🥾 Walk 326 - Assendon, Greys Court, Bix and Bluebells

On Sunday 22nd April, twelve of us met up at Middle Assendon. By coincidence, this was also the meeting point for two other walking groups that day, which meant the large lay-by where we parked became quite full. (Our apologies to the residents.)

We started by heading north-west along a quiet lane, stopping at the ruins of St James' Church at Bix Bottom along the way. The previously crumbling ruins have recently had a partial restoration, and the masonry is now safe, but the church still only has three sides and no roof. I'm told that open-air services are occasional held there.

The lane finished at Warburg Nature Reserve, where we followed footpaths through Kitesgrove Wood and Soundness Wood, until we reached Crocker End. Here we crossed the busy A4130 between Nettlebed and Henley-on-Thames and continued on woodland footpaths.

Passing a small group of houses that made up Lower Highmoor we entered a woodland full of bluebells. Julia, the leader, had been hoping they would be out in time for her walk, and we weren't disappointed. We had not seen many bluebells on the previous weekend, but the warm weather of the previous week had no doubt helped them on.

We stopped for lunch after finding a suitable fallen tree to use as a bench. After lunch we crossed a field of sheep and lambs before entering Padnell's Wood, where there were even more bluebells.

Passing the tiny villages of Satwell and Shepherd's Green, we made our way to Greys Court - a National Trust house and gardens, through which passes the Chiltern Way. We followed the footpath through the grounds, only diverting to visit the café for tea, coffee, cake and/or ice cream.

Waving our NT cards at the lady on the entrance as we left Greys Court, we continued on the Chiltern Way though more bluebell-infested woodland before leaving it for a footpath to the village of Bix. Crossing the busy A4130 again, we passed through a grassy field and joined White Lane before descending through an avenue of very tall conifers into Middle Assendon, where we had started. See our route on Google Maps.

The footpath emerged next to the Rainbow Inn but they only open at lunchtimes and evenings, and it was now 3:30pm so we weren't able to pop in for a drink. Never mind, we had already had refreshments at Greys Court earlier on the walk.

📸 Back to Volume 24

Return to volume index