The first Sunday after Christmas saw nineteen of us out for a walk around Marlow and Medmenham. The weather was cold but sunny. In fact many of the puddles were frozen.
We set off from Marlow along Pound Lane, weaving through the western edge of the town before crossing the A4155 Henley Road and heading out into the countryside on the Chiltern Way.
Passing through fields and farmland, we then entered Davenport Wood where we branched off the Chiltern Way and headed south-west through Hollowhill Wood and Hog Wood. Continuing on undulating woodland paths, we stopped in Millbank Wood for our picnic lunch. A handy fallen tree provided us with seating.
After lunch we followed a footpath down to the road to Medmenham. We passed the Dog and Badger pub that we'd been to for a social event a couple of years previously. It was closed for refurbishment, so we didn't pop in for a pint. Instead we crossed the A4155 Henley Road again and headed south through Medmenham.
Turning east and then north-east, we crossed a rather waterlogged field. Most of the puddles were frozen but cracked and crunched as we walked over them. Occasionally a boot would sink into the icy water below, resulting in that foot-chilling feeling.
Briefly reunited with the A4155 Henley Road we took a lane heading east to the Danesfield Hotel and the River Thames. We followed the tow path for the short distance to Hurley Lock. On the way we saw what looked like an identity parade of ducks lined up on a fallen branch, silhouetted by the low sun.
Hurley Lock is on the other side of the river, but the weir was our side. There were a couple of canoeists trying to out-paddle the fast-flowing water pouring over the weir! I suppose that's one way to burn off the Christmas calories.
The footpath left the river bank and headed north, passing through a tunnel. With no artificial lighting, we were lucky not to encounter any obstacles in the tunnel.
Emerging from the tunnel into the daylight, we turned east and passed an elaborate golf course and through some farmland before joining the Thames Path near Temple Lock.
We followed the Thames Path for about a mile back to Marlow where the walk ended. On the way we had some lovely views of Bisham on the opposite bank of the river, which was now bathed in the low afternoon sunlight. See our route on Bing Maps.
Arriving in Marlow, we were overrun by families out enjoying the excellent winter weather in Court Garden Park. When the walk finished, we split up with some of us going for a pint, others going for tea and cake and the remainder going straight home.
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