“Cerola Leah” sounding like a lively Celtic Dance, but the two saxon words translate to “clearing in a meadow or forest”. This was Chorleywood where I was starting out my walk for the day. Such a clearing survives with Chorleywood Common, but I did not get a chance to investigate, as I my journey led me away from Chorleywood completely. I will endeavour to return, so that I can explore the area more! With blue skies and the sun streaming down, I was not perturbed that my walk was taking me along roadways. Eventually leaving the urban streets of Chorleywood, the landscape either side of the road soon changed. Hidden behind the wall of trees that lined either side road, lay meadows and rolling fields. As I advanced further along the road, the pavement in places gave way to a dusty track which run in parallel to the road. It really did feel like I was walking in the countryside and not along the road!
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| From 2016 – 28.02.2016 – Chorleywood – Great Missenden walk |
The countryside soon began to ebb away as I began to enter into the small village of Little Chalfont. Trees lined the roadside, obscuring most of the buildings behind. However, the distinct shape of a Church Spire could not be hidden that easily. Although it was not as old as the other churches I had seen, the long tall spire of Saint Aidans Church was just as elegant 🙂 . The roadway became more urbanised as the trees dissipated and houses and shops became more prominent. Marching onwards, I was treated to the sight of the very large “White Lion”, I thought it was something to do with the road which I had been walking, “White Lion Road”. The large sign was for “The White Lion” pub. Although it is roughly 150 years old, its actual origins are not very well known, perhaps originating as a pub as part of the thriving Local Wellers Brewery which flourished in Amersham from C17th right up until 1929! If they do serve a delicious drink or two, I was not able to discover that, as I did not get the time to go in!
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| From 2016 – 28.02.2016 – Chorleywood – Great Missenden walk |
Wandering along, I was soon treated to the sight of beautiful Tudor building on the opposite of the road. I could just about make out a sign on it which said “Hyrons Old Barn”. I cannot seem to locate much history surrounding the barn, but assume that it was one of the outbuildings for “Hyrons Farm” that once held the surrounding land. I would not be surprised for this to be the case, particularly when there was a “Hyrons Lane” just next door! I was soon to leave the urban buildings of Amersham behind to start following the open road once more. It was here there was clear evidence of farm land that still surrounds the area, the views of rolling fields into the distance. Views mainly hidden behind gateways, hedgerows and trees.
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| From 2016 – 28.02.2016 – Chorleywood – Great Missenden walk |
The open road, suddenly gave way to the small village green of Little Missenden. I did not get chance to really explore that much, but on my way through, I did spot the local pub, “The Crown”. Although it topped with the beauty of a thatched roof or a Tudor look, it is a past owner of the pub that makes it interesting! The owner of the pub in 1964, Ron How qualified twice for the Speedway Championship during the 1950s and 1960s, in 1965 he was ranked 7th in the World! Leaving Little Missenden behind I followed the road onwards until I reached a very large junction. I following the cycleway underneath the very large roundabout (almost the wrong way!) and it brought me into Great Missenden.
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| From 2016 – 28.02.2016 – Chorleywood – Great Missenden walk |
It was nice to be able to return to Great Missenden after abandoning my previous walk . As I started to make my way into Great Missenden High Street I was greeted by a very unexpected sight, the “Red Pump Garage”. It looked like a garage from perhaps the 1920s or 30s! This particular garage was inspiration for where one of the characters worked in the book “Danny, The Champion of the World” by Roald Dahl. Unsurprisingly, the Roald Dahl museum was directly opposite to the garage. Roald Dahl the author of books such as Willy Wonka and Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach and BFG, lived in Great Missenden from the mid 1950s until his death in 1990. I continued to follow the High Street taking me to Great Missenden Station where I ended my walk for the day.
Please feel free to click on the photo below to view all the photos for this walk
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| 2016 – 28.02.2016 – Chorleywood – Great Missenden walk |
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