In the woods near Tylers Hill

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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

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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.

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Footpath north of Ashley Green

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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

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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 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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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 Shakespeare’s 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

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

Click on the link in the title of each route to go to the detailed page for each route.

Part 1: Coombe Hill to Little Hampden

• Covers The South Bucks Way from Coombe Hill to Little Hampden: 3.71 km

• Distance: 8.6 km (5.3 miles). Elevation change: +/- 139m

Part 2: Little Hampden to Great Missenden

• Covers The South Bucks Way from Little Hampden to Great Missenden: 5.19 km

• Distance: 11.2 km (7.0 miles). Elevation change: +/- 200m

Part 3: Great Missenden and Little Kingshill

• Covers The South Bucks Way from Great Missenden to Little Kingshill: 3.3 km

• Distance: 9.2 km (5.7 miles). Elevation change: +/- 114m

Part 4: Little Kingshill to Little Missenden

• Covers The South Bucks Way from Little Kingshill to Little Missenden: 3.47 km

• Distance: 9.9 km (6.1 miles). Elevation change: + / - 104m

Part 5: Little Missenden and Shardeloes

• Covers The South Bucks Way from Little Missenden to Shardeloes: 2.84 km

• Distance: 8.1 km (5.0 miles). Elevation change: + / - 74m

Part 6: Amersham, Winchmore Hill and Penn

• Covers The South Bucks Way from Shardeloes to Amersham Market Square: 1.2 km

• Distance: 12.5 km (7.8 miles). Elevation change: +/- 119m

Part 7: Amersham and Coleshill

• Covers The South Bucks Way from Amersham to Rushcroft Wood: 4.0 km

• Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles). Elevation change: +/- 118m

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

• Covers The South Bucks Way from Rushcroft Wood to Chalfont St. Peter: 4.3 km

• Distance: 13.1 km (8.1 miles). Elevation change: + / - 124 m

Part 9: Gerrards Cross to Denham

• Covers The South Bucks Way from Chalfont St Peter to Denham Station: 7.6 km

• Distance: 10.4 km (6.4 miles). Elevation change: +81 / -116. Net -35m

Part 10: Denham Village and The Grand Union Canal

• Covers The South Bucks Way from Denham Station to the Grand Union Canal: 2.31 km

• Distance: 6.2 km (3.9 miles). Elevation change: +/- 29m

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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

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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 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.

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Highland Cows at Lodge Farm

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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

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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 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.

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Crossing under the M25 near Denham

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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): 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

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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.

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.

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Previous section (north): Walking The South Bucks Way Part 8: Chalfont St Peter, Seer Green and Chalfont St Giles
Next section (south): Walking The South Bucks Way Part 10: Denham Village and The Grand Union Canal

Farmland near Little Hampden

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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): Chiltern Heritage Trail, The 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

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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.

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.

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Previous section (north): Walking The South Bucks Way Part 1: Coombe Hill to Little Hampden
Next section (south): Walking The South Bucks Way Part 3: Great Missenden to Little Kingshill

View across the Vale of Aylesbury from Coombe Hill

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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): Coombe Hill Purple Route, Coombe Hill Orange Trail, The Ridgeway, Outer Aylesbury Ring, The 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

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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.

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.

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Next section: Walking The South Bucks Way Part 2: Little Hampden to Great Missenden

Navigating a fallen tree near Kent’s Wood

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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

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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.

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Shakespeare’s Way Previous Section (west): North-East Hambleden Circular
Shakespeare’s Way Next Section (east): Marlow and Harleyford

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View to Sharpenhoe Clappers Hill Fort

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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): The Chiltern Way, Iknield Trail Path, 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

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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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Pullingshill Wood

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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

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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 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.

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Shakespeare’s Way Previous Section (west): Bovingdon Green and Shillingridge Wood

Shakespeare’s Way Next Section (east): Marlow Donkey

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Between Turville Heath and Pishill

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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

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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 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.

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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)

Weston Road between Lewknor and South Weston

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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

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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.

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.

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

River Thames at Cookham

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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

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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 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.

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Shakespeare’s Way Previous Section (west): Marlow Donkey
Shakespeare’s Way Next Section (east): Beeches Way

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View to Watlington Hill

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Start & Finish: Public Car Park, Hill Road, Watlington, OX49 5AB
Distance: 7.9 km (4.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 59m
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

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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.

