Time Out Country Walks near London Volume 1
Walk 40 : Gerrards Cross to Cookham
Bulstrode Park, Burnham Beeches & Spencer
| Length | 14.8km (9.2 miles), 4 hours 30 minutes. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow 7 hours 30 minutes. |
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| OS Landranger Map | Nos.176 and 175. Gerrards Cross, map reference TQ 002 887, is in Buckinghamshire, 9km north of Slough and 12km east of Cookham, which is in Berkshire. |
| Toughness | 2 out of 10. |
| Features | Near the start, this walk crosses Bulstrode Park to its manor house, now a Christian centre. From there, it goes past woods and lakes to a cratered moonscape where the route crosses the M40. Then it goes through the Hedgerley Green Nature Reserve to the church at Hedgerley, and on through Egypt Wood and Burnham Beeches to a pub in Littleworth Common. 8.3km (5.2 miles) of this 14.8km walk is covered before lunch. After lunch, there are more woods and fringes of woods, with a detour to the hilltop Church of St Nicholas in Hedsor, with a magnificent view out over the Thames Valley and across to a late eighteenth-century folly, a ruined castle. The walk ends alongside the Thames, over Cookham bridge to Cookham Church and Stanley Spencer Gallery, with tea at a seventeenth-century hostelry, and then across the National Trust's Cookham Moor to Cookham Station. |
| Shortening the Walk | Buses run twice an hour from the Yew Tree pub by Egypt Wood to Beaconsfield. From the Jolly Woodman pub (the lunchtime stop), there are buses every 20 minutes or so to High Wycombe, Beaconsfield or Marlow. |
| History |
The 400 acres of Bulstrode Park were bought by Judge Jeffreys in 1686, who built a house here. It was confiscated when he was sent to the Tower of London. The present manor was completed by the twelfth Duke of Somerset in 1870. Since 1963, it has been the headquarters for 120 missionaries and admin staff of the Worldwide Evangelization Crusade. Egypt Wood is thought to be so called because it was an oft-used encampment for gypsies prior to 1880 (the name 'gypsy' derives from 'Egyptian', although gypsies probably originate from India). Since 1880, Egypt Wood (which is a part of Burnham Beeches) has been owned and managed by the Corporation of London. The Church of St Nicholas was referred to in land records in 1218 and is unusual in that it is entirely set within the grounds of the landowner, Lady Wantner, with the only right of access being for walkers. Groups of walkers up to 12 in number may be able to arrange viewing of the interior of the church by prior arrangement with Revd John Slater (tel 01628 523 046). The church is often open on Sunday afternoons. Cookham was inhabited by ancient Britons, Romans and Saxons. In the Domesday Book it is listed as containing '32 villagers, 21 cott.xe "Granary Collection Museum".agers, 4 slaves, 2 mills, 2 fisheries and woodland at 100 pigs'. In 1140, a Norman church was built on the site of Holy Trinity Church, Cookham. The north wall of the church is built of chalk blocks, probably quarried at Cookham. The artist Sir Stanley Spencer died in 1959, and there is a memorial stone to him in the graveyard. Spencer was born in 1891 in a Victorian semi-detached house in Cookham High Street, and he attended services at the Wesleyan Chapel in the High Street, which is now Stanley Spencer Gallery tel 01628 520 890). From Easter to October the gallery is open daily 10.30am to 5.30pm; in winter, Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays only, from 11am to 5pm. There is a very small admission fee, or you can get an impression of the place by buying a postcard at the desk. |
| Lunch | The suggested lunchtime stop is the Jolly Woodman pub (tel 01753 644 350) in Littleworth Road, Littleworth Common - part of the Wayside Inn chain - serving nondescript food at unexceptional prices, from midday to 2.00pm Monday to Friday, midday to 2.30pm Saturday and midday to 5pm Sunday. Groups can be served at other times by appointment. You could get Lunch 2.7km earlier in the walk at the Yew Tree pub (tel 01753 643 723) by Egypt Wood. It is fairly run-down but serves gourmet food all day. Those wanting a much earlier lunch stop (or a morning coffee) might like the White Horse tel 01753 643 225) at Hedgerley Village, a very good family-run freehouse with excellent food. |
| Train Travel | The route out and back are by different train companies. It is possible that you will have to buy 2 singles rather than a day return ticket. |
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| Warning | This text was taken from an older edition of the book, and is a little out of date. Please check the updates for this walk. |
Walking Instructions
For a map and detailed walking instruction, please see Time Out Country Walks near London Volume 1
