Summary                   

A mixed route on footpaths and tracks through fields and woodland, visiting the picturesque village green at The Lee.

Length:                         4.5 miles with a shorter 2.5 mile option

Start & finish:               Ballinger Common Recreation Ground, Blackthorne Lane, Ballinger HP16 9LN

Access Information:     Easy walking with one moderate descent and climb

Food & drink:               The Cock and Rabbit at The Lee on the full walk

Route

Cross the sports field to the right-hand corner, through the gap and straight ahead. In the next field bear half left to the right of the telegraph pole to the corner. (The official path is shown on the map).

1 – Cross the stile, turn right and over the stile directly ahead.  Continue along the hedgerow and cross the field past the right-hand side of a wood. Go through the gate, bear half right to the corner of the hedgerow and follow it round to the right to a gate. Go through and along a wide track to a crossing path.  (*For shorter option see below). Turn left up the slope and along to The Cock and Rabbit Inn.

2 – Turn right then immediately left past the village green to a road junction and turn left. Walk along the road and, at the right-hand bend, keep straight ahead on a wide unsigned track to a major path junction. Turn right and stay along the edge of three fields to a junction with The Chiltern Way.

3 – Turn right along The Chiltern Way, go through the gate, turn right between wooden fences to reach a path junction in a wood. Go straight ahead to a wide track and follow it to a road. Cross and continue ahead to reach a field. Fork right across it to the corner of the hedgerow and along its right-hand side. Go through a gate to a road, turn right past the village hall, cross the road and through the kissing gate into a field.

4 – Follow the path ahead and, after the fourth telegraph pole, turn right downhill. Just before the gate at the bottom, turn left and through the gate ahead. Follow the track to pass through a gate onto a road.

5 – Turn right for 50m, right again through a gap and left directly uphill. At the top, pass through a gap and continue ahead to a road T junction. Cross over and through the gate to finish the walk.

*Keep straight ahead to a T Junction. Turn right to rejoin the main route.

Points of Interest

The Lee has been used many times as a location, most notably for the TV series Midsomer Murders.