CHERRY RED TRAIL | Why not take on the Cherry Red walking challenge?
Thirteen years ago Cherry Red began to sponsor some gates in the Chiltern Hills. As well as big music and football fans many of us also really enjoy hiking and the outdoors. Through the Chiltern Society we sponsored four wooden gates – all near Hambleden in Buckinghamshire. The route is roughly 50 minutes’ drive from the CRHQ in Chiswick and 10 minutes from both Henley on Thames and Marlow. The gates are found on the edge of the Chiltern Hills, a very beautiful part of Southern England. Over the years we have had plenty of people comment on these gates, so we decided to launch the Cherry Red Trail!
Why not enjoy the lovely weather we are having and try for yourself!
It is an easy walk, with no hills, and is roughly five miles long. It takes about two hours if you walk at a leisurely pace. Along the route you might see some Red Kite birds, you can hear their unique scream! A once extinct bird they were reintroduced thirty years ago in this area and are thriving now. We’ve prepared a guide for you below, and you can download a PDF map of the route below.
Preparation
As well as a decent pair of shoes or trainers and a bottle of water we recommend you print out the attached map. You can get refreshments at the ‘Stag and Huntsman’ pub at the start or at the ‘Frog Inn’ in Skirmett near the turnaround point.
Instructions
It is easiest to park in Hambleden, either in the square by the Post Office, or at the larger free car park next to the ‘Stag and Huntsman’ pub around the corner. Walk through the church yard aiming for the top left-hand corner, go through the gate onto the road and a few yards along on the right-hand side you’ll see a green sign just before a small bridge saying ‘Chiltern Way.’ Head straight across the field, through a metal gate and a couple of wooden gates. After fifteen minutes you will find your first Cherry Red gate!
Keep going and you will pass Colstrope Farm until you come to another lane. Cross the lane and here you have two choices; to go straight or veer left around the edge of the field. Take the
latter and you will come to second Cherry Red gate. The sign is a bit worn! Now turn around and take the path on your left (not the way you came) past a small gypsy trailer, a bench and a lovely newly planted memorial wood and then turn left back onto the Chiltern Way.
Keep going for another twenty minutes or so until you come to small lane. Turn right and take the first path on the left. You will then come to a ‘path T junction.’ Turn left and there is Cherry Red’s third gate! (There are two gates, the one on the left is the CR one). If you feel like a rest go through the gate and there is bench outside the Skirmett Community centre. Even better walk a few more yards to the road and you will see the ‘Frog Inn’ pub.
To find the fourth gate, turn around and walk up the path and at the entrance to the second path you’ll discover our last gate on the right-hand side. To get back to Hambleden go through this gate, walk along the path until you reach a lane. Turn right and take the second path on the left and you are back on the Chiltern Way and making your way back to Hambleden.
GATE 1
GATE 2
GATE 3
