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Coombe Hill

Trevp666

Beloved of Ra
Joined
May 29, 2009
Messages
11,192
Location
Flitwick, Bedfordshire, 1874
NOTE: This trip report has been copied from:

Lost Place?
https://forums.forteana.org/index.php?threads/lost-place.66421/


Well I had a nice drive out to Coombe Hill today in the R26.
I can't say for sure if it is the place or not, but it was a nice visit. A lot of what I remember from the original place is present here, but then, there could be other similar places?
If you plan to visit here's what I can advise;
The little car park is accessed through a winding, narrow road which only has enough space for vehicles to pass each other in places, so I wouldn't recommend visiting in anything larger than a small car, but saying that, there was a large coach in the car park! (which is all quite different to how I remember it).
Not much in the way of facilities, but the board with the map on indicates refreshments available at weekends, but I couldn't see any (today is Sunday) so maybe that's during the summer only?
There is a small area within a little enclosure which has tables and benches formed from rough wood (probably windfallen trees have been used), so there is at least somewhere to sit if you bring a packed lunch.
It appears to be accessible for people with mobility issues, however I would advise that the pathways and marked trails are a bit lumpy bumpy, and muddy in places, and there are stock of some kind apparently grazing the area (I didn't see any) which have left some (ahem) 'messages' dotted around for the unwary traveller.
Wrap up if it's cold as it's obviously quite windy up on the top where the elements come straight at you.
And also wear sensible footwear like some kind of boot with good tread on - I saw people in flat shoes and/or trainers looking like they were having some traction issues on the wet grass and muddy bits.

The entrance from the car park to the 'picnic' area is where their little notice board and map is......
Coombe Hill notice resized.jpg


Walking from this point through the trees brings you out into an area where you can take a variety of paths but I opted to take the shortest route to the "Boer War Monument", which did indeed take me across a grassy area bordered on either side by small bushes.............
Coombe Hill wide path resized.jpg


Then through a small wooded area to another wide flat area where you could see the monument on the horizon..........
Coombe Hill wide flat area resized.jpg


View of the back of the monument.....
Coombe Hill monument approach resized.jpg


The front of the monument.....
Coombe Hill monument 1 resized.jpg


The inscription on the lower part of the front panel.....
Coombe Hill monument front notice resized.jpg


....and the upper part....
Coombe Hill front notice upper part resized.jpg


There is a metal plate on the back with details of a lightning strike.......
Coombe Hill lightning notice resized.jpg


I expect that on a nice clear day you can see a bloody long way! Today was fairly overcast and starting to drizzle a bit, but the view was pretty good!
Coombe Hill view 1 resized.jpg


As you can see, there is some brightness off in the distance.
Coombe Hill view 2 resized.jpg


So that pretty much concludes details of my trip today. I hope you enjoyed the pictures.
~666~
 
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The 'refreshments' are provided by an ice-cream van (friendly Italian who used to play Pub darts with my brother) and an expensive coffee stall (not often there). The woods on the side of the carpark opposite to the momument path are quite extensive (I got lost trying to photograph gnomes in the Spring) - but if you follow the narrow road to the next village of Dunsmore (marvellous Cream Teas 3 times a year, but I only take the scooter), the woods have been devastatingly hacked. Used to be my favourite dappled sunlight road, now more like Passchendaele. The momument itself can be seen from practically any point in that part of the Chilterns - which is why it had to be camouflaged during WW2 so the Luftwaffe couldn't use it as a orientation point. This lead to a widespread belief/memory that the momument was damaged by bombing (not lightning)
 
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