood, ignore tracks to left and right.

At track in farm yard (Woodhouse Farm) turn right and follow the track around the wood. Just before buildings fork left at waymark. Follow track between fields and enter Mongewell Wood. Climb up through the wood to exit near large house on left (Upper Cottages), continue forward to track crossroads, turn left. At next building Upper House Farm, follow way marked route around farm. Go forward through small wood, ignoring footpath to right. The Ridgeway joins from left, continue forward up hill to Nuffield church on right. Turn right at road and continue along it to a ‘T’ junction. Cross diagonally left to follow footpath passed Elderberry cottage on right. Forward ignore footpath to left, after about ¾ mile, on joining track bear right then left (signed Howberrywood Farm). After a further ¾ mile pass farm, ignore footpath to right and road and footpath to left, follow path through Notts Wood to join track/road at Newnhamhill Farm. At ‘T’ junction follow waymarks to cross two roads very close together. Take lefthand track to go up through Bush Wood. As you approach a road ahead bear left near tree with a whit spot, proceed onwards to pass left of a garden shed. You will now be entering a sports field - follow right hand hedge to road and enter enclosed footpath.

At main road in Stoke Row turn right then left at signpost for Kingswood Common. In about ¼ mile the road swings left here take the footpath on right. At next waymark turn left, at track turn right. Forward to cross minor road at Neal’s Farm, just beyond right at way marked footpath to follow edge of  wood on your left. At next waymark enter woods. Fork right at next way marks and follow path to metalled road. Turn right then immediately left in front of  5-bar gate, follow path downhill to road. Turn right and follow road through wooded  slope, at road junction turn left. After about 250 yds turn left onto footpath, then after a further 250 yds turn right to follow footpath along edge of wood. At Larchdown Farm bear left onto road, ignore footpath to left, continue with wood on left. At the end of the wood look for stile on the left at a gap in the hedge, cross field to stile, turn left on track then immediately right at 5-bar gate. Follow path, with eventually a sports field on right to reach 5-bar gate with timber yard on left, continue forward to main road (Checkendon). Your start point is diagonally left by church.

If you encounter any problems with this walk please contact Richard or Nick.