Walk 10 : Beaconsfield (round walk)

Hi there -

I did this Beaconsfield Circular walk on Saturday 21 July, when it was down as an extra walk.

There are a lot of minor changes in terms of stiles disappearing etc, but also two quite important alterations. I did make any notes, so these are from memory ...

Working from my Green edition of book 1, firstly I was either too stupid or unable to follow the directions from top of p 81, col 1, from "70 metres brings you ...", through to end of folowing para "... edge of the playing fields."

In summary, although there was the wooden barrier mentioned, I could see no footpath signs either for South Bucks Way or anywhere else.

By following the left hand of two footpaths (as suggested) I ended up in the recreation ground, with tennis courts on my right (not left). Just after these, on the right hand side of the recreation ground, I found the "footpath between houses" referred to at point [6], which indeed leads to Boundary Road etc.

Secondly, and sadly, despite the Jordans village seemingly having been built as a Quaker village, the entire site of both the Meeting House, Mayflower Barn and Guest House (on the right hand side of the route) has been surrounded by a wooden fence and looks about to be redeveloped. The graveyard is currently accessible, just.

This means that from page 82 col 1 para 2 "Friends Meeting House ..." all one can really do is continue on another 50 metres or so past the fence of the site to the road junction ; then turn right and go up the hill past Barn and Guest House (300 metres or so) to join printed route at para 6 : "past the guesthouse in 100 metres turn left .."

Don't know if this will assist anyone ? Keep up the good work.

Tony Cantlay
tony_cantlay@hotmail.com

1. Jordans Guest House is definitely closed - it has been sold off, together with the Mayflower Barn and Orchard, so the update on the website is correct. The Friends Meeting House is being refurbished at the moment so is also not able to be visited. However, walkers needing a refueling stop can use the Jordans Village Shop which sells tea and coffee and fairly basic snacks, and good cakes. They have a couple of tables inside and there is plenty of space outside on the village green.
2. In Chalfont St Giles there is now a very good deli which serves food and drinks of a high standard. 4 tables inside and a couple outside. Extremely friendly and helpful owners.
3. If travelling by car (sorry) it's possible to park for free in the main carpark in Hodgemoor Woods.

Just back from the Beaconsfield Circular walk (although I bailed out at Seer Green & Jordan's station).

As has been mentioned, there are quite a few changes in terms of stiles - in fact, most of the stiles mentioned in the (Green, 2006) edition have now gone.

The Quaker Meeting House at Jordans is still in the process of restoration after the fire (10 March 2005).

Another new development is the farm road which is apparently being built parallel to the footpath which follows the (dried up) River Misbourne.

What most struck me about the walk though was the constant aircraft noise - helicopters, light aircraft and jumbos from Heathrow. It's rather a blight on this part of the country.

Milton's cottage is well-worth a visit though.

We did this walk on Satuday 7th March 2009 (we didn't notice any airplane noise by the way).

We got lost fairly early on after point [2] and later met a group who made the same mistake. In the green edition p 83, third paragraph, the book reads "Ignore ways off and keep straight on for 750 meters. 10 meters after the end of the green chainlink fence on your left-hand side, follow the main fork to the right, into the wood, your direction 350 degrees."
A little bit before this point, at the first major fork we encountered, you will now come accross newish signpost with yellow 'footpath' signs on it, indicating a split. We mistook this to be the fork described above and went off too early in the woods, getting lost for about half an hour.

The Friends Meeting House is now fully restored and open again- a lovely lady took some time to show us around, well worth the visit.

Tips for Tea: There is a genuine German bakery called Jungs just past Waitrose in Beaconsfield - stock up for your picknic - or great for tea/coffee afterwards with seating inside and out. Also recommended are the yummy wholemeal scones and carrot cake at La Cape just before the railway bridge on your way back into Beaconsfield.

The feedback above this point has been incorporated into the revised edition. Thanks, Andrew

Suggested note from 9 August 2009 group. In para 51 of the download instructions after the first sentence insert "go to para 57".

Did this walk on Saturday (17th Oct). Very enjoyable, especially being shown round the Quaker Meeting House.

The instructions worked well, the only bit we found difficult was at 3. There seem to be a couple of typos with the new instructions though:
- Para 14: there seems to be some mis-punctuation in the penultimate line "crossings of paths - for instance, at the first junction, in 140 metres..."
- Para 15: "In 250 metres cross a main horse riding track", as far as I can see the path merges with the horse track rather than crossing it
- Para 22: I think the end of the first line should read "a T-junction near to the EDGE OF THE WOOD" as you are already in a wood at the time...
- Para 23: Second sentance "This takes you out...", adding "of the wood" might make it a bit clearer.

We went to Jungs for tea which was very nice. The instructions could mention where it is - 50 yards past the station..

Kieran

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Excellent new website directions. Keeping on track now complete doddle. Thanks to whoever overhauled it

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