Posts tagged Chilterns

View to the Chess from the Latimer Estate

The Chiltern Heritage Trail is a 83 km (52 mile) circular long-distance footpath in Buckinghamshire. Created as a Millennium project, this trail links the towns and parishes within the district, offering stunning scenery, charming villages, and points of historical interest. Along the way it passes through Chesham, Latimer, Chorleywood, the Chalfonts, Amersham, Penn, the Missendens and Chartridge. We completed the trail in a series of shorter circular walks.

Point to Point: The full Chiltern Heritage Trail

Recommended start points:
- Chesham Underground Station (51°42'19"N 0°36'40"W)
- Chalfont St Giles High Street (51°37'56"N 0°34'13"W)
- Chalfont St Peter High Street (51°36'26"N 0°33'24"W)
- Seer Green Railway Station (51°36'35"N 0°36'28"W)
- Old Amersham High Street (51°39'59"N 0°36'60"W)
- Great Missenden Railway Station (51°42'13"N 0°42'33"W)
Distance: 82.9 km (51.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/-933m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Maps:
- Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
- Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenshead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Chiltern Heritage Trail (LDWA), See individual section posts linked below for other links.

Walking The Chiltern Heritage Trail in 17 Circular Routes

If you’re not up for an 83 km walk in one go, you can take in the Chiltern Heritage Trail in 17 circular walks of between 7.5 and 13 km each. We chose this option, completing all 17 sections over a few years from 2020 to 2025. The advantage of this option is exploring more of the villages and side paths close to the route

Each number refers to a circular walk below. Base map: Esri Topo via RideWithGPS

Route 1: Ashley Green and Whelpley Hill

Distance: 10.5 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 113m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Chesham Vale to Orchard Leigh: 6.5 km

Route 2: Orchard Leigh and Botley

Distance: 6.9 km (4.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 58m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Orchard Leigh to Tyler’s Hill: 3.4 km

Route 3: Chesham & Tylers Hill

Distance: 9.3 km (5.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 84m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Tylers Hill to Lower Bois: 4.49 km

Route 4: Chesham & Bois and Wychfield Spring

Distance: 7.8 km (4.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 166m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: River Chess at Lower Bois to Blackwell Hall Lane: 4.4 km

Route 5: Latimer and Codmore Wood

Distance: 7.7 km (4.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 120m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Blackwell Hall Lane to Stoney Lane: 3.2 km

Route 6: Little Chalfont and Latimer

Distance: 7.5 km (4.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 91m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Latimer to Carpenters Wood: 3.3 km

Route 7: Phillipshill Wood and Hanging Wood

Distance: 9.1 km (5.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 101m
Chilterns Heritage Trail Section Covered: Carpenters Wood to Newland Gorse: 3.5 km

Route 8: Chalfont St Giles and Newlands Park

Distance: 8.6 km (5.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 75m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Newland Gorse to Chalfont Common: 4.6 km

Route 9: Chalfont St Peter, Seer Green and Chalfont St Giles

Distance: 13.1 km (8.1 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 124 m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Chalfont St Giles to Hodgemoor Wood: 10.3 km

Route 10: Amersham and Coleshill

Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 118m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Bottrells Lane to Amersham: 5.2 km

Route 11: Amersham, Winchmore Hill and Penn

Distance: 12.5 km (7.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 119m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Coleshill to Toby’s Lane: 8.1 km

Route 12: Little Kingshill and Little Missenden

Distance: 9.9 km (6.1 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 104m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Beamond End Lane to Little Kingshill Recreation Park: 6.2 km

Route 13: Great Missenden and Little Kingshill

Distance: 9.2 km (5.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 114m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Little Kingshill Recreation Ground to Buryfield Car Park: 4.4 km

Route 14: Great Missenden and Ballinger

Distance: 9.8 km (6 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 113m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Buryfield Car Park to Ballinger Common: 3 km

Route 15: Lee Common and Ballinger

Distance: 7.5 km (4.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 65m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Ballinger Common to Chartridge: 5.2 km

Route 16: Chartridge, Asheridge and Buckland Common

Distance: 9.5 km (5.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 97m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Hightree Wood to Buckland Common: 5.1 km

Route 17: Cholesbury and Asheridge

Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 103m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Blue Ball Braziers Lane to Ramscote Lane: 7.8 km

Cycling The Chilterns Heritage Trails

If you have completed the Chiltern Heritage Trail walking routes there’s also 3 cycling routes in the area. Each route is a circuit so can be started at any point, however Amersham New Town is an obvious base. Amersham has a direct rail and Underground connection to London and good parking options.

The 3 routes are:

Milton Route, named after John Milton who was an English Poet and Civil Servant.
- Distance: 42km / 26 miles. Elevation Change: +/- 391m
Hampden Route, named after John Hampden, who was an early parliamentarian.
- Distance: 41km / 25.5 miles. Elevation Change: +/- 352m
Harding Route, named after Thomas Harding who was burnt at the stake in 1532 for possessing a Bible when this was still forbidden.
- Distance: 40 km / 24.8 miles. Elevation Change: +/- 385m

Click here for more information on the Chiltern Heritage Trail cycle routes.

