Henley I 759828 12 miles, Explorer 171, (Henley, Middle Assendon, Bix, Shepherd’s Green, Greys Court, Henley)

Park in Waitrose carpark. Depart via Ravenscroft Road, turn right on Kings Road and left on Bell Street. Continue along the Nettlebed road  forking left, away from the Marlow road, after 300yds and after another 300yds turn right into footpath. Follow footpath up hill keeping hedge on your right. Immediately on entering wood fork left and then keep on main track up through wood. On exiting wood continue on same line upwards through scattered trees to metal gate. Continue forward passed pigs. At field boundary go through gate ignoring footpath  crossroads, and again continue forward, now on sealed road, passed Henley Park. The track continues forward uphill to become enclosed path then track. At minor road cross diagonally left onto footpath. Cross fields diagonally left to ascend slightly then descend sharply into Middle Assendon. At minor road turn left then right to reach the B480. Cross road to footpath which climbs steeply, partly enclosed, to meet minor road (White Lane). Turn left to follow road upwards towards Bix. Where road bears sharply right go forward on footpath across field.

At road bear right and keeping church on right continue on footpath to meet the Henley to Nettlebed road, turn right. After 300yds turn left into path  ignoring the first footpath. In 100yds ignore footpath to left and second path on left a little further. Continue forward for about 1 mile, ignore track to Bromsden farm. At next junction turn left and follow track around to right to pass Merrimoles house on left. Just beyond the house at crossroads turn left. In 300yds at another crossroads again turn left to follow path through woods. Ignore crossroads and footpath to right and after about ¼ mile the wood finishes on left, continue forward just in wood to meet ‘T’ junction with track. Turn right to meet minor road, go forward on road and in about 100yds turn left on footpath into Padnell’s Wood. At cross roads in wood turn left to exit via stile into field. Bear right to cross centre of field, cross stile, keep wood on right, to continue forward to another stile. Keep houses with large gardens on right to reach metal gate, go forward on track to Shepherds Green. Follow track forward keeping houses on left, as track bears left in front of house continue forward to pass house on left. This footpath is initially enclosed then crosses field to enter Sam’s Wood. Continue forward ignoring footpaths to left to eventually arrive at open green opposite Greysgreen Farm. Bear left passed cricket pavilion, turn left onto footpath between houses. Continue forward to enter wood and descend steeply to field, continue forward uphill to road.

Cross road to follow sealed track in front of Grey’s Court, continue onwards to cross stiles, as track begins to climb find stile on left onto enclosed footpath going in the same direction (the footpath has been moved out of the field to avoid very wet path), ignore footpath to left. Cross stile and another on left, follow path with farm on left to farm track where turn right. At road cross diagonally left to enter Lambridge Wood. Keep on main track for about ¾ mile ignoring track to right, at cross roads bear right and in 300yds turn right. At edge of wood cross stile into field. Keep hedge on right to cross two fields to road (about ¾ mile). Turn right then left into sealed road. Follow this track then path initially gently then steeply down hill to meet ‘T’ junction at hedge, turn left. At field boundary cross stile into field with hedge now on left. At tracks junction go diagonally left forward into Ash Plantation, pass Lower Hernes house on left, forward into initially enclosed footpath. Follow this for about 1 mile crossing footpath cross roads, with having passed the crossroads,  Henley College playing fields on left. Where footpath meets road cross onto footpath going uphill. At top turn right on road  (Deanfield Road), turn left onto Deanfield Avenue then right onto Gravel Hill. Almost immediately the road forks take the left fork (West Street) and follow it down hill to cross roads turn left onto Kings Road and in 100yds turn right into Waitrose carpark.

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