National Grade:Leisurely Distance: 6mi /9.7km  Leader: Jon K Date: Jul 11th 2026

Four hardy souls  joined Jon on yet another hot day……not the hottest but certainly hot enough for us all to take comfort from Jon’s promise that much of the walk would be in the shade.  As an added inducement we were promised a pub stop.

Burnham Beeches is a popular spot.  The car park was busy.  But within a few minutes of leaving the start point we found ourselves enjoying the peace and quiet of a woodland walk as we headed towards Upper and Middle Ponds.  In fact our only companions were a a group of ponies running through the woods.  Someone noted that they were not sticking to the bridle path.  

After leaving woodland behind us Jon explained that we would be walking across some open fields.  Although the sun was shining we were able to keep to the field edges where there was some shade, and the prospect of a drink at the Blackwood Arms at Littleworth Common kept us going.  The pub proved to be a welcome rest point.  The garden was very attractive and one could see why film and TV directors have chosen the pub for films such as “My Week with Marilyn” as well as an episode of “Midsomer Murders”.

After leaving the pub we started our return journey.  We walked through Dorney Wood and then, after crossing Park Lane, we headed north into the remote Staplefurze and Whitespark Woods.   Although we didn’t see many birds or mammals the footpaths and fallen trees were alive with insect life.

Just before we arrived back at the car park and a welcome ice cream, Jon stopped us to explain how most of Burnham Beeches  was requisitioned by the Army during World War II so that it could be used as a military base for storing vehicles.  The dense tree cover hid the vehicles from enemy reconnaissance aircraft.  In order to ensure access and hard standing the army used around 275,000 tons of rubble along some of the paths.   Much of the rubble came from buildings destroyed during the Blitz.  Although evidence of those wartime years is now largely gone, some paths still have old bricks and other debris embedded in them.

Many thanks to Jon for leading such an interesting walk and for looking after us so well.

Report by:  Rob Jones-Owen