Chiltern Walks: Little Missenden and Shardeloes

Start & Finish: The Red Lion, 1 Highmore Cottages, Little Missenden, Amersham, HP7 0RB
Distance: 8.1 km (5.0 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 74m
South Bucks Way section covered: Little Missenden to Shardeloes: 2.84 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail, South Bucks Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Heritage Trail: Hampden Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Red Lion and The Crown Inn at the start and end in Little Missenden and Koko’s Food Truck (2.5 km in)
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: River Misbourne, Little Missenden, Shardeloes

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.

From the Crown Inn in Little Missenden Village Centre, walk east along Highmore Cottages road, taking the South Bucks Way footpath when the road curves left toward the A413. You’ll now be on an easily navigable path parallel to the Misbourne through fields and into the Shardeloes Estate. At the entrance to the Cricket Ground take a right onto the driveway (leaving the South Bucks Way) up to Shardeloes house and look for the footpath on the left about 300m up the drive. There’s 2 paths here and you’ll need to take the right hand one heading in a south-westerly direction. This is another long, straight path with few options to get lost.

Just over 2 km from the Shardeloes Drive you’ll cross Mop End Lane and into a farmer’s field. Cross this until you meet The Chiltern Way on Toby’s Lane. Take a right onto Toby’s Lane and follow it as it descends back down to Highmore Cottages. An alternative to continuing all the way down Toby’s Lane is to take the footpath that crosses diagonally across a field to Beamond End Lane. It doesn’t save much distance or elevation but you do get a good view of the village.

South Bucks Way previous section (north): Little Kingshill and Little Missenden
South Bucks Way next section (south): Amersham, Winchmore Hill and Penn

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Richard gower13 November 2020Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Denham Golf Club and Bakers Wood

Where the Misbourne meets the Chiltern Line and M25

Start & Finish: Denham Golf Club Station, Denham, Uxbridge, UB9 5EL
Distance: 4.9 km (3.0 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 67 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: River Misbourne, Denham, Denham Golf Club Station, Baker’s Wood

This trip was both part of our River Misbourne Circulars and our walks based around the rail and underground stations of the Chilterns. The River Misbourne runs from its source at Great Missenden, to Denham where it joins the Colne. There’s much more interesting, less-motorwayey walks on the Misbourne so this is probably one for the completists. 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.

From Denham Golf Club Station, follow Station Approach and the imaginatively named Middle Road and Side Road south to the Community Centre. Continue further south on a footpath along a private farm road, crossing the Misbourne. The path climbs steeply up through woods and onto Broken Gate Lane, the main road in Bakers Wood. When the lane meets Red Hill take a right and find the gate into Caps Wood. By keeping to the main path through the wood you’ll pass a Thames Water plant on the right and come out onto a noisy, ugly layby on the A413 within sight of the M25 fly-over. This isn’t a great part of the walk but it’s soon over when you take the footpath into the fields on the right before the M25.

The footpath runs parallel to the motorway for ~600 metres, crossing over the Misbourne on a narrow wooden footbridge. The area at the end of the bridge was flooded when we were there so we had to scale a farm fence to avoid a soaking. Not far along from here you’ll pass under the intersection of the Chiltern Rail line and the M25 where the Misbourne flows under both in a tunnel. After the bridges the footpath start to curve round to the right (east) and up a hill to Over The Misbourne Road. Continue along the road marveling at the oversized houses before turning right onto Slade Oak Lane. This will take you back down to Denham Golf Club station. It’s a narrow road with no pavement but fair quiet and safe enough if you watch and listen out for cars.

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Richard gower11 November 2020Trek, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Railway, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Denham Village and The Grand Union Canal

Start & Finish: Denham Station, Denham, Uxbridge, UB9 5ES
Distance: 6.2 km (3.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 29m
South Bucks Way section covered: Denham Station to the Grand Union Canal: 2.31 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): South Bucks Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Grand Union Canal Towpath
Pubs / Cafes on route: Colne Valley Cafe at the Colne Valley Regional Park Visitors’ Centre, plus 3 pubs in Denham Village
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: River Misbourne, Denham, Denham Station, Denham Country Park, Denham Place

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.

To start this walk, exit from the south side of Denham station and take The Phygtle to Denham Village. The path ends at the gates of Denham Place where we met a couple of staff about the meaning of Phygtle. We were told that it means pig-tail, which sounds great but he was probably making it up. The only other definition that I found for the name was that it’s an old English word for a small plot of land.

At the end of The Phygtle, turn right and follow Village Road until it meets Old Mill Road at the Misbourne. Take a left off the road and onto the South Bucks Way footpath. Follow this across the golf course, past the Colne Valley Park Visitors Centre, over Denham Court Drive and into Denham Country Park. From the car park take the south-eastern path that crosses the river Colne and connects to the Grand Union Canal. You are now at the southern end of the South Bucks Way.

To return to the start take a left onto the Grand Union Canal and follow it in a northerly direction for ~2.5 km to the Moorhall Road Bridge. Along the way you’ll pass over the Frays River and under the railway bridges that carry the Chiltern Mainline and HS2.

Leave the canal onto Moorhall Road and head south-west back toward Denham. It’s a busy, unattractive road, especially with the HS2 works, but it’s safe enough with a pavement. Turn left onto Savay Lane then right onto the South Bucks Way and you’re back onto The Phygtle toward Denham Station.