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Richard gower11 March 2025Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Orchard Leigh and Botley

Start & Finish: The Crown Pub, Blackwell Hall Lane, Ley Hill, Chesham, HP5 1UY
Distance: 6.9 km (4.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 58m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Orchard Leigh to Tyler’s Hill: 3.4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Harding Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Crown at the start and finish, Hen & Chickens (1.7 km in)
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Botley, Ley Hill

This is part of a series of short circular walks in the Chilterns. It’s a part of a series of 17 walks that, between them, cover the 83 km of the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Created as a Millennium project, this trail links the towns and parishes within the district, offering stunning scenery, charming villages, and points of historical interest. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

For this walk we parked opposite the Crown Pub in Ley Hill. From the pub walk north along Blackwell Hall Lane for 100m, then find the footpath to the right-hand side of the Ley Hill Methodist Church. Follow this path in a westerly direction for ~1km to Tylers Hill Road. Cross the road and continue on the path diagonally through the field to the south-western corner. In the next field take a sharp right to follow the field-edge path to Bottom Lane. Follow Tyler’s Hill Road to Botley Road and take a right at the Hen & Chickens junction.

Shortly up Botley Road take a left into a farm entrance and follow the footpath north to Lye Green Road. Take a right onto Lye Green Road then a right onto the first footpath. Follow this path as it curves up in a north-easterly direction, crossing over Rushmere Lane and into another field. Approximately 0.5 km after Rushmere Lane you’ll reach a path junction where you’ll take a right onto a farm heading in a south-easterly direction. Follow this path for ~1 km, reconnecting with the Chiltern Heritage Trail half-way. Take a right onto Chesham Road then a left on a path at the road bend, keeping on the Heritage Trail. Follow the Chiltern Heritage Trail all the way back to the Crown pub at Ley Hill.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Chesham & Tylers Hill
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Ashley Green and Whelpley Hill

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Richard gower8 February 2025Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Ashley Green and Whelpley Hill

Start & Finish: King Charles pub, Chesham Road, Chesham, HP5 3PF
Distance: 10.5 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 113m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Chesham Vale to Orchard Leigh: 6.5 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Harding Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The King Charles at start and end, The Golden Eagle, just off route at 4 km in
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Ashley Green, Whelpley Hill

For this walk we parked at the King Charles pub on the A416 and walked in a northerly direction up the small unnamed road that’s on the southern end of the pub car park. Take a left into the private road (with public right of way) leading to Pressmore Farm. Follow the footpath through the farm to Vale Road. Cross over the road to continue to follow the path in a north-westerly direction. You’re now on the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Continue for ~600m then, before the Chiltern Heritage Trail takes a left up the hill, take the footpath on the right to climb the hill on the northern side, then take a right to follow the path back to Vale Road.

Take a left onto Vale Road, then take the first lane on the right opposite the Black Horse Inn. Continue on the Chiltern Heritage Trail as it snakes through farmland to Hog Lane in Ashley Green. Take a right onto Hog Lane, cross over the A416 and pick up the Heritage Trail again heading in an easterly direction. Approximately half a mile from Ashely Green there’s a fork in the path where you need to take the right hand path heading south-east.

When you reach Whelpley Hill cross through the small estate and onto Whelpley Hill Road. Take a right onto a footpath heading in a south-westerly direction, leading to Grove Lane. After 1km you’ll reach a path junction where you’ll leave the Heritage Trail and take the path that leads in a north-westerly direction to Grove Lane. Cross over Grove Lane and take the path to Two Dells Lane. Take a left then the first footpath on the right to cross through fields back to the A416 and the King Charles pub.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Orchard Leigh and Botley
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Cholesbury and Asheridge

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Richard gower25 January 2025Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Cholesbury and Asheridge

Start & Finish: The Blue Ball, Braziers End, Asheridge, Chesham, HP5 2UX
Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 103m
Chilterns Heritage Trail Section Covered: Blue Ball Braziers Lane to Ramscote Lane: 7.8 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Harding Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Blue Ball at start and end, The Full Moon (4.1 km in)
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Asheridge, Cholesbury, Hawridge, Bellingdon

This is part of a series of short circular walks in the Chilterns. It’s a part of a series of 19 walks that, between them, cover the 83 km of the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Created as a Millennium project, this trail links the towns and parishes within the district, offering stunning scenery, charming villages, and points of historical interest. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

For this walk we parked at the Blue Ball pub on Braziers End Road. From here walk along Braziers End in a north-westerly direction, crossing over Oak Lane, until reaching a path junction just south of Cholesbury Lane. Take a right to continue along the Heritage Trail into Cholesbury village via Cholesbury Lane. Take a right onto Ray’s Hill (road) before the Full Moon Pub and keep an eye out for the old windmill on your left.

Before Ray’s Hill (road) curves to the left, take the left-hand footpath to keep on the Heritage Trail heading in a south-easterly direction. Continue for 3.5 km through The Vale until you a junction of Ramscote Lane. Leave the Heritage Trail here to take a right, ascending up the hill. Take the first path on the right to path through Ramscoat Wood in a northerly direction until reaching Ramscote Lane again. Take a left onto Ramscoat Lane and follow it to a path that runs between The Old Brickworks and Bloomfield Copse. Take a left onto this path to Chesham Road. Take a right onto Chesham Road then take the path on the left between 2 houses. Follow the paths in a south-westerly direction to return to the start at the Blue Ball.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Ashley Green and Whelpley Hill
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Chartridge, Asheridge and Buckland Common

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Richard gower11 January 2025Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Chartridge, Asheridge and Buckland Common

Start & Finish: Chartridge Village Hall, Chartridge, Chesham, HP5 2TN
Distance: 9.5 km (5.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 97m
Chilterns Heritage Trail Section Covered: Hightree Wood to Buckland Common: 5.1 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail, Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Harding and Hampden Routes
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Blue Ball (1.4 km in)
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Chartridge, Asheridge, Buckland Common

For this walk we parked outside Chartridge Village Hall and walked along The Bungalow (road) in a south-easterly direction. Take the path on the left before the Chartridge Mission Church and follow the Heritage Trail in a north-easterly direction until you reach Braziers End (road). Take a left to follow Braziers End (road) until it starts to curve to the right at Ashotts Lane. Leave the road at follow the footpath heading to the north-west. Keep on the Heritage Trail, crossing over Oak Lane until you get to a path junction in a corner of a field south of Cholesbury Lane.

