Weedon Walks

1 From the Five Elms, proceed East along Aston Abbots Road past the Methodist Chapel. The first stile is by the side of the first field gate about 50 metres from the chapel.

2 Stand under the sycamore and look straight ahead to the Wendover Hills. Walk down the left hedgerow
for about 150m to a double stile with wooden bridge into the next field. The River
Thame meanders along the valley, here referred to as Thistle Brook

3 At East End Farm, walk uphill to the left on the concrete driveway.

4 The very old house on the right is a fine example of a long house dating from 1440. You can make out its five bays. Pass through the gate on the left and cross the next field diagonally. Note the ground contours indicating where old houses used to stand.

5 Before you continue, look back at the village panorama to the South. At the road, turn left and walk for about 150m before crossing and climbing the stile. The typical undulations of medieval agriculture are clearly evident in this field.

6  Cross the field along the left hedgerow and skirt the new houses of Northcroft. Behind and on the left is Manor Farm House, dating from 1649.

7 The path leads diagonally below Manor Farm and across a stile beside a large field. Once allotments, it was left in trust to the Parish by Lord Fortescue and the revenues from it help the villagers. On the hill opposite lies Hardwick and between the two villages runs the Creslow Brook which joins the Thame below Quarrendon. Arguably Creslow Brook is the true headwater of the River Thame. The two brooks and the Watermead Lake provide excellent habitats for over-wintering wildfowl.

8  Rejoin the High Street at Lilies Farm. To your left is the old village pump with its brick arched canopy, engraved on the keystone of which is the date 1877. Turning downhill, retrace your steps onto Cooks Hill.

9   To the right is a fine view of HardwickVillage and Church. Look at the field in fornt of you. Could there be earth workings there?

10 The village walk now turns left through a gate up into a woodland area leading to Lilies. Apparently there are 43 varieties of wildflowers found in this area, with wild garlic in abundance. At different times of the year snowdrops, violets and bluebells are seen. The kissing gate at the top of the path gives access to Lilies Estate. Turn left back towards the village and after about 150m, climb the steps on the right onto a path leading to old asphalt walkways. These were laid for the benefit of villagers working at the house, and are lined with horse chestnut trees.

11 Tree ferns and copper beach appear with other well-known trees, many planted by notable people such as Robert Browning and Charles Dickens.

12 Two sequoia trees stand at the exit to this area. Before returning to the village turn right and look over the gate at the fields used for the County Show. Then Retrace your steps down the gravel roadway past Tumbling Acre and back to the High Street.

13  The Wheatsheaf Inn opposite, now no longer used as a pub, dates from the 15 century. A chevron can be seen in the brickwork.

14 Further along is the Old Schoolroom, built by Mr Casenove for the village. The grooves in the brickwork were made by pupils sharpening their slate pencils. The walk takes you back to the crossroads. Directly opposite is Stockaway, the route of the old road to Aylesbury. It is well worth walking down Stockaway to see the village pond with its ducks.