South Bucks Way previous section (north): Gerrards Cross to Denham

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Richard gower10 November 2020Trek, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Railway, Buckinghamshire, England, MiddlesexComment

Chiltern Walks: Gerrards Cross and Chalfont St Peter

Start & Finish: Gerrards Cross Station, Station Approach, Gerrards Cross, SL9 8PL
Distance: 6.3 km (3.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 49m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Chalfont St Peter Village Centre and Gerrards Cross Town Centre
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: River Misbourne, Gerrards Cross, Gerrards Cross Station, Chalfont St Peter

This trip was both part of our River Misbourne Circulars and our walks based around the rail and underground stations of the Chilterns. The River Misbourne runs from its source at Great Missenden, to Denham where it joins the Colne.

This is the first of a set of shorter routes at the southern end of the Misbourne. The open fields of the upper part of the valley now make way for residential areas, roads and golf courses. It’s also the part where the river meets the Chiltern Line connecting Gerrards Cross, Denham Gold Club and Denham with London. 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.

From Gerrards Cross station take the footpath that runs parallel to the railway in a north-westerly direction. At Bull Lane you can get a good view of the railway cutting and the station. Turn right onto Bull Lane and continue north through footpaths and residential streets to Gold Hill Baptist Church. You are now at the top end of Chalfont St Peter. Descend via Gold Hill East onto Market Place until you reach the small roundabout in the village centre. Watch out for the several Heritage Plaques around the town that show old photos and information about the village.

From the village centre roundabout take a left onto high street and go through the A413 underpass. This comes out at the Chalfont St Peter Youth Centre wher you’ll take a right to follow a path that runs parallel to the A413 and the Misbourne. Just after the path joins Woodside Hill take a footpath on the left through Gerrards Cross Golf Club. On the far side of the golf course the path rejoins the Misbourne through Round Copse. You’ll soon meet a T-junction and a bridge which is as far as you can follow the Misbourne until it crosses under the M25. Take a right here and leave the river behind you as you walk east back to the A413. Cross over the A413, taking care here as its a busy dual carriageway. Once across follow a footpath that runs between back gardens, over Packhorse Road and onto Orchehill Avenue. When Orchehill Avenue curves to the right take the footpath on the left and follow it back to Gerrards Cross Station.

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Richard gower9 November 2020Trek, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Railway, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Sarratt and Flaunden

Start & Finish: The Cock Inn at Sarratt, Church Lane, Sarratt, Rickmansworth, WD3 6HH
Distance: 9.8 km (6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 98m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chess Valley Walk, Chiltern Heritage Trail, Sarratt Parish Footpath
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trails: Harding Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Green Dragon, Flaunden
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (182) St. Albans and Hatfield
Links: River Chess, Sarratt, Sarratt Bottom, Flaunden

This trip was both part of our River Chess Circulars of around 10 km. The River Chess runs from its source at Pednor, near Chesham, to Rickmansworth where it joins the Colne. The Chess Valley Walk is a point-to-point trail along the course of the river from Chesham to Rickmansworth stations. 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 walk starts at the Cock Inn at Sarratt where there’s parking for customers. Having a drink or a meal there is a good idea as there’s very few other parking options nearby. From the Cock Inn cross over New Road and find the footpath gate behind the Church Of The Holy Cross. This is the point where the return path meets, so be careful here to take the left hand path. Follow this path down to the River Chess at Sarratt Bottom. When you meet the Chess Valley Walk, take a right and follow the path for ~ 2km to Chenies Hill road. Look for a small footpath gate in the farm wall and take the path north as it ascends to Martins Top Farm. Continue north as the path curves around the farm and up to Flaunden Villge. Take a right onto Flaunden Hill road and continue north-west until the Chiltern Way junction. Take a right off the road onto the Chiltern Way and follow this all the way back to the church at Sarratt.

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Richard gower7 November 2020Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Latimer and Codmore Wood

View to the Chess from the Latimer Estate

Start & Finish: Latimer Village Centre, Church Lane, HP5 1TY
Distance: 7.7 km (4.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 120m
Chilterns Heritage Trail Section Covered: Blackwell Hall Lane to Stoney Lane: 3.2 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chess Valley Walk, Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: none
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Latimer, River Chess

This trip was part of our River Chess Circulars of less than 10 km. The River Chess runs from its source at Pednor, near Chesham, to Rickmansworth where it joins the Colne. The Chess Valley Walk is a point-to-point trail along the course of the river from Chesham to Rickmansworth stations. It’s also 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.

This walk starts at Latimer Village, although we found that the best parking was on the left hand side of the Church Lane between the village and Latimer Place. From the village take the Chess Valley Walk on a westerly direction. The path keeps to higher ground giving you a good view across the valley and down to the river. After ~3 km, the path meets Latimer Road. Here you’ll leave the Chess Valley Walk to take Bunns Lane on a steep ascent towards Pinner Green. The path will join White End Lane at the end of which take a left and continue north-east up Blackwell Hall Lane for ~300m, taking a footpath on the right. This path descends though Codmore Wood and fields for just over 1 km before you rejoin Church Lane for the final stretch back to Latimer.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Little Chalfont and Latimer
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Chesham & Bois and Wychfield Spring

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Richard gower2 November 2020Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Wendover and Coombe Hill

Start & Finish: Wendover Station, Station Approach, Wendover, P22 6BT
Distance: 7.3 km (4.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 139m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Ridgeway, Outer Aylesbury Ring, South Bucks Way, Coombe Hill Orange Trail, Low Scrubs Orange Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Wendover High Street
Map: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: Wendover, Wendover Station, Coombe Hill, Bacombe Hill, Coombe Hill National Trust

This trip was both part of our walks based around the rail and underground stations of 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.

At Wendover station there’s 2 options to exit, either across the footbridge across the station and the A413 into the Cricket Ground or take a right from the main entrance and right again onto Pound Street / Ellesborough Road. Both options meet on Ellesborough Road where you can take the Ridgeway as it climbs up Bacombe Hill.