At the path junction leave the Heritage Trail by taking the left hand path heading in a westerly direction. Take a right onto Oak Lane then take the first footpath on the left to follow the Chiltern Way in a south-westerly direction. Approximately 1 km from Oak Lane you’ll reach a path junction at the south-western edge of some woodland. Take a left to follow the inner edge of the woodland. The path will take a sharp turn to the left to meet another path along a field edge. Take a right to follow the path heading south to Arrewig Lane. Take a right onto Arrewig Lane, following it south to Chartridge Lane. Take a left onto Chartridge Lane then the first footpath on the right to cut across fields and rejoin the Heritage Trail. Stay on the Heritage Trail to return to Chartridge Village Hall.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Cholesbury and Asheridge
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Lee Common and Ballinger

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Richard gower3 January 2025Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Walking The South Bucks Way

The start of the South Bucks Way at the Coombe Hill Monument

The South Bucks Way is a 37 km (23-mile) trail that promises a delightful escape for walkers and hikers. This scenic route, often overshadowed by its more famous counterparts, offers a tranquil journey through charming villages, lush countryside, and the gentle murmur of the River Misbourne. This post is part of a series of circular walks featuring the South Bucks Way. The full trail stretches from Coombe Hill near Wendover to the Grand Union Canal at Denham. Our walks take in short sections of the South Bucks Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The South Bucks Way is well sign-posted however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

Point to Point: The full South Bucks Way

Start: Coombe Hill Monument via Coombe Hill Car Park, Coombe Hill, Lodge Hill, Aylesbury, HP17 0UR
Finish: Grans Union Canal via Denham Country Park, Denham Court Drive, Denham, Uxbridge UB9 5PG
Distance: 37 km (23 miles)
Elevation change: + 251m / - 461m. Net -210m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Pubs / Cafes on route: See individual section posts linked below.
Maps:
- Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
- Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenshead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: South Bucks Way (LDWA), See individual section posts linked below for other links.

Walking The South Bucks Way in 10 Circular Routes

If you’re not up for an 37km walk in one go, you can take in the South Bucks Way in 10 circular walks of between 6 and 13 km each. We chose this option, completing all 10 sections over a few years from 2020 to 2024. The advantage of this option is exploring more of the villages and side paths close to the route

Part 1: Coombe Hill and Little Hampden

Distance: 8.6 km (5.3 miles).
Elevation change: +/- 139m
South Bucks Way Section Covered: Coombe Hill to Little Hampden: 3.71 km

Part 2: Little Hampden and Great Missenden

Distance: 11.2 km (7.0 miles).
Elevation change: +/- 200m
South Bucks Way Section Covered: Little Hampden to Great Missenden: 5.19 km

Part 3: Great Missenden and Little Kingshill

Distance: 9.2 km (5.7 miles).
Elevation change: +/- 114m
South Bucks Way Section Covered: Great Missenden to Little Kingshill: 3.3 km

Part 4: Little Kingshill and Little Missenden

Distance: 9.9 km (6.1 miles).
Elevation change: +/- 104m
South Bucks Way Section Covered: Little Kingshill to Little Missenden: 3.47 km

Part 5: Little Missenden and Shardeloes

Distance: 8.1 km (5.0 miles).
Elevation change: +/- 74m
South Bucks Way Section Covered: Little Missenden to Shardeloes: 2.84 km

Part 6: Amersham, Winchmore Hill and Penn

Distance: 12.5 km (7.8 miles).
Elevation change: +/- 119m
South Bucks Way Section Covered: Shardeloes to Amersham Market Square: 1.2 km

Part 7: Amersham and Coleshill

Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles).
Elevation change: +/- 118m
South Bucks Way Section Covered: Amersham Market Square to Rushcroft Wood: 4.0 km

Part 8: Chalfont St. Peter, Seer Green and Chalfont St. Giles

Distance: 13.1 km (8.1 miles).
Elevation change: +/- 124 m
South Bucks Way Section Covered: Rushcroft Wood to Chalfont St. Peter: 4.3 km

Part 9: Gerrards Cross to Denham

Distance: 10.4 km (6.4 miles).
Elevation change: +81 / -116. Net -35m
South Bucks Way Section Covered: Chalfont St Peter to Denham Station: 7.6 km

Part 10: Denham Village and The Grand Union Canal

Distance: 6.2 km (3.9 miles).
Elevation change: +/- 29m
South Bucks Way Section Covered: Denham Station to the Grand Union Canal: 2.3 km

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Richard gower31 December 2024Trek, Chilterns, National Trust, Buckinghamshire, Colne Valley, Canal, Railway, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Lee Common and Ballinger

Start & Finish: The Cock and Rabbit Inn, The Lee, Great Missenden, HP16 9LZ
Distance: 7.5 km (4.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 65m
Chilterns Heritage Trail Section Covered: Ballinger Common to Chartridge: 5.2 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail, The Chiltern Link
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Cock and Rabbit Inn at start and finish
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: xx

For this walk we parked near the Cock and Rabbit Inn and followed Lee Clump Road in a north-easterly direction. After 700m take a right onto Oxford Street and follow it all the way to Ballinger Road. Take a left onto Ballinger Road then take the first footpath on the right to follow the Heritage Trail in an easterly direction to the village of Chartridge. Take a right on to Cogdells Lane and follow it for 400m to a path junction. Here you have a choice of continuing down into the valley or taking a right to follow the top of the valley. Either route re-connects at the Chiltern Link Path at Ballinger Bottom.

