On the last day of April, twenty-five of us (including some visitors from other groups, a dog, and a newcomer trying us out) gathered on the outskirts of Henley-on-Thames for a walk that promised bluebells. In the walk description, the leader had stated that the bluebells were "pre-ordered, with no substitutions".
We set off, heading south-west through alleyways and quiet roads on the edge of Henley, before crossing fields, downhill to Hunt's Farm. Here we began an uphill path through Redhill Wood, where there were no bluebells to be seen! At this point, the leader expressed some concern, but as we entered Bones Wood we found great swathes of them.
Stopping on the edge of Bones Wood and Crowsley Park Woods, we sat looking at the bluebells while we ate our packed lunches. After lunch, we headed north-west and left the woods on the Chiltern Way, passing through the fields of King's Farm and then more bluebell woods.
We left the Chiltern Way as it passed Rotherfield Greys, where we visited The Maltsters Arms for a refreshing drink. Continuing on the last leg of the walk, we headed north through Pindars Wood and then east through Ash Plantation. There were no bluebells here as the plantation didn't have any trees, but there were plenty of cowslips in the grassy field.
Passing through a small piece of woodland at Lower Hernes, we completed the walk along a valley surrounded by fields, finally passing the tennis courts at Henley Tennis Club before reaching the road where we'd started. See our route on Google Maps.
Although this was a bank holiday weekend, and therefore rain had been forecast for the afternoon, we completed the walk in the dry. The bluebells seem to have arrived early this year, so we were lucky that they were still in full bloom for this this walk.
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