Bullbaiters Lane

This weirdly-named lane comes from the now peaceful village of Hyde Heath.  It starts at SP 005928, opposite Hydeheath Common and joins Chalk Lane, which leads across the A413 to Little Missenden on the way to High Wycombe market.  That's a possible route, anyway. 

‘Weird' until one realises that there was a strong liking for bloodsports until 1835 (when many were banned) and a firmly held belief that the ‘sport' made the flesh tender.  In fact, a law passed in 1376 forbade the sale of meat from bulls that had not been baited because it was thought that the prolonged exertion made tough meat tender and palatable.

Any excuse…

When the houses stopped, we felt in the middle of nowhere (#1-3).  And the lunch offered at The Red Lion, Little Miss. was unmiss-able.  And don't miss the church and its medieval wall-paintings.  We crossed the Mis-bourne on the way back (#4) looking far healthier than when I saw it before, 10 years ago.