Take a left onto Ballinger Road and follow it in a southerly direction to Ballinger Common. Take a right onto Blackthorne Lane where you’ll be back on the Hertiage Trail, following it all the way back to the start at the Cock and Rabbit.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Chartridge, Asheridge and Buckland Common
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Great Missenden and Ballinger

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Richard gower26 December 2024Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Chesham Bois and Wychfield Spring

Start & Finish: On-street parking around junction of Bois Lane, Green Lane, Woodside Avenue, HP6 5LN
Distance: 7.8 km (4.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 166m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: River Chess at Lower Bois to Blackwell Hall Lane: 4.4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail, Chess Valley Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Hampden Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: None. Small convenience store on Bois Lane near start and end
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Chesham Bois, River Chess

For this walk we parked on Bois Lane and walked along it in an north-easterly direction. Take a right onto Holloway Lane, next right onto St Leonards Road then right onto the footpath that descends through Blackwell Shrubs to pass under the rail line. Continue to Latimer Road and cross over to follow Blackwell Hall Lane, crossing over the River Chess. At Blackwell Farm Cottages continue along Blackwell Hall Lane, leaving the Chiltern Heritage Trail.

When Blackwell Hall Lane takes a sharp right you can either continue along it or take the footpath on the left to take a short-cut across the fields. Either way you’ll end up on Burns Lane, leading to Green Lane. Follow Green Lane in a westerly direction for ~1.7 km then take a left onto Pump Lane heading south.

When you reach Latimer Road again, cross over and take a right onto the Chess Valley Walk. Take the first footpath on the left to cross the River Chess and pick up the Chiltern Heritage Trail again, heading south. Take a right onto Bois Moor road, then a left to cross under the rail line. Continue in a south-westerly direction ascending through Bois Wood to North Road. Take a left onto the road to follow it to Bois Lane then take a left to return to the start.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Latimer and Codmore Wood
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Chesham & Tylers Hill

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Richard gower26 December 2024Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Phillipshill Wood and Hanging Wood

Start & Finish: Junction of Chalfont Lane and Shire Lane, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, WD3 5NT
Distance: 8.4 km (5.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 87m
Chilterns Heritage Trail Section Covered: Carpenters Wood to Newland Gorse: 3.5 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Milton Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenhead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Chorleywood, Phillipshill Wood, Hanging Wood

For this walk we parked at the side of the road near the junction of Chalfont Lane and Shire Lane. Start by walking in a southerly direction down Shire Lane until you get to a T junction in the path after 1.5 km. Take a right then follow the Heritage Trail as it curves up to the north-west. Don’t take the left hand path following the Heritage Trail, instead continue north to a path junction where you can take a left to follow the path through the woods to Nightingale Lane.

Take a right onto Nightingale Lane, then right into Roughwood Lane. Be careful on the short walk along Roughwood Lane as it’s a fast road without a pavement. There’s a wide verge to walk along though. Follow Roughwood Lane to the junction with Burtons Lane, then cross over to follow Lodge Lane to the entrance of Lodge Farm Estate. Take a right into the estate, following the path to the railway line. After the tunnel under the rail line, take a right to follow the path through Old Hanging Wood to reconnect with the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Take a right to cross back under the railway line and follow the Heritage Trail back to the start.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Chalfont St Giles and Newlands Park
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Little Chalfont and Latimer

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Richard gower25 December 2024Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Gerrards Cross to Denham

Start & Finish: Gerrards Cross Station, SL9 8PP, United Kingdom
Distance: 10.4 km (6.4 miles)
Elevation change: +81 / -116. Net -35m
South Bucks Way section covered: Chalfont St Peter to Denham Station: 7.6 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): South Bucks Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Milton Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Gerrards Cross, Chalfont St Peter and Denham village centres.
Map: Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenshead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: South Bucks Way (LDWA), Gerrards Cross, Chalfont St Peter, Northmoor Hill Nature Reserve, Denham

For this section there weren’t any great options for circular walks so we did a point-to-point from Gerrards Cross to Denham stations and got the train back instead. From Gerrards Cross Station follow the footpath that runs to the north parallel to the railway line to Bull Lane. Take a right onto Bull Lane to the junction with Maltmans Lane and pick up the footpath heading north. Continue north on the footpath then onto Austenwood Close then a left onto Austenwood Lane and a right onto Gold Hill East. Follow Gold Hill East as it curves round to the north-east and descents down Market Place to the centre of Chalfont St. Peter. At the mini-roundabout take a right onto High Street and you’ll now be back on the South Bucks Way.

