Beeches to Commons: Green Escapes Beyond the Urban Edge

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Join me for an autumnal hike enjoying the last day of British Summer Time!!! 

Sandwiched between the M4 and M40 corridor, adjacent to the urban sprawl of West London and the much maligned Slough is a green oasis of protected ancient woodland and heathland. This 10 mile circular hike the knits together the best of this area to include Burnham Beeches, Egypt Woods and Stoke Common whilst passing through the pretty villages of Hedgerley and Fulmer. I have timed it to hopefully showcase some early autumn colours whilst we walk past beech trees, heather and silver birch. 

A summary of some of the sights: 

Burnham Beeches: is a scenic nature reserve and ancient woodland covering 220 acres and known for its impressive beech trees, some over 400 years old. The area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) due to its rare habitats and biodiversity. The City Of London Corporation has been responsible for Burnham Beeches since 1880 when it purchased the land to protect it from urban development and ensure its preservation for future generations. Due to its proximity to Pinewood Studios it is often used as a filming location and has been used in many films to include Harry Potter, Robin Hood Prince Of Thieves and Goldfinger. 

Hedgerley: is a small, picturesque village, with Medieval origins, and often features in the Bucks best kept village awards. It features traditional brick and flint cottages and a historic parish church (St. Mary the Virgin). Notably the village was known was the source of high quality bricks, to include those used by Brunel for the construction of the Great Western Railway, which for example were used for Box Tunnel near Bath. 

Fulmer: is another small village, often vying with Hedgerley for Bucks best kept village. The name "Fulmer" is thought to derive from Old English, meaning "foul mere" or "lake frequented by birds," likely referring to the nearby water features and wetlands. I will plan a drink stop at the Black Horse which dates back to the 1600's. 

Stoke Common: is a rare and ecologically significant area of heathland covering 205 acres and is one of the last remaining areas of lowland heath in Bucks. Similarly owned and managed by the City of London Corporation, Stoke Common is also designated as a SSSI due to its rich biodiversity. The area supports a range of wildlife, including rare insects, reptiles, and ground-nesting birds, as well as heather, gorse, and birch scrub.

The route here:

Starting at Burnham Beeches we will firstly take a tour via some of the paths of the nature reserve to include wetlands, ponds and a mix of trees. From the nature reserve we will continue through woodland via the Portman Burtley Estate through Nine Acre and Whitespark woods. We pass Pennlands Farm which had a brickworks until 1936.

We will stop at the village of Hedgerley for an early lunch stop and optional visit to the notable Church. From Hedgerley we continue onto the village of Fulmer via Church Wood and Colley Hill, and at this point the M40 becomes visible with the inevitable background chorus of traffic noise.

We will make our second stop in Fulmer with a drink at Black Horse. From Fulmer we walk through Stoke Common nature reserve and Farnham Common and eventually arrive back at Burnham Beeches. 

Well-behaved dogs are welcome, there are minimal stiles on route but a few road sections and crossings where they will need to be on a lead. Dogs need to be on a lead whilst we are in the Burnham Beeches nature reserve. Please abide by the Countryside Code (https://tinyurl.com/rlqvp3h) and remember not everyone loves dogs as much as you do so be mindful of other members.

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All photos taken by the leader and permission given to OutdoorLads for use.