Great Missenden: Stationary Walk

Great Missenden: Stationary Walk
1 July 2001

Location	Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, OS 181 I walked from Great Missenden to Wendover and took the train back. The point of the exercise was to try and find a Geocache on Coombe Hill. The walking was a bit hurried but I spent a lot of time on the station. It's my experience that that's what usually happens when I do linear walks.

Weather	Sunny spells but with increasing cloud cover.

Click on the images to see larger versions.

	A stately oak in a field.

I passed through this tunnel to cross the railway line that I would later use to get back to Great Missenden.

	On a watering trough a female pheasant sits, wondering if I'm dangerous enough to warrant trying to fly away. Pheasants are not great flyers.

A white wild rose is flowering beautifully in early June.

	I'm starting to gain elevation and get some nice views.

Slowly but steadily I'm climbing up towards the 260m high Coombe Hill.

	This is the view from the top, not far from where I found the Geocache.

On my way down I didn't take many photos but this is one of some valerian flowers. The flowers have a cloyingly sweet smell. The root on the other hand smells like a mix of week-old socks and cabbage. It's the root that is used for its calming effects. Cats love it to death and will try to dig up the roots if you grow the plant in your garden.

	As I said, I spent a lot of time on the station. This wasn't necessarily bad because I've wanted to document a typical London commuter belt railway station for some time. The colour scheme is blue and red throughout - British Rail's colours.

I don't know who takes care of the station nowadays but someone has put up plastic flowers in hanging baskets.

	The ladies' was unfortunately locked because of frequent vandalism.

There are two tracks here, one towards London Marylebone and one towards Birmingham New Street.

	On the other side from where I stand I can admire the perfect red moiree pattern of this BR bench. Beneath you can see that someone has already enjoyed their Saturday beer here.

Another look at the hideousness that is plastic plants.

	Much prettier then is the foot of one of the pillars that hold up the roof over the London-bound platform. Great care has been taken to pick out the relief in contrasting colours.

Outside the station in Great Missenden, a lamp has been painted in the same colour.