Sarratt Walk 05

Victorian post box at Bucks Hill Cottage

The second longest of these circular walks at 6.0 miles starting and ending at Sarratt village hall.
It's a gentle, relatively flat walk that is suitable for families (with one exception detailed below), although of course any accompanying dogs must be kept under control at all times. It meanders through the fields and woods in particular through Chipperfield Common by Apostle's Pond and the lovely Plough Wood, a veritable carpet of Bluebells in spring.
Note: should be taken of a very narrow and quite steep footpath section between Bottom Lane and Bucks Hill. It's about 200yds but pushchairs or buggies would find it very difficult to get through - however a detour of about 800yds could be made to circumvent this difficult section by turning right along Bottom Lane and then left along Bucks Hill returning you to Little Westwood Farm, where you can continue the walk as described
This walk took me about an 2hr 30mins. on a lovely day in very early May 2012.
A map of the walk is attached HERE

Wide track to Newhall Farm

With the village hall behind you, turn right and proceed along Dimmocks Lane, past the garage on your left until you reach Deadmans Ash Lane, turn left then immediately take the footpath opposite through the field with a large electricity pylon in its middle
At the far end of the field turn left along a large, wide farm track leading to Newhall Farm.
Continue forward between the hedgerows until you reach the farm buildings directly ahead of you.

Entry to footpath beside Newhall Farms barns

At the farm buildings go left just a few yards and then on forward down a narrow footpath beside the barns - which should be on your right.
Follow this path downhill, keeping to the right hand side by the hedgerows until you emerge onto Bottom Lane.

Pet's gravestone behind Bucks Hill Cottage

At Bottom Lane turn left and then after about 30yds turn right up the steep footpath, through a copse, leading to Bucks Hill.
As you approach the top of the path, just before the cottages, look to your left and you will see this gravestone where several beloved pets are resting.

Note should be taken of this steep footpath section between Bottom Lane and Bucks Hill. It's about 200yds but pushchairs or buggies would find it very difficult to get through - however a detour of about 800yds could be made to circumvent this difficult section by turning right along Bottom Lane and then left along Bucks Hill returning you to Little Westwood Farm, where you can continue the walk as described

Sarratt Parish footpath marker

As you emerge from this footpath adjacent to Bucks Hill Cottage notice the old but still working Victorian pillar box.
Turn left along Bucks Hill past the pillar box and then cross Bucks Hill to the footpath entrance beside drive leading to Little Westwood Farm.

Little Westwood Farm

Footpath from Little Westwood Farm to Bottom Lane

Cross this stile and go right behind the back of the farm and down hill beside a hedgerow on your right.
This path doubles as a bridleway so beware - it also can get very muddy!!

Where this path meets the wide farm track turn left and then right uphill beside a row of conifers. Cross the stile on your left and enter Berrybushes Wood (see my comments below).

At the end of the wood cross the stile and go left downhill back to the wide farm track where you turn right.

Stile by Berrybushes Wood

Berrybushes Wood sounds lovely but in all honesty this little diversion I found rather pointless.
It's a very steep climb (although short) and the stile is at the highest point meaning you have to climb up the hill and the stile at the same time. The walk is then through a field with a distinct lean downwards making walking very difficult - it's also full of cow droppings - and the wood on your right is so dense you can barely see into it.
In summer there may well be some lovely flowers here but these can easily be seen from the main track.
Personally I'd give this detour a miss.

Cherry tree lined track leading to Jeffery's Farm

At the main farm track turn right heading towards Jeffery's Farm going through this lovely avenue of Cherry trees - over 100 years old apparently. Follow the path as it winds its way gently up hill going to the left all the time keeping on this main track, ignore footpath signs to your right.

Footpath from Jeffery's Farm to Chipperfield Common

As you reach the top of the hill, about 20 yards before you reach the conifer hedge on your left, look out for this narrow footpath on your right which you follow forward across the field and up a slight rise before going right along the path running parallel to Bucks Hill. At its end cross the road and enter Chipperfield Common opposite

Footpath entrance to Chipperfield Common

The footpath entry to Chipperfield Common is signposted "Windmill Hill".
Folow this broad path straight ahead passing Little Calipers on your left and on to Apostles' Pond

Apostles' Pond, Chipperfield Common

Apostles' Pond, so called because of the twelve Lime trees planted in a circle around it in 1714

Footpath to Penmans Green

Proceed forward along the broad footpath with the large hedgerow on your left and Apostles' Pond on your right.
Follow this track for 500-600 yds. passing Mole House, White Oaks and Mahogany Hall, cross the intersecting path onto a narrower path past Penmans End.
After passing Little Winch and Brackenhurst and immediately before the next one take this narrow, rather concealed footpath on your left to Penmans End

Penmans Hill, Belsize

Follow this path to the first junction where you bear left along Penmans Piece Drive and then onto a narrow path where, at the "T" junction you turn right down a concrete service road and out in to the little hamlet of Belsize.

The Plough Inn, Belsize

Skirt the triangle of grass and ignoring Plough Lane, proceed up Poles Hill.
Cross the road and continue up hill for about 50yds, there is a "hidden" stile in the hedge on your left which takes you into the field and take the diagonal path bearing left uphill to Plough Wood

Plough Wood in early May

Cross the stile and enter Plough Wood
Follow the clear path through the wood until you almost reach the road where you turn left, staying in the wood and follow the path right down to Plough Lane where you turn right

Plough Lane, footpath to Sarratt Green

Take the second footpath on your right just before Dellfield House, signposted Sarratt Green
Cross the stile and follow the path uphill, crossing two further stiles before emerging out onto Bragmans Lane at The Old Forge

Bragmans Lane leading to The Green, Sarratt

At the Old Forge turn left along The Green, heading into Sarratt and after about 500 yards you should arrive back at the Sarratt Village Hall.

I hope you enjoyed your walk, and that the weather was kind.

If you found any errors, spelling or otherwise, or difficulty with my directions then do please let me know, I'm always looking to improve my information.

Suggestions are also always welcome.

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