At ~2 km from the station you’ll reach the Coombe Hill Monument. This is a 260m pillar, built in 1904, in memory of 148 men from Buckinghamshire who died in the Second Boer War. On a clear day you can see for miles across the Vale of Aylesbury to the north. From the monument follow the Coombe Hill Orange Route south to the National Trust car park. Continue along the southern perimeter of Bacombe Hill Woods, decending onto Bacombe Lane. At South Street you can either take a left for the fastest route back to the station or cross over onto Chapel Lane for a small loop of Heron Stream and the High Street.

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Richard gower1 November 2020Trek, Chilterns, Railway, National Trust, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Amersham Old and New Towns

View from High Spring Woods south to Shardeloes

Start & Finish: Amersham Station, Amersham, HP6 5FG, Buckinghamshire
Distance: 8.3 km (5.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 75m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail, South Bucks Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway, Milton Route, Hampden Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: Seasons Cafe, Old Amersham plus others in Old and New Amersham town centres
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Amersham, Amersham Station, Martyr’s Memorial, River Misbourne

This trip was both part of our River Misbourne Circulars and our walks based around the rail and underground stations of the Chilterns. The River Misbourne runs from its source at Great Missenden, to Denham where it joins the Colne. 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 walk starts at Amersham Station in Amersham New Town and also passes through Old Amersham. The New Town sits at the top of the hill with the Chess Valley to the North and the Misbourne Valley to the South. An unexpected find for us was the Martyr’s Memorial on the edge of a field near Station Road. Per the description on the monument: “In the shallow depression at a spot 100 yards left of this monument seven protestant men and one woman were burnt to death at the stake. They died for the principles of religious liberty, for the right to read and interpret the holy scriptures and to worship God according to their consciences as revealed through God’s holy word. Their names shall live forever.”

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Richard gower24 October 2020Trek, Chilterns, Railway, Underground, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Chesham and Tylers Hill

Descending to Chesham on the Chilterns Heritage Trail

Start & Finish: Chesham Station, Chesham. HP5 1DA
Alternative Car Parking at: Star Yard Car Park, Parsonage, Lane, Chesham, HP5 1EP
Distance: 9.3 km (5.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 84m
Chilterns Heritage Trail Section Covered: Tylers Hill to Lower Bois: 4.49 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chess Valley Walk, Chiltern Heritage Trail, Chiltern Link
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Chesham Town Centre.
Map: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: Chesham, Chesham Station, Tylers Hill, River Chess

This trip was both part of our River Chess Circulars and our walks based around the rail and underground stations of the Chilterns. The River Chess runs from its source at Pednor, near Chesham, to Rickmansworth where it joins the Colne. The Chess Valley Walk is a point-to-point trail along the course of the river from Chesham to Rickmansworth stations.

It’s also 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.

The walk starts at Chesham Underground station and initially follows the Chiltern Link to the High Street. At the end of the High Street cross over Red Lion Street (A416) and onto Germain Street. When you reach the bridge over the River Chess, take a left onto the small footpath that follows the northern bank of the Chess then crossing over to the southern bank at the Amersham Road roundabout. Follow the Chess Valley Walk for ~3 km until Latimer Road where you’ll take a left onto the road to cross to the northern side of the Chess. When passing through Lower Bois make sure that you keep to the Chess Valley Walk and leave the Chiltern Heritage Trail when it splits off to the south.

After Latimer Road crosses the Chess you’ll leave the Chess Valley Walk to take a path ascending up Burns Lane. After ~750m you’ll reach a T-junction in the path. Take a right to follow the path to Green Lane. Take a left onto Green Lane, then the first footpath on the left. Follow the paths through the fields in a north-westerly direction, through Cowcroft Wood and onto Tylers Hill Road. Take a left onto a footpath to reconnect with the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Follow the Heritage Trail all the way back to Chesham Underground Station.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Chesham & Bois and Wychfield Spring
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Orchard Leigh and Botley

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Richard gower18 October 2020Trek, Chilterns, Underground, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Little Chalfont & Latimer

Start & Finish: Chalfont and Latimer Station, Station Approach, Little Chalfont, HP6 6RZ
Distance: 7.5 km (4.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 91m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Latimer to Carpenters Wood: 3.3 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail, Chess Valley Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Cycleway, Harding Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Little Chalfont village centre on the A404
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Little Chalfont, Chalfont And Latimer Station, River Chess, Chenies, Latimer

This trip was part of our River Chess Circulars of less than 10 km. The River Chess runs from its source at Pednor, near Chesham, to Rickmansworth where it joins the Colne. The Chess Valley Walk is a point-to-point trail along the course of the river from Chesham to Rickmansworth stations. It’s also 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.

Start at northern entrance to Chalfont and Latimer Station and exit onto Bedford Avenue. Take a right onto Bedford Avenue heading east, then cross over the small green Amersham Road. Cross over to Oakington Avenue onto Lodge Lane. Follow the footpath that runs alongside Lodge Lane in a southerly direction then take a left to follow the field=edge path around Old Hanging Wood to reach the Chiltern Way / Chiltern Heritage Trail.

Take a left onto the Chiltern Way / Chiltern Heritage Trail to head north away from the railway line. Cross over the Amersham Road to follow the Heritage Trail to Chenies. Don’t take the right-hand path following the Chiltern Way. Continue to follow the Heritage Trail through the Chenies Estate, descend through Chenies Wood to cross over Latimer Road and the River Chess.