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

View down to the Chiltern Way near the Five Horseshoes, Maidensgrove

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Start & Finish: Nettlebed Kiln, The Old Kiln, Nettlebed, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 5AX
Distance: 8.5 km (5.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 159m
Shakespeare’s Way section covered: The Chiltern Way near Maidensgrove to Park Lane: 1.2 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Chiltern Way Southern Extension, The Chiltern Way, Shakespeare’s Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Five Horseshoes, Maidensgrove (roughly half-way)
Map: OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
Links: Nettlebed, Nettlebed Kiln, Maidensgrove

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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 on The Old Kiln (road) where there’s a few on-street parking spaces. If those are taken there’s a few around the grass island around the wooden shelter between the Kiln and the main road. Before heading off on the walk take a few minutes to check out the information boards for the Kiln and the Pudding Stones next to the shelter.

From The Old Kiln take a left onto The Green, following it in an easterly direction towards Crocker End. After ~650m take a left to follow the Chiltern Way Southern Extension in a northerly direction until at path junction at the bottom of a valley at ~2.3km in. Take a right to follow the Chiltern Way up the hill to reach the road at the southern edge of Maidensgrove and Russel’s Water Commons. Take a right to follow the road to the Five Horseshoes pub, a great half-way point for a rest.

When leaving the Five Horseshoes, continue in a north-westerly direction for ~100m then take the first footpath on the left to descend the hill back to the Chiltern Way. Take a left then first right to follow the Chiltern Way in an westerly direction to Park Corner. At Park Corner take a left after Chears Farm to follow a road heading south, then the first paths on the left, then right to head south towards Nettlebed Common Wood and back to the start at Nettlebed.

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Shakespeare’s Way Previous Section (north): Swyncombe & Park Corner
Shakespeare’s Way Next Section (south): Russell's Water, Pishill and Maidensgrove

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From Walk 2: Swyncombe and Park Corner

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This is part of a series of short circular walks in the Chilterns with 3 separate routes all starting from St Botolph's Church, Swyncombe in Oxfordshire. 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.

Each of the 3 walks touches combinations of sections of the Shakespeare’s Way, The Chiltern Way and The Ridgeway. If you’re following The Shakespeare’s Way series of walks through the Chilterns this post contains sections 2 and 3 taking you from The Ridgeway near Watlington to just south of Russell’s Water.

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Details for All Routes:

Start & Finish: St Botolph's Church, Swyncombe, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 6EA
Map: OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
Links: Swyncombe, Ewelme

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Route 1: Swyncombe and The North (Walking The Shakespeare’s Way Part 2)

Distance: 8.1 km (5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 176m
Shakespeare’s Way section covered: The Ridgeway to Cookley Green: 3.8 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Ridgeway, The Chiltern Way, Shakespeare’s Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Cycle Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: None

From St Botolph's Church follow The Ridgeway in a northerly direction for 3.7 km to meet the junction with the Shakespeare’s Way at Ridge Farm. Take a right to follow the Shakespeare’s Way for 3 km to Cookley Green. At Cookley Green take a right onto Church Lane to follow The Chiltern Way back to the start at St Botolph's Church.

Shakespeare’s Way Previous Section (north): Britwell Salome and Lower Warren
Shakespeare’s Way Next Section (south): Swyncombe & Park Corner (scroll down)

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Route 2: Swyncombe and Park Corner (Walking The Shakespeare’s Way Part 3)

Distance: 9.9 km (6.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 199m
Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Cookley Green to The Chiltern Way near Maidensgrove: 2.1 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Ridgeway, The Chiltern Way, Shakespeare’s Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Cycle Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: None

From the southern side of St Botolph's Church follow The Chiltern Way in an easterly direction for 2.7 km to the Chiltern Way/Shakespeare’s Way path junction just west of Russell’s Water. Continue south for 800m to meet another Chiltern Way/Shakespeare’s Way path junction just west of the Five Horseshoes pub. Take a right to follow The Chiltern Way in a westerly direction for 3.9 km, passing through Park Corner, to reach The Ridgeway. Take a right onto The Ridgeway to follow it in a northerly direction back to the start at St Botolph's Church.

Shakespeare’s Way Previous Section (north): Swyncombe & The North (scroll up)
Shakespeare’s Way Next Section (south): Nettlebed, Park Corner and Maidensgrove

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Route 3: Swyncombe and Ewelme

Distance: 10.7 km (6.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 232m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Ridgeway, The Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Cycle Route
OS Trig Pillar: TP4072 - Huntingland
Pubs / Cafes on route: None

From St Botolph's Church follow The Ridgeway in a south-westerly direction for 1.5 km to a path junction before the manor house at Ewelme Park. Take a right on to this path heading north-west for 1 km to meet The Chiltern Way at a smelly pig-farm. Take a right to follow The Chiltern Way in a north-westerly direction to the outskirts of Ewelme village. Continue following The Chiltern Way for as it curves round to following an easterly direction connecting with The Ridgeway at Swyncombe Downs. Take a right to follow The Ridgeway (staying on The Chiltern Way too) back to the start at St Botolph's Church.

