Greys Court and the Chilterns

There is a charming intimacy about Greys Court, a delightfully homely air that is not always evident in properties that have been immaculately restored and preserved by the National Trust. Major conservation building work has included the restoration of the roof, chimneys and gables. This was followed by the removal of asbestos from some parts of the building, which then made it possible to install improved electrical, plumbing, and heating infrastructures, and to make smaller conservation repairs to such things as ceilings and panelling.

With the St Nicholas Church lychgate on your left-hand side, walk towards The Maltsters Arms pub and turn immediately left before William’s Cottage to join a gravel drive. Follow the footpath as it runs alongside the churchyard and make for the gate ahead. Then head obliquely right, go through another gate and across the field to a third gate into the National Burial Ground. Veer halfright in the next field. Go through a metal gate to join a track.

Turn right and pass between trees, high hedges and margins of bracken. The track passes alongside the fairways of a golf course before crossing a drive to a gate. Continue ahead to reach the road and turn right. Pass a turning for Shepherd’s Green on the left and follow the road along to the grassy expanse of Greys Green. Veer left on to the green and aim to the right of the pavilion. Join a footpath, go through a gate and descend very steeply through trees to the next gate. Pass under power lines in the pasture and keep the fence on the left. Make for a kissing gate, cross a lane to a footpath and after a few steps you reach a gate. Take the tarmac driveway ahead for about 400yds (366m), passing Greys Court and its admission kiosk.

Veer left through the car park and go through a gate. Follow the path across a field. Go through a gate and straight on, then left through a gate follow the fence. Cross a bridge by a pond, go through a gate and then left through a second gate by a corrugated barn. Keep to the right, with the fence and a small pond on the right. Bear right onto a drive and make for the road ahead. Turn right at this junction, opposite Broadplat Croft.

Keep left at the next junction and continue along the road for 0.25 miles (400m) to reach a tree-lined driveway on the right, signposted to Rotherfield Greys. Where the driveway turns left keep ahead, following a rough track for 300yds (274m) to trees marking an old pit. Just beyond this take a stile (or gap) left, to follow a path down the hillside, keeping a belt of woodland on the right. Beyond it, continue on the grassy path with a fence on the right. Turn right at the end, through the gap, and follow the path alongside fencing. After about 60yds (55m), look for a stile on the left. Cross it, at first maintaining the same direction, but soon swinging left to follow the path up the slope and back to the road opposite the church at Rotherfield Greys where you started the walk.