Follow the South-Bucks Way as it takes a left up Chiltern Hill through a very nice estate then a right into fields, through a Scout Campsite and Gerrards Cross Golf Club. When exiting the golf club take a right onto Denham Lane then a left on to a footpath that heads north and runs parallel to the M25. Cross under the M25 through a foot-tunnel and follow the path as it snakes around the boundary of the HS2 site through to Tilehouse Lane. Take a right onto Tilehurst Lane and follow it in a southerly direction past Denham Aerodrome and take a left onto Denham Green Lane. Follow Denham Green Lane in a south-easterly direction to the A412 North Orbital Road. Cross over the A412 and follow Link Way, cross over Moorfield Road and down Savoy Lane. Take a right onto a footpath called The Phygtle which leads you to Denham Station. There’s regular trains on the Chiltern Main Line back to the start at Gerrards Cross Station.

Previous section (north): Chalfont St Peter, Seer Green and Chalfont St Giles
Next section (south): Denham Village and The Grand Union Canal

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Richard gower21 December 2024Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Walking The Chiltern Way Part 6 - Shrub Hill Common to Chalfont St. Giles

Between Felden and Bovingdon shortly after sunrise

Start: Chaulden Adventure Playground, 106 Long Chaulden, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 2HX
Finish: The Village Green, Chalfont Saint Giles, HP8 4QF
Distance: 22.7 km (14.1 Miles)
Elevation change: +250m / -303m. Net -53m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Red Walk, Hertfordshire Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail, South Bucks Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath, Chiltern Heritage Trail Milton Route,
Pubs / Cafes on route: Bell Inn Bovingdon (5.9 km in), Green Dragon or Bricklayer’s Flaunden (8.9 km in), Cock In Sarratt (13 km in). Red Lion Chenies (15.1 km in), Cafe at Van Hage Garden Centre (15.5 km in), Merlins Cave (at the finish)
Maps:
- St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
Links: Chiltern Way (Chiltern Society), Hemel Hempstead, Boxmoor, Bovingdon, Flaunden, Sarratt, Chenies, Chorleywood, Chalfont St Giles

This is the sixth of a series of point to point walks on the Chiltern Way. The full trail is a 134 mile (215 km) long distance path around the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). My friend Brian and I have been doing a section a year on or around the Winter Solstice since 2019. At the current rate we plan to be finished in December 2027. The Chiltern Way is well sign-posted however you should take a map or GPX route to keep on track and be prepared for all weathers. This post isn’t intended as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

Brian and I tend to see a lot of each other over the summer months then there’s a gap of a few months when I get distracted by longer holidays and peak busyness at work. The Winter Solstice hike is always a good opportunity to catch up on what we’ve missed in each others’ lives. This year’s Solstice hike was at the midway point between our 50th birthdays. As well as our normal check-in we spent the drive to the start to compare notes on which parts of our bodies were slowing down or wearing out. Fortunately there was nothing too dramatic this year apart from a few aches and twinges.

Picking up from Part 5 at Shrub Hill we headed south through the outskirts of Hemel Hempstead. Our first stop was the obligatory sunrise selfie, albeit not in the most scenic part of this year’s walk.

After 1.6 km we crossed over the Grand Union Canal, last seen at Cow Roast at the start of section 2. After the canal the route ascends up to Boxmoor, also following a section of the Hertfordshire Way until Flaunden. I had marked pub stops on the map at both Flaunden and Sarratt in the optimistic hope that one of them might be open for morning coffee. As per all other Soltrice Walks we were way too early. The first rest and food stop came right at lunchtime at the cafe in the Van Hage Garden Centre off the A404.

For the afternoon section we were in very familiar territory, close to our homes and on very familiar paths. After the A404 the route joins the Chiltern Heritage Trail, heading sound through Chorleywood, along Old Shire Lane and before curving round towards the west to Chalfont St Giles. The Merlin’s Cave pub, with an excellent fish and chips, was our end point for this section.

Previous section: Walking The Chiltern Way Part 5: Peter’s Green to Shrub Hill Common
Next section: Walking The Chiltern Way Part 7: Chalfont St. Giles to Marlow Bottom. Blog post coming in December 2025

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Richard gower20 December 2024Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, England, CanalComment

Chiltern Walks: Little Hampden and Great Missenden

Start & Finish: Great Missenden Station, HP16 9AZ
Distance: 11.2 km (7.0 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 200m
South Bucks Way section covered: Little Hampden to Great Missenden: 5.19 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): South Bucks Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail, Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Hampden Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Black Horse (10.3 km in), several in Great Missenden village centre.
Map: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: South Bucks Way (LDWA), Little Hampden, Great Missenden, Prestwood, Pepperbox Woods

Start at the Great Missenden village centre where you’ll find several means to access the start including the railway station, bus stops and car parks. From the station head west over the A4128 Martinsend Lane, crossing over the railway bridge, then take a left into Trafford Road. This first section follows the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Take the footpath on the right to follow the Chiltern Heritage Trail in a westerly direction, through fields and woods to Prestwood.

Leave the Chiltern Heritage Trail when you cross Green Lane, instead continuing in a westerly direction to Prestwood high Street (A4128). Take a right onto Moat Lane and follow it in a north-westerly direction the Horley Bottom and into Pepperboxes Woods. When you reach Rignall Road, take a left onto it and follow it for 200m before taking a footpath on the right into farmland. Follow the path uphill for 1.3 km until you reach Little Hampden Village. Take a right to the village centre where you’ll connect with the southern end of the first section of the South Bucks Way.

