You will have heard of and probably seen Stonehenge in Wiltshire. You may have heard of Woodhenge nearby to Stonehenge. But have you heard of Ironhenge in the Chilterns, the the site of ancient worship of Saint Pancras?? That is a little joke, as the the circle is composed of columns which had to be removed from the undercroft at St. Pancras Station and is part of the Sir William McAlpine collection of railway memorabilia at his Fawley home. Sir William died in 2018. As well as a typical Chilterns walk with great views, on this 7 mile walk you will also see some interesting railway memorabilia from the footpaths including Ironhenge. There is also a pub on route at Middle Assendon for refreshments on the way home, the Rainbow Inn.
However, don't be tempted to trespass and steal any of this as there is a huge reward against you :)
Here is an overview map of the walk.
Parking
It should be possible to park the car off the road in one location on the road from Southend to Middle Assendon at OS Grid Reference: SU 74478 88525 just as the road bends to the right.
Map
There is a north and south map below. The bigger number are key points on the walk description, the smaller numbers beginning "Px" in italics are locations where the photos were taken:
Walk Description
The photo points are shown on the map above.
Car to Point 1 on map
From the car, walk along the lane, around the 90 degree bend to the left and the footpath in the left hedge will soon be seen within 50m. Take an obvious route across the fields until you come to a sign (Photo P1) but continue on the official footpath straight ahead through the kissing gate.
Continue until you come to a lane and turn right (Photo P2).
You have reached point 1 on the map.
Point 1 to Point 2 on map
This is really easy walking as you continue straight along a metalled lane (which is lightly used as it only goes to the estate). When you come to the junction at Fawley Bottom take the lane up hill to your left and after about 50m you need to take a footpath to the right (Photo P3). You have reached Point 2 on the map.
Point 2 to Point 3 on map
The footpath soon reaches woodland before coming to fields. It is reasonably straightforward to see the path and you know that you are on the right route if you see some (permanent) cows on your right (Photo P4).
Cross Dobson's Lane to the residential unmetalled lane opposite (Photo P5).
Travel to the end of the lane and you will be directed sharp left onto a path around the house in front. After a 100m or so, the path will bend to the right but it is obvious. When you see the view in Photo P6 you know you are approaching the McAlpine Fawley Hill estate.
When you get to the bottom of the valley, look to your right and you should see the northern end of the Fawley Hill railway (Photo P7). As you will observe, there were steam trains running during my walk and don't miss the deer in the foreground, you should see plenty around the estate.
Continue up the hill until you reach Benhams Lane which is point 3 on the map.
Point 3 to Point 4 on the map
Turning right walk along this lane for 200m until you see a footpath to the right (Photo P8)
Soon you will see an interesting sight on your right, some sort of memorial to Sir William McAlpine (Photo P9)
Hopefully you will see many deer close up as I did (Photo P10).
Continue through the woods and you will come out onto a wide footpath going down to the main Marlow - Henley road A4155 but you turn back just before the road. This is point 4 on the map.
Point 4 to Point 5 on the map
At point 4, turn right and travel back up the hill (Photo P11).
Once you start climbing the hill in the distance in Photo P11, keep your eyes to the right for a view of the southern end of the railway (Photo P12).
Climb the path which continues through woodland and then you come out into more open ground with deer on the left and Ironhenge can be seen on the right (Photo P13).
Continue along the path and just after an ornate iron pillar take the footpath on your left (Photo P14).
Cross the lane to a path opposite. You walk on the edge of woodland to your left with an obvious path which eventually comes out on a lane. You then need to turn right. This is point 5 on the map.
Point 5 to Point 6 on the map
Walk along the lane until you reach the road (Dobsons Lane). Continue on a footpath opposite by a gate (Photo P15).
The path is obvious with a 45 degree turn to the left. Eventually you will be blessed with a beautiful view over the valley below (Photo P16).
The path descends into the valley and you pass the backs of some houses in Middle Assendon. Turn left when you reach the metalled lane and you will come to a road signpost with the pub Rainbow Inn just up the road (Photo P17).
Walk along the road back towards Stonor until you reach the edge of the village and the sign signalling the end of the 30 mile an hour restriction. You can see the footpath climbing up the hill 200m further on which is point 6 on the map (Photo P18).
Point 6 to Point 7 on the map
Climb diagonally across the field and when you reach the tree line, turn left along a footpath in the trees (Photo P19).
Continue climbing through the woods and eventually after half a kilometre the path turns right out of the wood. After 50m the path turns left along a grassy track for a long straight stretch with intermittent fine views on your left hand side. Eventually you will come to buildings and the path turns right. You come to a farm gate with a kissing gate nearby which is point 7 on the map. Photo P20 shows the route to the left across the farm yard.
Point 7 to car on the map
Go through the farmyard with a barn on your left with an obvious path which bends to the right until it reaches the metalled lane. Keep straight on and retrace your steps back to where the car is parked.
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