Tuesday October 03, 2006

Winter Hill and an Angel of the South East

Saturday despite the threat of showers we did a nice six and a half mile walk starting from the pretty village of Cookham near Maidenhead. We have done this walk many times before and it is always enjoyable at any time of the year. We parked just outside the village on what is called Cookham Moor and headed off by a small stream and then up the side of a field to a road. We the joined the John Lewis employee golf course and then across the single track railway line that goes to Marlow. Further along the golf course we went slightly uphill to a field edge. We then walked beside a large garden, crossed a road, down a field and then joined Alleyns Lane where there are some pretty houses like the one below.

At the bottom of the road we then went uphill on Warners Hill and met the pub known as Uncle Tom's cabin. We had a passable lunch but the pub is not as god as it used to be. We continued into the village of Cookham Dean and past by the side of another pub and into an open field. Here on our right there were enclosed areas full of turkeys. When they saw us they scurried to the front to meet us hoping for food I guess. We met a road and followed it and then entered an enclosed path that took us out into beech woods. From here you can see Marlow and after following a narrow path we came out onto Winter Hill. At this point the Thames river is just visible and the road takes you down where we joined a path which drops you down looking back to wonderful views of the hill. Around us was a herd of cows munching the grass and the leaves on the trees. We crossed a muddy field and then met Ferry cottage recently renovated the site of a a ferry crossing over the Thames many years ago. At this point we joined the river and followed it for just over a mile passing houses which have lovely views out over it. Finally we left the river to go back into Cookham passing past its pretty church which has a clock and sundial on it. In the graveyard is this pretty stone angel.

We then walked through the village over the moor and back to the car park.