After crossing over the River Chess take a left to continue following the Heritage Trail in a westerly direction. You’ll now be also following the Chess Valley Walk. Shortly after crossing over Stony Lane take a left onto a farm track, leaving the Heritage Trail, to descend back down to the Chess. Cross the Chess, continuing on the path to Latimer then a steep climb through woods to reach Chenies Avenue. Follow Chenies Avenue south to Bedford Avenue. Take a left to return to the start.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Phillipshill Wood and Hanging Wood
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Latimer and Codmore Wood

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Richard gower11 October 2020Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, England, Railway, UndergroundComment

Chiltern Challenge Ultra Marathon

When: September 26th 2020
Start & Finish: The Henley Showground, Marlow Road, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 3AP
Distance: 50 km (31 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 560m
Course: Figure of 8 with a western loop and an eastern loop intersecting at the Henley Showground Basecamp. Mix of Chiltern Way, Oxfordshire Way and Thames Path
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Shakespeare’s Way, Chiltern Way, Oxfordshire Way, The Wokingham Way, Thames Path
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Finish time: 6 hours 59 minutes
Links: Hambleden, Stonor, Bix Bottom,Middle Assendon, Henley-on-Thames, Bovingdon Green, Marlow, Hurley, Remenham

With most running events having been cancelled due to Covid this yet I’d pretty much written off doing my annual ultra. So, as soon as I saw that this one was on, and it was a local one, I signed up. Also, having not been well (not do to Covid) a few weeks’ before I still wasn’t sure if I was up to ultra fitness. I decided to take it slow and take advantage of the 2-loop course to give me the option of retiring after the first loop.

This was also my first Covid-secure event and the organisation on the day was really impressive. Ultras may be expensive, but this was great value considering the new protocols that had in place. The only down-side for me was that the hand-sanitizer they has was so slippery that my wedding ring slipped off somewhere between the start and the first rest stop. So far it’s not been found which is less than ideal. It sounds like I wasn’t the only participant to lose a ring so I strongly recommend runners on Covid-secure events to leave their rings at home.

Lost rings aside, the event was amazing. I am big fan of the Chilterns and this was a perfect day to do a big run there. It was sunny but not too warm and dry underfoot too. I also liked the combination of woods and hills in the north and the flat sections of the Thames Path to the south.

In the end it was a good test of my fitness as I completed the course in a good time (for me) and without any signs of my sickness a few weeks ago. Fingers crossed the postponed Race to the Castle, my original 2020 ultra pick will be back on in 2021.

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Richard gower26 September 2020Run, Ultramarathon, Chilterns, Thames, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Chalfont St Peter, Seer Green and Chalfont St Giles

Descent to the Misbourne near Chalfont St Giles

Start & Finish: Chalfont St. Peter Car Park, Church Lane, Chalfont St Peter, SL9 9TW
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
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Chalfont St Giles to Hodgemoor Wood: 10.3 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail, South Bucks Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Heritage Trail: Milton Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Chalfont St Peter and Chalfont St.Giles, The Jolly Cricketers, Seer Green (4.6km in)
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Chalfont St Peter, Jordans Quaker Meeting Centre, Jordans, Seer Green, Chalfont St Giles, River Misbourne

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.

The route is also 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.

From Chalfont St. Peter village centre, walk up Market Place in an westerly direction, then onto Nicol Road and Grove Lane. Take a left off Grove Lane onto a footpath opposite the entrance to Tunmers Lane, continuing in a westerly direction to Welders Lane.

A highlight of this walk is the Quaker Meeting House and Jordan’s village, 3km from the start. Just after you pass Jordan’s YHA at the western end of Welder’s Lane you can cut through the grounds of the Quaker Meeting House. Look out for the grave of William Penn, founder of the US state of Pennsylvania. Round the corner on Jordan’s Lane you’ll find the Mayflower Barn, privately owned and not accessible but visible from the road. According to the sign in the Quaker centre, the barn takes its name from the belief that it contains original beams from the Pilgrim Fathers’ Mayflower ship. Taking Seer Green Lane west off Jordan’s Lane you’ll pass through the pretty village of Jordans.

Pass through Jordans and Seer Green, now following the Chiltern Heritage Trail in a north/north-easterly direction to join the South Bucks Way on the western side of the River Misbourne and the A413 Amersham Road. Take a right onto the South Bucks Way and follow it through Chalfont St Giles back to the start at Chalfont St Peter.

South Bucks Way previous section (north): Amersham and Coleshill
South Bucks Way next section (south): Gerrards Cross to Denham

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Amersham and Coleshill
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Chalfont St Giles and Newlands Park

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Richard gower5 September 2020Trek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Beaconsfield, Knotty Green and Seer Green

Start & Finish: Beaconsfield Railway Station, HP9 2PJ
Distance: 10.6 km (6.6 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 84 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): N/A
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Heritage Trail: Milton Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Beaconsfield, The Lion of Beaconsfield (2.3km in), The Jolly Cricketers (6.8km in)
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Beaconsfield, Beaconsfield Station, Forty Green, Knotty Green, Seer Green

From a start point at Beaconsfield Railway station, this route soon gets you into the quiet paths and country lanes of the Chilterns. It won’t take you long into the walk to realise that you’re in a very rich part of the country. We’re actually in Beaconsfield New Town, a mile north of the market town that dates back to 1185. The New Town came with the railways and, with fast regular trains to London, it’s still an attractive place to live in the countryside while working in London. 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.

Heading west from the station, you’ll cross Penn Road and take a north-westerly direction along Reynold’s Road. Follow onto a series of footpaths crossing quiet residential streets with some very large houses. After crossing Hogback Wood Road you’ll enter Hogback Wood and take a sharp right on a path through Knotty Green. Cross Penn Road again by the Red Lion Pub and onto a tight footpath to the right of a care home. After ~500m you’ll leave the residential area and follow the footpaths through woodland to the A355 Amersham Road.