Conitnue in an easterly direction, following the same section of the South Bucks Way and Chiltern Way as in Part 1. Instead of turning north through Hampdenleaf Wood, as in part one, continue heading east following the South Bucks Way. Continue along the South Bucks Way in a a south-easterly direction descending to the north end of Great Missenden at the Black Horse pub on Aylesbury Road. Before you cross the road take a moment to stop by the pond between the railway tracks and the road. This is the start of the River Misbourne which you’ll be following for the rest of the South Bucks Way.

Take the footpath on the southern side of the Black Horse pub to follow the South Bucks Way through fields running between the A413 and Aylesbury Road. Be careful in the winter or in wet conditions as this part can get flooded and muddy. The path ends at Link Road which you can follow back to the village centre.

South Bucks Way previous section (north): Coombe Hill and Little Hampden
South Bucks Way next section (south): Great Missenden and Little Kingshill

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Richard gower13 July 2024Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Coombe Hill and Little Hampden

View across the Vale of Aylesbury from Coombe Hill

Start & Finish: Coombe Hill Car Park, Coombe Hill, Lodge Hill, Aylesbury, HP17 0UR
Distance: 8.6 km (5.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 139m
South Bucks Way section covered: Coombe Hill to Little Hampden: 3.71 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): South Bucks Way, Coombe Hill Purple Route, Coombe Hill Orange Trail, The Ridgeway, Outer Aylesbury Ring, Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: None, but there was an ice cream van in the car park when we got back there at the end.
Map: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: South Bucks Way (LDWA), Coombe Hill, Bacombe Hill, Coombe Hill National Trust, Little Hampden, Dunsmore

Start at the Coombe Hill National Trust Car Park and follow the main trail to the north, curving round to the west to reach the summit of Coombe Hill. The summit is marked by the Coombe Hill Monument erected to honour the names of men who fell whilst fighting in the Second Boer War. From here, on a clear day like we had, you get amazing view to the north across the Vale of Aylesbury.

From the monument head south along the Ridgeway for just under 2 km to a path junction where the South Bucks way splits from the Ridgeway. Keep on the South Bucks way, now heading in a south-easterly direction until you reach the village of Little Hampden. This is the end of the South Bucks Way section of this walk. take a left to follow the Chiltern Way for ~800m across a valley-shaped field and into Hampdenleaf Woods. At the top of the hill take a left to follow the path along the woods to Dunsmore. Pass through Dunsmore into High Scrubs wood, following paths that take you in a north-easterly direction back to the Coombe Hill car park.

South Bucks Way next section: Little Hampden and Great Missenden

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Richard gower29 June 2024Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Bovingdon Green and Shillingridge Wood

Navigating a fallen tree near Kent’s Wood

Start & Finish: The Royal Oak, Frieth Road, Marlow, SL7 2JF
Distance: 10.9 km (6.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 152m
Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Rogues Plantation to Pullingshill Wood: 2.5 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Shakespeare’s Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Royal Oak at start and finish
Map: Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenhead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Bovingdon Green, Pullingshill Wood & Marlow Common

The Shakespeare’s Way is a 235 km / 146 mile mile long-distance path connecting Shakespeare's birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon with the Shakespeare's Globe (Theatre), Southwark, London. A 34km section of the path cuts through the Chiltern Hills National Landscape in a south-easterly direction. Our walks take in short sections of the Shakespeare’s Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The Shakespeare’s Way is reasonably well marked however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

For this walk we parked at the Royal Oak pub on Frieth Road. From here take a left to walk along Frieth Road in a westerly direction and take the first footpath on the right. Follow the path north for 300m then take a left onto Mundaydean Lane. Follow Mundaydean Lane for it’s full length and continue when it becomes a footpath into Shillingridge Woods. At a footpath junction ~2.3km into from where you joined Mundaydean Lane, take a left to cross farmland.

The path will join Finnamore Lane then Frieth Road. Take a right onto Frieth Lane then first left onto Chrisbridge Lane. Follow Chrisbridge Lane for 2.5km then take a path on the left to cross farmland. Continue heading south until you meet the Chiltern Way and The Shakespeare’s Way on a small unnamed lane. Take a left onto the lane, then first left back down through the woods to the clearing. take a right to continue on the Chiltern Way and The Shakespeare’s Way.

Cross through Pullingshill Wood and into Davenport Wood where you’ll reach a path junction at 9.7 km into the walk. Leave the Shakespeare’s Way which continues towards the east and instead take a left to follow the Chiltern Way in a north-easterly direction. Continue along the Chiltern Way until you’re back at the Royal Oak pub in Bovingdon Green.

Shakespeare’s Way previous section (west): North-East Hambleden Circular
Shakespeare’s Way next section (east): Marlow and Harleyford

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Richard gower27 May 2024Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Sharpenhoe Clappers

Start & Finish: Sharpenhoe Clappers Car Park, 349 Sharpenhoe Road, Sharpenhoe, Bedford, MK45 4SH
Distance: 10.4 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 153m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Icknield Way, John Bunyan Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Icknield Trail, Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Chequers, Streatley (4.2 km in)
Map: Luton & Stevenage Map | Hitchin & Ampthill | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 193
Links: National Trust Sharpenhoe and Sundon Hills, Sharpenhoe Clappers Fort, Streatley, John Bunyan

This is part of a series of short circular walks in the Chilterns. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

Sharpenhoe Clappers is a classic Chilterns walk in the northern exclave of the Chiltern Hills AONB. This is where there’s a gap in the chalk ridge created by the River Lea as is meanders south from Leagrave, through Luton and eventually to London. It’s a lot quieter than the main section of the AONB and has some outstanding views from the top of the ridgeline. The free National Trust Car Park on Sharpenhoe Road is a good place to start. The Chiltern Way, Icknield Way and John Bunyan Trail and route through Sharpenhoe Clappers. This walk is just over 10km but you can create longer or shorter options with different choices on the intersections of these 3 trails.

