Ramble in Shottesbrooke Park

Marlow Rotary Club rambles around Shottesbrooke Park

For their September ramble, the fitter members of Marlow Rotary Club met up in Waltham St Lawrence for a circular walk that took them across Shottesbrooke Park towards White Waltham Airfield and Littlewick Green.

On the estate, after passing through a mysterious tunnel, they passed the lovely church of St John the Baptist, with its fine spire. Originally built in 1337, the church was extensively restored in the middle of the nineteenth century. The Landmark Trust, which specialises in the restoration and holiday letting of largely modest in size but fascinating historical properties, has its offices on the estate.

The sound of small aircraft reminded us that we were near White Waltham Airfield, the home of the West London Aero Club. The brave women who acted as ferry pilots during the Second World War were based here and their story is well documented.

Our walk followed two days of torrential rain, so we were surprised not to arrive at our chosen luncheon spot in a rather muddy state. The Bell in Waltham St Lawrence served us well with good cask beer, tasty food, and its own intriguing historical décor. The pub’s interior, with its wooden panelling, harks back to its 15^th century origins.