A group of eight joined him on a lovely sunny autumnal morning in the car park at Pitstone Hill, which is an SSSI and situated on the ridgeway above the village of Pitstone.in east Buckinghamshire.
They set off past Income Hole and climbed Steps Hill on The Ridgeway, which is an 85-mile National Trail and reached Ivinghoe Beacon which stands at 233m above sea level, from where there were glorious views of the surrounding countryside.
Then along the ridge at Beaton Hill to Gallows Hill, which as its name suggests is where miscreants were publicly hanged as a punishment for their wrongdoings and which also contains a Bronze Age burial site.
Across to Coombe Woods and a long series of steps leading up to Hanging Coombe and on past Warde’s Hurst Farm to stop for their morning refreshments in warm sunshine whilst enjoying two red kites swooping overhead.
Then on past Ringshall Coppice to Ashridge Estate Park, managed by the National Trust with its ancient trees and lush meadows and interesting history.
A monastery was founded there in 1283 and after the dissolution, King Henry VIII lived there for eleven years before leaving it in his will to his daughter Elizabeth, who later became Queen Elizabeth I. For 245 years it was the home of the Dukes and Earls of Bridgewater and after the house was rebuilt by James Wyatt it became a Second World War hospital, a ladies finishing school, a business school and now hosts conferences, weddings and a variety of events.
Continuing over the golf course and through Thunderdell Wood along part of the 177-mile Chiltern Way, Aldbury Common led them to the 108-foot-high Bridgewater Monument, which commemorates the third Duke of Bridgewater, Francis Egerton a renowned canal builder of the 18th century.
Locating picnic benches a stop for lunch whilst gazing at the monument, and refreshed they descended into Aldbury village with its quaint duck pond and a visit to the Church of St John the Baptist, with the Pendley Chapel installed in 1575 after it was moved from the dissolved monastery at Ashridge.
Then onward via Grim’s Ditch, a mysterious linear earthwork onto The Ridgeway and over Pitstone Hill back to their start after their 12-mile hike.
On day two rain greeted them as they set off from Whiteleaf car park above the small market town of Princes Risborough on a 10-mile hike and the town gained its prefix during the 14th century, when the manor was owned by Edward the Black Prince.
Soon warming up by climbing through woodland to the viewpoint at Whiteleaf Cross, a pause to view a large chalk hill carving on the hillside, but unfortunately very little is known about its history.
Descending through Giles Wood to Lower Gadsden, open chalk land brought them over Pulpit Hill and Beacon Hill to the village of Ellesborough.
Onward to Coombe and a steep climb up Lodge Hill to Coombe Hill which rises to just over 850 feet, and a pause for morning break as the rain stopped at the Coombe Hill Monument.
This 64ft granite obelisk erected in 1904 honours the men of Buckinghamshire who lost their lives during the Second Boer War 1899-1902.
Glorious woodland at Low Scrubs and High Scrubs led to the hamlet of Dunsmore, with its village pond and the Church of the Resurrection before tramping through beautiful oak and beech trees in Fugsdone Wood, Goodmerhill and Chisley woods led to Buckmoorend Farm with its delightful farm shop selling the farm produce.
After partaking of lunch and visiting the farm shop it was time to move on with a glimpse of Chequers across the fields.
Named after a 12th century owner, it is the official residence of the serving Prime Minister in the lovely 16th century country house first restored and enlarged by William Hawtrey in 1565 and kindly bequeathed for its present use by Arthur Lee at the end of the Great War.
Moving on through Pond Wood and past Longdown Farm, more woodland at Ninn Wood led them back to their start before the journey home.
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