For OS Trig Pillar baggers, you can visit the Huntingland Trig Pillar which is just off The Chiltern Way at 7.2 km into this route. It’s in a field and easily accessible but best to visit in the winter when there’s no crops.

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Britwell House viewed from the footpath

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Start & Finish: On-street parking near Britwell Salome Farm Shop, Red Lion Farm (road), Britwell Salome, Watlington, OX49 5LG
Distance: 7.8 km (4.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 123m
Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Britwell Salome to The Ridgeway: 2.2 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Shakespeare’s Way, The Ridgeway, Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Red Lion, Britwell Salome is at the start and end of the route
Map: Chiltern Hills West Map | Henley-on-Thames & Wallingford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 171
Links: Britwell Salome, Britwell House, Britwell Park Obelisk

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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.

Starting from the junction to Red Lion Farm Road and the B4009, follow the B4009 in a north-easterly direction for 180m to find a footpath on the left hand side of the road. Follow this path for 600m, following the Shakespeare’s Way as is curves past St Nicholas’ Church and back to the B4009. Cross over the main road and into a farm track, following the Shakepeare’s Way in a south-easterly direction for 1.4km.

When you reach The Ridgeway take a right and follow it for 1.6km to meet the Chiltern Way. Take a right onto the Chiltern Way and follow it for 1.7km in a westerly direction to a parking area on the Swyncome to Ewelme road. Continue along the Chiltern Way for another 250m to a path junction and take a right, leaving the Chiltern Way. This path takes you in a north-easterly direction past the boundary of Britwell House to link up with Britwell Hill Road. Take a left and follow the road back to the Britwell Salome Farm Shop.

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Shakespeare’s Way Next Section (south): Swyncombe and The North

Crossing the River Gade

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Start: The Bright Star Pub, Kimpton Road, Peter's Green, Luton, LU2 9QP
Finish: Chaulden Adventure Playground, 106 Long Chaulden, Hemel Hempstead, HP1 2HX
Distance: 26.8 km (16.6 Miles)
Elevation change: +288m / -304m. Net -16m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Lee Valley Walk, River Ver Trail, Hertfordshire Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway, The Nickey Line, River Lea Cycle Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Redbourn (10.6 km in), including The Hub Cycle Cafe. Three Blackbirds in Flamstead (15.7 km in)
Maps:
- Luton & Stevenage Map | Hitchin & Ampthill | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 193
- St Albans & Hatfield Map | Hemel Hempstead & Welwyn Garden City | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 182
OS Trig Pillar: TP6734 - Warden Hill
Links: Chiltern Way (Chiltern Society), Redbourn, Flamstead, Hemel Hempstead, River Ver, River Gade

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This is the fifth 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.

Having been travelling west to east for the previous 4 sections we had now turned the corner and were heading south, south-west. We were also into more familiar territory as the route covered several trails that we had explored on previous adventures. After 3km from the section start at Peter’s Green the Chiltern Way crosses over the River Lea and briefly follows the Lea Valley Walk towards Harpenden. This section is also on the River Lea Cycle Route.

It had been a while since Brian and I had seen each other and we got so caught up in catching up that we missed the turning off the Lea Valley Walk. After realising our mistake we retraced our steps and followed the Chiltern Way again across to the start of the Nickey Line. This was another familiar section as I had covered it on the Nickey Line, Ayot Greenway and Alban Way cycle ride.

The Chiltern Way follows the Nickey Line for 4.3 km before cutting across the River Ver into Redbourn. We stopped here at The Hub Cycle cafe for a mid-morning coffee and cake. We’d been unlucky on previous Chiltern Way sections finding food as we had either passed pubs before they opened or not passed anything at all. This section passed through more towns so we made a point to stop and eat where we could.

After Redbourn our plan was to continue to Flamstead to arrive there just after 12:00 and in time for lunch at The Three Blackbirds pub. We arrived on time only to find out that the chef was off and they weren’t serving food that day. The nice lady at the bar kindly gave us directions for other places but none were on our route and would have only been practical if driving. We settled for a couple of packets of crisps and had our packed lunch on the move walking out of the village.

The second half of this section is more rural without any towns or villages to pass through. One interesting spot was passing by the front of Gaddeston Place, a large 18th century manor house overlooking the Gade Valley. It looked familiar but not surprisingly as it’s been used as a location in many films and TV series. Coincidentally I saw it again the following evening as it was featured in a movie that I was watching on Netflix.

