Feet First Walking

 

The walk starts at Pishill Church before heading to Maidensgrove and then dropping down to Stonor. The route then passes through Stonor Park, with a view of historic Stonor House, before heading across the wooded Summer Heath and finally back to Pishill with views to the west.

Turn right out of the church car park and follow this road towards the Old Vicarage.

 

The first of the undulations, follow the Oxfordshire Way into Pishillbury Wood.

 

 

The Chiltern Hills white-arrows make an early appearance in Pishillbury Wood.

 

Park Wood, near to Maidensgrove.

 

Having walked across a field you then go back into Park Wood, following signs for the Chiltern Way this time.

 

Murky views across to Stonor Park and Stonor House.

 

Having walked down from Park Wood, there is a short section along the B480 through Stonor village.

 

Turn into Stonor Deer Park and follow the Chiltern Way towards Southend.

 

Stonor House, the home of the Stonor family for more than eight centuries. The house was probably begun after 1280 by Sir Richard Stoner. The house was built on the site of a prehistoric stone circle or henge and this has given it its name. The remains of the circle are still visible with one stone incorporated into the south-east corner of the chapel. Stonor has been used as a location for a number of film and television productions, the James Bond film The Living Daylights (1987). In 1989, it was used as the home of millionaire Victor Hazell (Robbie Coltrane) in the film version of the Roald Dahl book Danny, the Champion of the World.

 

Stonor Park.

 

Stonor Park.

 

Sunny Southend....not on Sea.

 

Views across the valley to Turville Court. The sun almost came out at this point. Turville Park was laid out in the 1740s. The mansion house associated with the park also dates from this time.

 

Looking towards Summerheath Wood.

 

I couldn't actually see where this was so I had my sandwiches in a bus shelter just up the road.

 

 

Undulations.

 

 

On the final stretch to Pishill.

 

The last white-arrow of the day.

 

The lane up to Pishill Church and car park.

 

Pishill Church was riginally an 11th-century Norman building but it was rebuilt in 1854. Pishill is a small hamlet with a few house and a pub.

 

One of the stained glass windows in the church was created in 1967 by John Piper, who for many years lived less than 2.5 miles away in Fawley Bottom. The gospel is being held in front of the sword, signifying that the pen is mightier than the sword.