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Charndon & Edgcott

Buckinghamshire Walk

County/Area - Buckinghamshire - North Buckinghamshire

Author - Allan Friswell

Length - 6.0 miles / 9.8 km    Ascent - 200 feet / 61 metres

Time - 3 hours 10 minutes    Grade - easy

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Ordnance Survey Explorer 192Sheet Map1:25kBUY
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Walk Route Description

Photo from the walk - Charndon & Edgcott
Click image to see photo description.

This walk from Marsh Gibbon has the advantage of good way marking. Windmill Hill provides a good climb and dramatic views before continuing to Charndon and Edgcott.

Marsh Gibbon village is large, its main street extending nearly a mile in length. Many of the cottages date from the middle of the 19th century. The village name dates from the time of Edward the Confessor when it was called Merse, meaning "a marshy place", the name Gibbon deriving from Gibwen, landowners in King John's reign. The Elizabethan manor house is one of the outstanding buildings of the county, as is the 15th century tithe barn. St Mary's parish church dates from Norman times.

The Greyhound pub, a picturesque, low-ceilinged Tudor building with 17th century brickwork, plays annual host to the Greyhound Club, which was formed in 1777 as one of the earliest friendly societies, and which still celebrates its foundation every Oak-Apple Day (29 May).

The start is the Greyhound Pub in Marsh Gibbon, which can be reached from Buckingham by taking the road to Gawcott from the A421. Turn left at the T-junction and follow the road for about 3 miles. Just past the Seven Stars pub take the Marsh Gibbon road on the right. Follow this for 3 miles. The pub is at the very far end of the village, on the right (Grid ref. SP642228).

After parking, turn left from the pub and walk along the main street towards Grendon Underwood. Take Station Road (opposite the Plough) after about 1/4mile. Passing before the church of St Mary's, you go uphill. About 200 yards after the de-restriction signs take the footpath on the right and cross the field half left to the stile. Cross the next field going slightly right to reach a footbridge and stile. After the stile continue to another footbridge continuing half left to the waymarker post.

Pass through the gap and turn half right to the wooden gate. Cross the field half right to the stile and plank footbridge, usually well hidden.Turn left and follow the field edge. After 200 yards a footpath crosses from the left via a stile and bridge and goes up Windmill Hill. Follow it to the top where there are 360-degree panoramic views.

Go down the other side of the hill, keeping in line with the farm buildings, through the gap in the hedge. Cross to the stile which is at the other side of a big field, in line with the right hand double power poles. Then make for the left hand power poles, go through the gate and keep ahead along the road to Charndon.

Go into the village and take the bridle path on the right past the "pink" house. After 50 yards take the two stiles on the right, which are often left well overgrown by careless landowners, and veer slightly left to the far corner of the field where there is another well-hidden stile, also often overgrown. At the time of writing you may have to climb the fence which illegally blocks the path.

Follow the right hand edge of the field. Go over the bridge and stile and keep the hedge on your right. Do not go into the right hand field! Go through the gate on the right and turn sharp left going to the stile and bridge. The path here is very holed and rutted, and these defects are well camouflaged. Go to the top of the little hill, then go downhill making for the church of St Michael and All Angels in Edgcott. Negotiate the stile, then the next 50 yards further on, leading into the churchyard.

Go out of the gate and down the lane. Take the right hand path after 50 yards. The path follows the field's left hand edge. Take the gate opposite. Cross the field walking half left to the gap in the hedge. Here another path crosses. You turn right and follow it with the hedge on your right through two fields.

Cross the tractor bridge and gate and keep right to the gap in the hedge. Cross the field slightly right of ahead to the gap, around 50 yards to the right of the tree. Cross this next field half left to the farther gap lying behind the power pole. Then keep ahead to the road.Turn left and walk back through Marsh Gibbon.

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