Chiltern Walks: Winchmore Hill and Common Wood
The Plough, Winchmore Hill
Start & Finish: The Hill, Winchmore Hill, Amersham HP7 0PA
Distance: 10.4 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 141m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Chiltern Way, Penn House Estate Paths
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail: Milton Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Plough and The Potter’s Arms, both at Winchmore Hill
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Winchmore Hill, Penn House Estate, Common Wood
This was a return to the area following last year’s Penn Wood circular. This one takes a different route through Common Wood and covers countryside to the south of Penn Street. 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.
Start at Winchmore Hill village centre where there’s ample free on-street parking and a choice of pubs. From here follow the Chiltern Way for 3 km until the B474 Church Road. Rather than crossing the road to follow the Chiltern Way, take the next footpath to the west that cuts through farmland in a northerly direction. After 1 km you’ll reach Common Wood Lane and the entrance to Common Wood.
There’s several options for routes through Common Wood. We kept to the paths on the western perimeter, taking a right onto Bluebell Way. Follow Bluebell Way for 1.5 km until it reaches the Chalk Track. Take a left onto the Chalk Track and follow it for 200m then take another left onto Penn House Way. Follow this path for 1.5 km, crossing over Gravelly Way and Penn Street on the way. At the corner of Priestlands Wood, take a right onto the Chiltern Heritage Trail following this back to Winchcombe village centre.
