The Marlow Monster

Start time: 10:30
Estimated finish time: 16:00
Difficulty: Moderate
Distance: 15.9km / 9.9mi
Ascent: 227.1m / 745ft
Walk Leader: Jonathan

The Marlow Monster - a 9.99-mile monster-shaped walk! Whilst not scary by any means, with Halloween just round the corner it feels like the perfect excuse to bring the beast out for a stroll.

We begin our walk at the monsters rear end, heading along the Thames path towards Temple Lock. From here we leave the river behind, passing through Harleyford Golf Club, hone to several wooden wildlife sculptures. Hopefully the golfers have better golf skills than me and we will avoid being hit by any stray golf balls!

Next, we pass through an assortment of woodland including Pullingshill Wood which contains the best and most complete set of 1st World War training trenches left in the UK. There are around 1400m of trenches, dug 2m deep and 2m wide, which were constructed in June 1915 by troops from the Grenadier Guards (4th Battalion) under the command of Colonel Corry.

By lunchtime we will have reached the monsters head will stop in Homefield Wood, a site of special scientific interest. The reserve is made up of beech, ash, sycamore and whitebeam with glades and open grassland. It is also home to a number of rare orchids, butterflies and moths.

After lunch and a short uphill stretch it is across fields back in the direction of Marlow. The ancient Oak trees at Marlow Common are over 100 years old and are home to the Green Tortrix Moth, which in turn is a vital food source supporting a diversity of bird species including the endangered Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreepers and the Nuthatch. Whilst I cannot guarantee we will see any of these birds on our walk, we will pass a family of (wooden) owls.

Weather and space permitting there may be the opportunity to stop for a drink in the garden of the Royal Oak in Bovingdon Green before the final mile back to the start point. If not, there are plenty of other pub and cafe options in Marlow itself.

Although most of the walk is relatively flat, there are a couple of modest climbs in places.

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