Take care when crossing thee A355 as it’s very busy with a tight corner for cars coming up the hill from Amersham. After crossing the road you’ll be into woodland again, taking a right after ~400m and a left after another ~700m up a steep, short hill. At the top you’ll descend again crossing in a field into Seer Green. Here' you’ll meet the Milton Route of the Chiltern Heritage Trails and a chance for a rest at the Three Horseshoes pub.

After the Three Horsehoes, take a right at the end of Orchard Road onto School Lane. Following this south until you can take a right onto a footpath just past Vicarage Close. Continue south-west along the path, crossing Long Grove and Longbottom Lane onto Beaconsfield Golf Course. Be careful here as the footpath crosses the course so you’ll need to wait for golfers to play through. Continue south-west for ~1.5km, crossing the rail-line and eventually meeting the A355 on the eastern edge of Beaconsfield.

To complete the journey, take a zig-zagging route though Beaconsfield following Waller Road, Hyde Green Maxwell Road, a path over the railway line and finally Caledon Road back to the station.

Back to Chiltern Walks Index

Richard gower1 August 2020Trek, Railway, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Chorleywood and Chenies

Start & Finish: Chorleywood Station, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, WD3 5ND
Alternative Start and Finish: Parking at Chorleywood Common, WD3 5NZ
Distance: 8 km (5 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 85 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chess Valley Walk, Chiltern Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: Black Horse Pub (WD3 5EG), several in Chorleywood Village Centre
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Chorleywood, Chorleywood Station, River Chess, Chenies, Chenies Manor

This a lovely circular walk in the eastern Chilterns. I thought I’d invented it myself but I’ve been doing some research on Google and it seems that others have had pretty much the same idea. 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.

We parked at one of a few free parking spots at Chorleywood Common. It’s also very accessible by train & Underground as Chorleywood Station is on the route and very close to where we started. Start by taking a north easterly route across the Common to the A404 Rickmansworth Road and cross over to the petrol station. Continue north east along Solesbridge Lane. Be careful here as its a country lane with no pavement. Its fairly quiet but you’ll probably need to duck into some of the driveways a cars pass. Shortly after passing Wyatt’s Road on the right, take a left onto the Chess Valley Walk.

From Solesbridge Lane continue in a North-Westerly direction with the Chess on your right until you reach the Chiltern Way. There’s an option about half way along to cross over the Chess and follow the Chess Valley Walk on the northern side, crossing back over via the Chiltern Way. Follow the Chiltern Way south West for ~2.5km until you cross under the railway line at Carpenter’s Wood. You’ll have passed the southern edge of Chenies village and over the A404 again on the way.

Leave the Chiltern Way immediately after the railway underpass by taking the footpath on the left. You’ll follow a wooded trail parallel to the rail line for just over 1 km taking you into Chorleywood Village Centre. Take a left onto Shire Lane, cross under the rail line again then first right onto Station Approach. If you arrived by tube or train you’ll be back to the start at Chorleywood station. Continue along Station Approach a bit further to reach the parking on Chorleywood Common.

Back to Chiltern Walks Index

Richard gower27 June 2020Trek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment

Walking The Beeches Way

For a well signed route very close to my home, it’s odd that I’d not completed this one years ago. At 27km (18 miles) this would have made for a good training for an ultra marathon so I kept it on the back burner for when I needed it. When the Covid-19 Lockdown came and all races cancelled, it was time to bring it forward. So, as soon as it was acceptable to travel a small distance from home, we decided that it was time to tackle it.

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.

SECTION 1 - COOKHAM TO STOKE COMMON

Start: The Ferry, Sutton Road, Cookham, Maidenhead, SL6 9SN
Finish: Bus Stop on the B416 at Stoke Common, Stoke Poges, SL2 4DP
Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles)
Elevation change: +118m / -69m. Net -49m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop, Shakespeare’s Way, Buckinghamshire Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Beeches Cycleway
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: The Blackwood Arms, The Beeches Eco Cafe, several in Farnham Common
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Cookham, Hedsor, Burnham Beeches, Farnham Common, Stoke Common

The best place to start is the Ferry, a lovely riverside pub and restaurant next to the road crossing on the Thames at Cookham. The car park is for customers only but there’s other parking options nearby if you’re driving to the start. For the rail-return option (see below for details), Cookham Station is a 1.3 km walk to the Ferry.

From the Ferry, cross the road bridge and look out for the footpath on the right hand side of the road past the county sign for Buckinghamshire. Here you’ll cross a field and rejoin the Thames for a short distance. After passing through a small gated estate you’ll cross Hedsor Hill Road and onto a track that passes St Nicholas Church on the right and Hedsor Folly on the left. The 1km from Hedsor Lane to Broad Lane is pretty steep but once you get to the top the rest of this section is fairly flat.

As you continue along the Beeches Way you’ll notice that there’s a lot of signage to assist you. Be careful though as the Beeches Way signs are poorly maintained and many have faded or have moved, pointing in ambiguous directions. As the route also follows Shakespeare’s Way, you can look out for that route’s stickers, but a map or GPS route would be very helpful.

At approx 5.5 km in you’ll pass the Blackwood Arms, location of some Midsomer Murders episodes and a good place for a rest at approximately half way in. From here you’re only 1 km from the section than runs through Burnham Beeches, a well maintained country park and nature reserve. From Burnham Beeches you’ll pass through Farnham Common and woodland before reaching the end of this section at Stoke Common.

