Wendover Winter Wonderland

Date: Saturday 11th February
Route: Wendover Circular through woodland to Pulpit Hill Fort, Beacon Hill, Ellesborough and back
Distance: 8.4 miles

With clear blue skies and brilliant sunshine, it was impossible to use the snow or cold weather as an excuse not to walk, although when we arrived at Wendover and found that the snowfall was slightly deeper than in Ealing we did worry that we might not actually be able to see the paths! Luckily this wasn't the case and whilst the going was a bit heavier than usual, this was a fantastic way to pass a sunny winter Saturday.

The walk sets off from Wendover station, heading up over the hillsides and very quickly into beautiful woods, with the snow adding a Narnia-esque feel to the whole proceedings. This is the first walk in the Time Out Country Walks Volume 2 book and is very easy to follow, with clear paths (and lots of footprints and paw prints today!). After taking the short cut across fields and along a bridleway, there is a climb up into Pulpit Wood and a wide, well-signposted track to the remains of Pulpit Hill Fort.

Once past the hill fort the path follows the edge of the wood, before emerging onto the hilltops near Chequers, then heads back into woods and onwards towards the imposing Beacon Hill, which was a magnet for sledgers today. Once past the hill, the pretty church at Ellesborough comes into view and the path descends through the churchyard and alongside fields, with lovely views back to Beacon Hill and up to the Boer War monument at Coombe Hill up to the right. After a few sheep-filled fields, the path descends through a farm then crosses fields to get back to Wendover.

Whilst this wasn't the easiest of weather in which to do this walk it was well worth the effort - a highly recommended, wonderfully wintry, West Highland Way woodland warm-up from Wendover.