From here follow the Chiltern Way/John Bunyan Trail heading in a north-easterly direction from the car park. After 100m there’s a fork in the path where you’ll take the left hand path to keep on the Chiltern Way/John Bunyan Trail now heading in a northerly direction. This first 1km takes you along the edge of a peninsular of chalk ridge leading up to the site of the old iron age hill fort. At the tip of the peninsular the John Bunyan Trail continues to the north. Instead, keep on the Chiltern Way as it curves around towards the south, joining the Icknield Way Path after the paragliding take-off spot. Keep following the Chiltern Way as it curves around the ridge to Streatley.

After a rest at the Chequers Inn, continue along Sharpenhoe Road until you reach a footpath on the left leading to the large transmitter towers. Follow this path then take a left onto the Icknield Way/John Bunyan Trail. Follow the path in a westerly direction for 1.5km until the Icknield Way and John Bunyan Trail split. Take a right to keep on the Icknield Way descending to the remains of an old quarry and another Icknield Way/John Bunyan Trail intersection. Take a right to follow the path at the bottom of the ridge back to Sharpenhoe Road. Cross over Sharpenhoe Road and take a right on the path to ascend steeply up to the car park.

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Richard gower18 May 2024Trek, Chilterns, National Trust, Bedfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Marlow and Harleyford

Start & Finish: Entrance to Higginson Park off High Street, Marlow, SL7 2AB
Distance: 10.2 km (6.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 94m
Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Pullingshill Wood to The Thames Path at Marlow: 3.4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Shakespeare’s Way, Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: Cafe in Higginson Park at start and finish. Harleyford Golf Club bar (4km in). Many in Marlow High Street.
Map: Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenshead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Marlow, Harleyford, Harleyford Estate, Pullingshill Wood & Marlow Common

For this walk we parked at Pound Lane car park at the northern end of Higginson Park. From here follow the Thames Path in a south-westerly direction for just over 2km. Take a right onto Harleyford Lane and follow it for 1km to to a T junction. Take a left and follow the footpath in a westerly direction through the Harleyford Estate. Approximately 600m past the Golf Course Club House you’ll reach a path junction in the woods. Take a right here and follow the path to the A4155 Henley Road. Cross over the A4155 and take a right onto Thames Reach. This will curve round to the north through RAF housing.

Continue along Thames Reach then North Close and into the footpath into Hog and Hollowhill Nature Reserve. Continue in a northerly direction into Pullingshill Woods. Look out for the information board detailing the woods’ history as a WW1 trench training. Shortly after the information board you’ll reach the junction with the Chiltern Way/Shakespeare’s Way.

Take a right onto Chiltern Way/Shakespeare’s Way and follow the path in a south-easterly direction. After ~300 the Chiltern Way and Shakespeare’s Way split. Leave the Chiltern Way and keep on the Shakespeare’s Way continuing in a south-easterly direction. When you reach the A4155 Henley Road, cross over and follow Pound Lane all the way back to the Pound Lane car park at Higginson Park.

Shakespeare’s Way previous section (west): Bovingdon Green and Shillingridge Wood
Shakespeare’s Way next section (east): Marlow Donkey

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Richard gower27 April 2024Trek, Thames, National Trails, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Stonor and Turville Heath

Start & Finish: Road-side parking in Stonor Village, RG9 6HB
Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 208m
Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Farm at south of Maidensgrove to Southend: 5.9 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Shakespeare’s Way, Chiltern Way, Oxfordshire Way, 7 Shires Way
Other routes touched (cycle): none
Pubs / Cafes on route: Cafe at the Stonor House Visitors Centre
Map: OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
Links: Stonor, Stonor Park, Pishill, Maidensgrove

For this walk we parked in a small layby in Stonor village centre. From here walk up the B480 in a northerly direction until you reach the corner of Stonor Park. Pass through the kissing gates and follow the path in a east/north-easterly direction for 1.9 km. Take a left onto Drovers Lane, following it in a north-westerly direction. Along Drovers Lane you can choose to either stick to the road or, as we did, take the parallel path through Summerheath Wood.

At the end of Drovers Lane continue onto Dolesden Lane, cross over Balham’s Lane then take a footpath on the left at the end of Dolesden Lane. Follow the footpath to the left of the converted church building and follow the path through farmland as it gently descends to Pishill. As you approach Pishill the path will meet a T-junction with the Oxfordshire Way. Take a left, then a right onto the B480 then a left onto Church Hill. Follow the Oxfordshire Way in a southerly direction up Church Hill then out into farmland. Continue for 2km from Pishill until you meet the junction with the Chiltern Way / Shakespeare’s Way at Maidensgrove. Take a left onto the Chiltern Way / Shakespeare’s Way to follow it all the way back to Stonor.

Shakespeare’s Way previous section (north): Russell's Water, Pishill and Maidensgrove
Shakespeare’s Way next section (south): Southend and Skirmitt (blog post coming soon)

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Richard gower20 April 2024Trek, Chilterns, Oxfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Lewknor and Pyrton

Weston Road between Lewknor and South Weston

Start & Finish: The Leathern Bottle, 1 High Street, Lewknor, Watlington, OX49 5TW
Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 79m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Oxfordshire Way, The Ridgeway, Aston Rowant Discovery Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Leathern Bottle at start and end
Map: OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
Links: Lewknor, Pyrton

This route is part of the Chilterns sections of both the Oxfordshire Way and The Ridgeway. Take a clockwise route if you’re following the Oxfordshire Way south to north or, as described below, an anti-clockwise route if you’re following The Ridgeway east to west.