There’s a bus stop at the B416 Gerrards Cross Road with connections to Amerham, Wycombe, Gerrards Cross and Slough. If you’re driving the parking options are extremely limited here so an alternative end point would be Farnham Common. This would reduce section 1 by just over 2 km and add it to section 2.

SECTION 2 - STOKE COMMON to Langley Park

Start: Bus Stop on the B416 at Stoke Common, Stoke Poges, SL2 4DP
Finish: Langley Park Car Park, Billet Lane, Iver, SL0 0LT
Distance: 7.3 km (4.5 miles)
Elevation change: +48m / -65m. Net -17m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Shakespeare’s Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Beeches Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Black Horse Fulmer, San Remo Kiosk Black Park, Langley Park Tearoom
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Stoke Common, Fulmer, Black Park, Langley Park

From the B416 Gerrards Cross Road enter Stoke Common and follow the main North-Easterly path to the footpath exit on Stoke Common Road. Take a left onto Windmill Road down to Fulmer village centre. The Black Horse pub is one of our favourites and a good, albeit pricey, stop for a meal. On the North side of St James’ Church, take the footpath to the right before the bridge over the Alderbourne Stream. The trail follows the stream for ~300m before heading uphill through fields and into the private Fulmer Rise Estate.

Continue through the Fulmer Rise estate to exit and take a left onto Fulmer Common Road. When we got to the big metal footpath gate we found that one of the residents had locked it off with a bike chain. Some other walkers had already turned around and gone back to Fulmer. We asked a nice lady in the nearest house to open the car gate for us and continued on our way. Hopefully that was a one-off incident of public right-of-way blocking but we reported it to the council anyway.

A short way down Fulmer Common Road, take the first right onto Black Park Road and then a path ~400m on the left into Black Park. This is one of my favourite Country Parks and location of my home parkrun event. There’s many trails through the park but you’re basically heading South East to the footpath exit onto the A420 Uxbridge Road. Keeping to the Western side of the park will take you around the lake and past 2 cafes while the Eastern side will give you a glimpse of the back of Pinewood Studios at the North End.

At the South-East corner of Black park you can cross over the A420 Uxbridge Road to enter the North Eastern corner of Langley Park. Be very careful crossing this road as it can be extremely busy with cars travelling very fast. With the noisy road behind you, you can now enjoy the peace of the Rhododendron walks through Temple Gardens. This stage of the walk ends at the Langley Park cafe and car park as you emerge from Temple Gardens.

SECTION 3 - Langley Park to West Drayton Railway Station

Start: Langley Park Car Park, Billet Lane, Iver, SL0 0LT
Finish: Station Approach, Yiewsley, West Drayton UB7 9DY, United Kingdom
Distance: 8 km (5 miles)
Elevation change: +29m / -61m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Shakespeare’s Way, London Loop, Grand Union Canal, Grand Union Canal Slough Arm, Colne Valley Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 61
London Coal Duty Posts: 69
Pubs / Cafes on route: Langley Park Tearoom, The Swan At Iver, The Rail Road Cafe West Drayton
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Langley Park, Iver, Yiewsley

From the Langley Park car park follow any of several footpaths through the park to the South Eastern corner. Here you’ll pick up a path heading directly East with sign-post for the Beeches Way, Shakespeare’s Way, Colne Valley Trail and NCN 61. Continue following the Beeches Way for 3 km on an Easterly direction. You’ll cross over Billet Lane, Wood Lane and Love Lane along the way, each of these running North/South. When you reach Bangor’s Road South you’ll turn right onto it, following South-East for ~300m before turning left onto Coppins Lane. Continue North along Coppins Lane and follow it as it turns from a road into a footpath and curves to the East. Watch out for a junction in the footpath and be careful to turn right rather than continuing on the Colne Valley Trail

After leaving Coppins Lane you’ll continue due South for just over 1 km and will reach Iver High Street. Cross over the High Street and continue South along Thorney Lane North. When you see signs for the Beeches Way pointing left down Victoria Crescent DO NOT follow them. A bridge over the canal further down this section has been removed but the signs have not been updated. See this blog post for more details. Instead, continue South down Thorney Lane North until you cross the Grand Union Canal. On the South West corner of the bridge you can walk down to the canal towpath. Walk East along the towpath and you’ll rejoin the Beeches Way.

Follow the canal for ~1 km, crossing over both the Colne Brook and River Colne. When you reach a big metal footbridge crossing over the canal watch out for sign-posts and a Coal Post. Take a right onto the path leading from the bridge and continue South East. After ~1 km you’ll cross the River Frays and across a residential island then over the main section of the Grand Union Canal. Follow the Grand Union South East for ~500m until you reach the end of the route at West Drayton.

Accessing the start and end by train

We tackled the Beeches way by leaving a car at either end of each of the point-to-point sections. If you want to complete the route in 1 day there’s also an option to take a train from one end to the other. Cookham Station is 1.3 km from the start of the route at the Thames river bridge and the end of the route is very close to West Drayton station. From West Drayton you can take a train heading west and change at Maidenhead. From Maidenhead take a train towards Marlow or Bourne End and get off at Cookham.

