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:
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Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
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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 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