For this walk we parked near the Leathern Bottle in Lewknor village centre and followed Weston Road in a north-westerly direction. After 1.5km take a left onto Rectory Lane following it in a south-westerly direction. When the lane ends continue onto the footpath to meet the Oxfordshire Way at 2.5km into the walk. Take a left at the footpath junction to follow the Oxfordshire Way to Knightsbridge Lane in Pyrton. Take a left onto Knightsbridge Lane, still following the Oxfordshire Way and cross over the B4009 Watlington Road. Continue along Station Road until you meet the junction with The Ridgeway.

Take a left onto the Ridgeway and follow it in a north-easterly direction for 3km. Take a left onto Hill Road and follow it for 700m then carefully cross over the B4009. Continue along the footpath onto Hill Road to return to the start point near the Leathern Bottle. We were keen to try out the pub as we had heard good reviews but it was closing as we got there. Check opening times before you go as it closes for a few hours each afternoon.

Oxfordshire Way Next Section (south): Christmas Common, Watlington Hill and Greenfield

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Richard gower30 March 2024Trek, Chilterns, Oxfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Bourne End, Cookham and Wooburn

Start & Finish: Wakeman Road Car Park, 2A Wakeman Road, Bourne End, SL8 5SX
Distance: 8.2 km (5.1 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 83m
Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Bourne End Rail Bridge to Broad Lane, Widmoor: 3.9 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Shakespeare’s Way, Beeches Way, Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop, High Wycombe to Bourne End Disused Railway
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Bourne End and Cookham village centres. Also The Ferry (2.4 km in), The Garibaldi (3.7 km in), Chequers Inn (5.3 km in),
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Bourne End, Cookham, Wooburn

For this walk we parked at Wakeman Road Car Park in Bourne End and walked to the River Thames via the footpath to the left of the station. At the Thames cross over the railway bridge and, at the bottom of the steps, take a right to follow the Thames Path in a southerly direction.

Leave the Thames Path at Cookham Bridge and cross over to the north side of the Thames to follow Ferry Lane north. Here you have 2 choices: to follow The Beeches Way by taking the first path on the right after the bridge or to take an alternative route via Hedsor Road. Both options come together around the 5km mark at the top of Harvest Hill. We had already done the Beeches Way option so we took the alternative described below.

Continue north along Ferry Lane the take a right onto Hedsor Road, following it for ~500m to take a left onto Heavens Lea. Cross over Hedsor Hill (road) to follow Harvest Hill (road) in a north-easterly direction to Kiln Lane. Take a left onto Kiln Lane then a right onto a footpath just before the Chequers pub. Follow this footpath all the way down to Wooburn Park then cross over the River Wye and Town Lane.

Take the path to the left of Spake Oak depot to reach the disused Wycombe to Bourne End Railway Line. Follow this in a south-westerly direction to the end at the A4155 Cores End Road. Follow this back to the car park in Bourne End.

Shakespeare’s Way previous section (west): Marlow Donkey
Shakespeare’s Way next section (east): Beeches Way

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Richard gower9 March 2024Trek, Chilterns, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Thames, National Trails, Railway, Disused Railway, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Watlington and The Ridgeway

Start & Finish: Public Car Park, Hill Road, Watlington, OX49 5AB
Distance: 7.9 km (4.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 59m
Oxfordshire Way Section Covered: The Ridgeway to Pyrton Lane: 1.67 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Ridgeway, The Oxfordshire Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Spire and Spoke (at start and end), The Chequers (7.3km in). Others in Watlington.
Map: OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
Links: Watlington

For our latest Chiltern Walk we returned to the Oxfordshire Way. This is a 66 mile long-distance path connecting Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds with Henley-on-Thames. Our plan is to start with the Chilterns section, taking it on in short circular walks of around 10km. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

For this walk we parked in the public car park near The Spire and Spoke on Hill Road, Watlington. From the north-western side of the car park follow Watcombe Road in a south-westerly direction then a right onto the B480 Brook Street. Take a left onto a footpath after ~20m which will open out into a large field. Cross the field diagonally in an easterly direction to meet a footpath. Take a left to follow this path for approximately 1.4km in a southerly direction to The Ridgeway. Along this path you’ll pass Willow Pond, a public space with a stream that you can walk either side of.

Turn left onto The Ridgeway and follow it in a north-easterly direction for approximately 2.5km. Take a left onto Station Road and follow it to the intersection with the B4009 Watlington Road. Just before the intersection, on the right hand side, you’ll pass the remains of the disused Watlington Station. There’s not much left and access to it is locked off but you can see the remains from the road.

Cross over the B4009 to follow Pyrton Lane for 55m until a junction where Pyrton Lane diverts to the left and Knightsbridge Lane continues to the north-west to Pyrton. This juction is as far as we go on the Chilterns Section of the Oxfordshire Way. The junction with the B4009 was the point where the Oxfordshire Way crosses out of the Chiltern Hills AONB.

Follow Pyrton Lane in a south-westerly direction for 40m then take a footpath on the left following the boundary of Icknield Community College. Follow the boundary of the college to Love Lane, following it onto Chapel Street then High Street. Take a left onto High Street and follow it back to the car park.