Back to Chiltern Walks Index

Richard gower19 June 2020Trek, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Canal, Thames, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Middlesex, England, Coal Duty PostComment

Ankerwycke and Wraysbury Circular Walk

View of the Ankerwyke NT fields from the Western footpath near Magna Carta Lane

Start & Finish: The National Trust Car Park, Magna Carta Lane, Wraysbury, TW19 5AD
Distance: 8.8 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 33 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Colne Brook Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4
Pubs / Cafes on route: The George at Wraysbury
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: National Trust Runnymede and Ankerwycke, Ankerwyke Yew, St Mary’s Priory, Ankerwyke, Wraysbury

This walk was the second of a 2-part exploration of the Runnymede and Ankerwyke National Trust site. We had already completed the Runnymede Memorials Circular the week before. The Ankerwyke site is much less visited, mostly because it’s not directly connected to the Runnymede site on the other side of the Thames. I’d actually been to Runnymede many times before but never knew there was anything to see across the river. Having discovered it, it’s a very pleasant, quiet part of the area for a interesting circular walk. 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 park is at the free National Trust Car Park on Magna Carta Lane. It’s very small though, holding about 10 cars and little-to-no options for parking elsewhere on that road. If it’s full the best alternative would to be park in Wraysbury Village Centre or at The George pub.

From the National Trust Car Park take the main footpath South through the cow fields to the Thames. Along the way you’ll pass the 2 main points of interest, The Ankerwyke Yew and the ruins of St Mary’s Priory. When you reach the Thames, turn left and follow the footpath East. After approx 500m the path will take a sharp left to head North away from the river. Look out for a small gate on the right hand side of the path that will take you onto Hythe End Road. A sign says that it’s a private road, but there didn’t seem to be any issues with walking down it.

Hythe End Road ends at a Thames Water pumping station which marks the start of the Staines Rivers Aqueduct. Follow the road as it takes a sharp left up to the B376 Staines Road. Take a right here and continue for about 100 metres. You’ll pass over a bridge on the Colne Brook and will find a footpath on the left taking you into Wraybury Lakes. The 1 km footpath here is a lovely part of the circuit passing by the Colne Brook River on your left and a reservoir on your right.

At the Northern end of the Wraysbury Lakes footpath you’ll pass over the Windsor-Staines railway line on a level-crossing. On the Northern side of this turn left and follow the footpath next to the tracks until you reach Coppermill Road. Take a left here, following the road over the railway bridge at Wraysbury station and look out for a footpath on the left taking you onto The Lane. This will pass through a farm and onto Wraysbury Footpath 7 that takes you to Wraysbury High Street. When you reach the village centre take a moment to see the windmills behind Wraybury Baptist Church.

Continue South along Wraysbury High Street and take a right onto the B376 Windsor Road. Shortly you’ll pass The George Pub on the right. Take a left onto St Andrew’s Lane and enter into the Church grounds. At the back of the church you’ll find a footpath heading South. Continue on this all the way back into the National Trust property. When you reach Magna Carta Lane you can either take a left and follow the road directly back to the car park or pick one of the footpaths back to the Thames. We choose one that runs along the Western perimeter of the fields, joining back with the main path near St Mary’s Priory.

Back to Thames Path Index

Richard gower14 June 2020Trek, Colne Valley, National Trust, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, EnglandComment

Chiltern Walks: Marlow Donkey

Start & Finish: Bourne End Railway Station, 1 Station Road, Wooburn Green, Bourne End, SL8 5RN
Distance: 11.4 km (7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 65m
Shakespeare’s Way section covered: The Thames Path at Marlow to Bourne End Rail Bridge: 3.4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Shakespeare’s Way, The Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop, Cookham Bridleway Circuit
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Marlow Donkey, The Bounty at Bourne End
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Maidenhead - Marlow Passengers’ Association History, Marlow Branch Line, Bourne End Station, Marlow Station, Marlow Bridge, National Trust Winter Hill and Cockmarsh

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.

As well as being part of the Shakespeare’s Way collection, we also did it as a continuation of the Wycombe to Bourne End Railway Disused Railway Walk. This time we were following an intact rail line that joins Marlow to Maidenhead via Bourne End. The Maidenhead section will come another time but, for now, we were doing a circular walk based on the “Marlow Donkey” section from Bourne End to Marlow. The notes below describe the anti-clockwise route initially following the train line from Bourne End to Marlow. If you’re following the Shakespeare’s Way collection in a north-west to south-east direction, then reverse the route.

From the car park at Bourne End Station, follow a footpath in a south-westerly direction to meet the bridge where the line to Maidenhead crosses the Thames. The rail line will be on your right and you’ll pass the section where it splits to head north to Marlow. At the river crossing take the stairs down to the Thames path, turn right and cross underneath the railway bridge. Continue along a narrow path to Bourne End Marina. The rail route passes behind some very nice houses on the riverfront and over level crossings connecting the marina to the town centre.

Further along the Thames Path you’ll cross Spade Oak Meadow and cow-filled farmland. The rail line stays close from the river for about 3 km until it curves round to the West at Marlow Rugby Club. At this point you have 2 choices, one to follow the course of the train line to Marlow Station and the other to keep close to the river, following the Thames Path and Shakespeare’s Way. Both options reconnect at Marlow Bridge.

If you’re following the train line, leave the Thames Path to follow a path between the Rugby Club and the rail line. After the A404 underpass the rail line continues behind houses and you’ll need to follow Gosmore Lane, Riverpark Drive and Lock Road to keep as close as possible to the line. The Marlow Donkey Pub sits at the corner of Lock Road and Station Approach. If you divert for a few minutes down Station Approach you can find an information board about the original station on the left hand side and the uninspiring new Marlow Station a bit further down. Back at the Marlow Donkey pub you can continue the walk down Station Road, left onto Mill Road and right onto the Thames Path as it passes through some narrow alleys to the Marlow Road (High Street) at All Saints Church. Take a left here to cross Marlow Bridge.

Crossing Marlow Bridge is always a point of interest for us due to Timea’s Hungarian heritage. The bridge was designed by William Tierney Clark and is a smaller version of the Chain Bridge that crosses the Danube in the heart of Budapest. Look out for a plaque on the north-east pillar of Marlow Bridge with text both in English and Hungarian.