The Chiltern Way descends sharply down from Gaddeston Place to the B440 Leighton Buzzard Road. be very careful crossing this road as the path opens onto the road at a sharp bend with little visibility. Once across the road the path crosses over the Gade and ascends up the other side of the valley towards Hemel Hempstead.

The end of this section for us was Shrub Hill Common on the north-western edge of Hemel. I had originally planned to finish the section at the Grand Union Canal a couple of km on but parking is better around Shrub Hill.

After a several Winter Solstice dawn to dusk walks we finally got the timings exactly right for this section, starting exactly at sunrise and finishing exactly at sunset.

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Previous section: Walking The Chiltern Way Part 4: Streatley to Peter’s Green
Next section: Walking The Chiltern Way Part 6: Shrub Hill Common to Chalfont St. Giles. Blog post coming in December 2024

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Ascending Shirburn Hill

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Significance: Highest peak in Oxfordshire (Historic County Top)
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill. NHN = Haddington Hill
Elevation: 257m
Date climbed: 24th August 2013 and 19th November 2023
Coordinates:  51° 39' 21'' N, 0° 56' 53'' W

Route Start & Finish: Cowlease Woods Car Park, Watlington, OX49 5HX
Distance: 12.1 km (7.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 270m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Oxfordshire Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Fox & Hounds (8 km in)
OS Trig Pillar: TP0317 - Shirburn Hill
Map: OS Explorer Map Active (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
Guidebook: The UK's County Tops (Jonny Muir), Walking the County High Points of England (David Bathurst)
Links: Wikipedia (Oxfordshire), Wikipedia (Cowleaze Wood), Peakbagger, Hillbagging, Cowleaze Wood, Halifax LW579 51 Squadron RAF Memorial, Wormsley Estate, Christmas Common

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This is classic Chiltern walk with rolling hills, an Historic County Top, an OS Trig Pillar and an old English pub along the way. Timea and I had visited Bald Hill, the Oxfordshire Historic County Top, as a drive-by 10 years before but we wanted to revisit it as a part of a longer walk. With a friend visiting for the weekend and needing to find a great Chilterns experience so we headed off towards Christmas Common.

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.

The best place to start the walk is at the free car park at Cowleaze Woods. At the start of the central trail from the car park you’ll find an information board about the nearby RAF Memorial. This tells the story of a Halifax bomber that crashed into the woods in March 1944 killing its 7 crew. From this board you can follow waymarkers to the crash site.

Follow these markers for 100m to reach a junction in the path then take a left. This is where you’ll leave the trail to the crash site to visit the Oxfordshire County Top. The unmarked “summit” is ~300m from the junction. It’s pretty underwhelming especially when compared to the present-day Oxfordshire County Top at Whitehorse Hill near Swindon.

After the County Top take the next right and follow paths that curve to the south to find the Halifax bomber crash site. Here you’ll find a memorial stone and a small information board. We visited soon after Remembrance Day so there were fresh poppies and wreaths around the memorial.

After the memorial find and follow a path that runs east through Cowleaze Woods and into the Wormsley Estate. When you reach a small road take a left then leave the road on a path on the right to ascend into woods at Highfield Shaw. Here you’ll take a right onto a path that will lead you down to the Chiltern Way. Take a right onto the Chiltern Way and follow it for 700 metres to a junction in the woods. Here leave the Chiltern Way and continue heading west, ascending through Charley Shaw to Christmas Common.

The Fox and Hounds at Christmas Common is a great place to stop for a rest before the final 4km. It’s a popular pub and gets very busy at weekends so it’s best to book a table if you’re planning to eat there.

After visiting the Fox and Hounds take a left and follow the Oxfordshire Way as it curves to the west, descending between Watlington Hill and Shirburn Hill. At the bottom of the hill the path becomes a road and you’ll pass farm buildings on the left before taking a footpath on the right. Follow this path, gradually ascending Shirburn Hill until you reach the field next to Christmas Common Road. The path crosses diagonally across the field towards Cowleaze Water Tower, however if you take a right half-way across the field directly to the hedge you can visit the Shirburn Hill OS Trig Pillar.

After the Trig Pillar head north to the gate in the corner of the field. Cross over the road to the Water Tower and follow the footpath back into Cowleaze Woods car park and the completion of the walk.

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OTHER HIGH POINT IN OXFORDSHIRE

• Whitehorse Hill (261m) Oxfordshire Ceremonial County High Point, previously part of Historic Berkshire: Peakbagger / Hillbagging

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