Cycling The Chiltern Heritage Trails
The Chiltern Heritage Cycling Trails were established as the District Councils Millennium project. Each of the 3 routes connects scenic towns and parishes of the Chilterns AONB, and include some historic, yet not very well known, places of interest. 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 routes follow some sections of the 170 mile Chiltern Cycleway, so some parts will be familiar if you have done that. Signage is pretty good in most parts, although a GPS route is advisable as some junctions can be tricky.
Green = Milton Route, Red = Hampden Route, Blue = Harding Route
Milton Route
Route named after: John Milton, who was an English Poet and Civil Servant. See also: Milton’s Cottage, Chalfont St Giles
Route cycled on: June 23rd 2013
Start / Finish: Amersham High Street (Free parking on Sundays)
Distance: 42km / 26 miles
Elevation Change: +/- 391m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail, South Bucks Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): N/A
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Milton / Southern Route, Amersham, Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Seer Green, Penn
Hampden Route
Route named after: John Hampden, who was an early parliamentarian. See also: johnhampden.org
Route cycled on: February 24th 2019
Start / Finish: Amersham High Street (Free parking on Sundays)
Distance: 41km / 25.5 miles
Elevation Change: +/- 352m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Chiltern Way, South Bucks Way, Chess Valley Walk
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway, Harding Route, NCN 57
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: Amersham, Little Missenden, Holmer Green, Little Kingshill, Great Missenden, The Lee, Chartridge, Chesham, Chesham Bois
Harding Route
Route named after: Thomas Harding who was burnt at the stake in 1532 for possessing a Bible when this was still forbidden.
Route cycled on: July 3rd 2019
Start / Finish: Amersham High Street (Free parking on Sundays or after 18:00 on weekdays)
Distance: 40 km
Elevation Change: +/- 385m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Chess Valley Walk, Chiltern Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Hampden Route, Chilterns Cycleway, NCN 57
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Leaflet: Harding / North-East Route
Links: Amersham, Chenies, Flaunden, Ashley Green, Cholesbury, St Leonards, Asheridge, Chesham, Chesham Bois
Walking The Chiltern Heritage Trail
If you have completed the 3 Chiltern Heritage Cycle Trails there’s also the 83 km / 52 mile walking route. And 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.
Click here for more information on the Chiltern Heritage Trail walking route.