Continuing south after the bridge you’ll pass The Compleat Angler hotel and take a left onto Quarry Wood Road. Continue for ~1 km until the foot of the hill. Be careful of cars here as there’s no pavement in this section. Pass a small bridge over a stream take the left hand footpath at the point where Quarry Wood Road takes a sharp right. From here continue past lovely riverside houses and woodland at the base of Winter Hill. Beware of the elephant!

At ~2.5 km from leaving Quarry Wood Road you’ll see a tall metal footpath sign in the middle of a field and at the bottom of a steep uphill path. Take a sharp left here and continue to the track behind the riverside houses. Continue East along this path following the Thames back to the Bourne End Rail Bridge. The quirky pirate themed Bounty Pub before the bridge is a great place for a drink to celebrate (nearly) completing their loop. To get back to the start at Bourne End Station cross the rail bridge back to the north side of the Thames and retrace your steps from the start of the route.

Part 3 of the Wycombe-Maidenhead Rail Trilogy will come soon with the Bourne End To Maidenhead section.

Shakespeare’s Way previous section (north): Marlow and Harleyford
Shakespeare’s Way next section (south): Bourne End, Cookham and Wooburn

Back to Chiltern Walks Index

Richard gower30 May 2020Trek, Railway, Chilterns, Thames, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, England, National TrustComment

Walking The High Wycombe To Bourne End Disused Railway

Start: High Wycombe Railway Station, High Wycombe, HP13 6NN
Finish: Bourne End Railway Station, 1 Station Road, Wooburn Green, Bourne End, SL8 5RN
Return to Start: via #36 bus. Check timetables for details.
Distance: 9.9 km km (6.2 miles)
Elevation change: +37m / -86m. Net -49m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Wooburn Green village
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Maidenhead - Marlow Passengers’ Association History, Wycombe to Bourne End railway - looking back at the historic line (Photos)
Wycombe Railway, Loudwater Station, Wooburn Green Station, Bourne End Station

The Wycombe to Bourne End Railway was originally part of a longer section that connected Maidenhead and High Wycombe. The Maidenhead to Bourne End section is still intact but the line to Wycombe closed in 1970. Unlike a lot of disused railways its not been fully adopted into a cycle route or walking trail. It’s all walkable though with a bit of planning, some good navigation and a few diversions. 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.

You can start at either end but we chose to start at High Wycombe station as we will continue the trip to Maidenhead on a later trip. From the station walk East for approx 750m following Birdcage Walk, then Station Road and Queen’s Road until it meets the A40. Follow the A40 for another ~500m, crossing to the South side of the road at the junction with Pinions Road. Up to this point there’s no visible remains of the old railway, although you can see the main Chiltern Line when you look North up several of the adjoining streets.

The first time that you encounter the old railway is at the steep embankment that stops abruptly at the A40 opposite Pinions Road. There was originally a steel girder bridge that took the railway over the A40 to join up with the mainline to the Northwest. There’s a path to the East of the embankment where you’ll get your first chance to walk along the old rail route. Here the River Wye passes underneath as it continues its journey from Bradenham to the confluence with the Thames not far from Bourne End Station.

This part of the walk ends at Bassetsbury Lane which you can follow close to the old rail route for ~1.4km. To the right hand side of the road the houses are built up higher that the road in place of the tracks. Bassetsbury Lane becomes Kingsmead Road which you’ll take until it crosses the Chiltern Way just after the Rugby Club. Turn right up Bridge Bank Close following the Chiltern Way for about 100m. Here you can rejoin the path that follows the rail route South East through the woods. You’re now on the Chepping Wycombe Parish Council Railway Land Conservation Route, a highlight of the trail.

The conservation trail ends Treadaway Hill very close to the old Loudwater Station, now demolished. Here the there was a Level Crossing but the route is now blocked by an industrial estate next to the M40. To continue the walk, divert left onto Treadaway Hill and take a right at the Happy Union pub to follow Boundary Road. Pass under the M40 bridge and over a small roundabout onto Wycombe Lane. A very short distance past the roundabout take the footpath to the right of the pavement up into the woods.

Continue through the woods for a short distance until you reach Flackwell Heath Golf Course. A footpath will continue straight across the golf course, however turn left and follow the path and track along the North-East side of the golf course. When the main path will takes you back onto Wycombe Road continue along the overgrown path that follows the back of the houses. The path will take a sharp right hand turn up the hill at the end of the golf course. Continue up but take the left hand path at the path junction to continue on to Juniper Lane. Turn left on Juniper Lane and follow this back to Wycombe Road.

For the next 1.6 km / 1 mile you’ll continue along Wycombe Road through Wooburn Green. This stays to the East of the railway route, although diversions onto the parallel streets of Compton Road, Red Lion Way and Old Station Road would keep you closer to the tracks. All of these are cul-de-sacs so a through-route on these is not possible. The only one that we diverted to was Old Station Road which, not surprisingly, was the location of the original Wooburn Green Station that was demolished in the late 1980s.

When you reach Wooburn Manor Park, look out for a footpath on the right of Wycombe Road that takes you past Spade Oak and back onto the railway route. From here you can continue along a quiet, wooded section that follows the old rail line for 1.6 km / 1 mile to Bourne End. When the path finishes at the A4155 Cores End Road, cross over and take a footpath onto Boston Drive to continue to Bourne End Station.

I’d stumbled upon parts of this route year ago on various cycling and Geocaching adventures. As it’s not a recognised trail I hadn’t considered tracing the route of the line until recently. I’m glad that I did though as its a hidden gem of a route still with evidence of the old rail route.