14 January
Another walk out of Rambling for Pleasure around Reading. The book describes it as 'fairly energetic' and notes that it passes through 'typical Chiltern farmland ... with some fine views across the Thames Valley'. No argument with that, though it was only the initial bit up Whitchurch Hill (the B471) that was particularly energetic.
Drove to Pangbourne and parked in the public car park. Headed over the bridge into Whitchurch and puffed my way up Whitchurch Hill as far as the war memorial, where I stopped to take this picture looking back.
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| Looking back down Whitchurch Hill |
Shortly after this, turned off onto a path and then crossed a field, eventually returning to the road opposite the church of St John the Baptist, Whitchurch Hill. Detoured into the churchyard to visit my cousins' memorial.
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| St John's, Whitchurch Hill |
From the village, headed east along the Chiltern Way, passing a terrace of cottages which the book informed me were built to house workers of Bozedown House. Didn't see the latter anywhere so looked it up after getting home; seemingly it now houses the Castrol Technology Centre, a research institute owned by BP. Castrol's website has a picture of it here. Continued on along open path, passing Path Hill House with its be-turreted gateway. Turned right and descended through Bottom Wood.
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| Path down through the wood |
Continued on past Boze Down (according to the book), which I took to be this tumpy mound. According to The Megalithic Portal, it was a hillfort.
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| Possibly Boze Down |
Reached Hardwick Road and walked along the road back into Whitchurch. Passed Eastfield House, formerly a care home but looking a bit sad at the moment.
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| Eastfield House |
Here's the map (the village of Whitchurch Hill is the top bit, showing my detour into the churchyard) and elevation.
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