Posts tagged Buckinghamshire
Chiltern Walks: Ashridge Boundary Trail

Bridgewater Monument at National Trust Visitors’ Centre, Ashridge

The Ashridge Boundary Trail is a 26km / 16 mile circular walking route of the the National Trust Ashridge Estate in the northern Chilterns. The route is well maintained and well signed in both directions. The National Trust’s own page on the Trail gives detailed directions on the route.

Rather than complete the trail in a single trip I broke it down into 4 smaller sections of between 8 and 10km each. This makes for a more manageable multi-day route and also takes in routes that cross the centre of the property. Each can be done in any order and in any direction. We took them in a fairly random order, saving Route 1, the best in my opinion, to the last. We also alternated the routes between clockwise and anti-clockwise to avoid following the middle crossings in the same direction. 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.

Route 1: Ivinghoe Beacon and Clipper Down

Start & Finish: Ivinghoe Beacon National Trust Car Park, Dunstable, LU6 2EG
Distance: 10.3 km (6.4 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 185m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Wildlife Walk, Ridgeway, Icknield Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
OS Trig Pillar (at top of Ivinghoe Beacon): TP1099 - Beacon Hill
Map: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: Ashridge Estate National Trust, Ivinghoe Beacon (Wikipedia)

For this route I included the summit of Ivinghoe Beacon at the north end of the route. The actual Ashridge Boundary Trail bypasses the summit, cutting off about 100m of distance and 10m of elevation. The view from the top of the Beacon is stunning so I’m not sure why you would want to miss the summit.

Route 2: Ashridge Golf Club and Moneybury Hill

Start & Finish: Ashridge National Trust Car Park, Aldbury, Berkhamsted, HP4 1LU
Distance: 8.2 km (5.1 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 94m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Hertfordshire Way, Wildlife Walk, Woodland Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): Berkhamsted Route 6, Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Cafe at The National Trust Visitor’s Centre Ashridge, Café at Ashridge House
Map: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: Ashridge Estate National Trust, Ashridge House, Ashridge Golf Club

Note that there is alternative free parking at Ashridge House

Route 3: Northchurch Common and Berkhamsted Common

Start & Finish: Ashridge National Trust Car Park, Aldbury, Berkhamsted, HP4 1LU
Distance: 10.2 km (6.4 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 125m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Hertfordshire Way, Rangers’ Ramble, Foresters’ Walk,
Other routes touched (cycle): Berkhamsted Route 6, Chiltern Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Cafe at The National Trust Visitor’s Centre Ashridge, Café at Ashridge House
Map: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: Ashridge Estate National Trust, Ashridge House

Note that there is alternative free parking at Ashridge House.

Route 4: Berkhamsted Common and Frithsden

Start & Finish: Car park at Ashridge House, Berkhamsted, HP4 1NS
Distance: 8.9 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 106m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hertfordshire Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Berkhamsted Route 6, Chiltern Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Café at Ashridge House
Map: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: Ashridge Estate National Trust, Ashridge House

The Complete Route

The Ashridge Boundary Trail in 4 sections, as described above

The complete Ashridge Boundary Trail in 1 route

Elevation Profile for complete Ashridge Boundary Trail in 1 route

Details for the Complete Route

Start & Finish: Ashridge National Trust Car Park, Aldbury, Berkhamsted, HP4 1LU
Distance: 26.3 km (16.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 370m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Ridgeway, Icknield Way, Chiltern Way, Hertfordshire Way, Rangers’ Ramble, Foresters’ Walk, Woodland Walk, Wildlife Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): Berkhamsted Route 6, Chiltern Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Cafe at The National Trust Visitor’s Centre Ashridge, Café at Ashridge House
Map: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North

Richard gowerTrek, Trig Pillar, Chilterns, National Trust, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Amersham, Winchmore Hill and Penn

Shardeloes Estate

Start & Finish: Old Amersham Market Hall, 19 Market Square, Amersham, HP7 0DG
Distance: 12.5 km (7.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 119m
South Bucks Way section covered: Shardeloes to Amersham Market Square: 1.2 km
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Coleshill to Toby’s Lane: 8.1 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): South Bucks Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail, Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Milton Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: Lots in Old Amersham High Street (we like Seasons). Also: The Red Lion, Coleshill; The Plough and The Potter’s Arms, Winchmore Hill; The Squirrel, Penn
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Amersham, Coleshill, Winchmore Hill, Penn, Penn Wood

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 the Market Square head south down Whielden Street, following the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Take a left onto Whielden Green and keep to the Trail as it crosses a rough field, over the A413 footbridge and into farmland. Follow the Heritage Trail in a south-westerly direction as it climbs up to Coleshill. When you reach Coleshill All Saints Church opposite the Red Lion pub, take a right onto the footpath passing down the south side of the church. You’re now following both the Chiltern Heritage Trail and The Chiltern Way. Follow these in a westerly direction to The Hill (road) in Winchmore Hill.

When you arrive at Winchmore Hill you have the choice of either The Plough or The Potter’s Arms for a rest. Alternatively you can continue to Penn for The Squirrel or, just round the corner, The Hit or Miss. This is one of the Chiltern Walks with the most pubs on the route.

From The Plough you’ll keep to the right of the Common, following the Heritage Trail (not the Chiltern Way) in a north westerly direction until you reach Penn Street. Turn left onto Penn Street then find the entrance to Penn Wood opposite the Squirrel. Follow the Heritage Trail through Penn Wood to reach Amersham Road. Cross Over Amersham Road, briefly onto Sheepcote Dell Road then take a right onto Beamond End Lane. Take the first road on the right, follow it to the end and continue along the footpath. Halfway across the next field you’ll cross Toby’s Lane, a tree enclosed footpath. At this point the Chiltern Heritage Trail takes a left onto Toby’s Lane. Don’t take this left, instead leave the Heritage Trail and continue across the fields in a north-easterly direction. Cross over Mop End Lane and keep to the footpath to the north edge of The Rough Park woods. Continue for 2km through the Shardeloes estate and A413.

When you reach the A413 you’ll meet the River Misbourne and can cross under the main road next to the river. Follow the footpath onto Amersham High Street and back to the start at Market Square.

South Bucks Way previous section (north): Little Missenden and Shardeloes
South Bucks Way next section (south): Amersham and Coleshill

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Little Kingshill and Little Missenden
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Amersham and Coleshill

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Forty Green and Vicarage Wood

At the entrance to the Royal Standard of England Pub

Start & Finish: The Royal Standard of England pub, Forty Green, Beaconsfield, HP9 1XT
Distance: 8.3 km (5.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 140m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Chiltern Way, The Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Royal Standard of England at the start and end.
Map: Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenhead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Forty Green, Penn, Knotty Green

This is a short walk from the Royal Standard of England pub in Forty Green. The pub is said to be England’s oldest and has a rich history that you can read on its website. It caters well for walkers as it has a large free car park with an information sign for local walks. 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.

Our route took us on a clockwise half-circuit on the Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop and Chiltern Way then back through paths to the west of Knotty Green. From the pub car park take a right onto Bayleys Bottom Lane then the first footpath on the right onto the Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop. Follow this for ~1.5 km until you meet the junction with The Chiltern Way at Coppice Hoop woods. Take a right onto The Chiltern Way and follow it as it curves north/north-east through Beacon Hill until Noakes Lane. Here you’ll leave The Chiltern Way, following Noakes Lane south until it reaches the B474 Witheridge Lane. Take a left onto Witherage Lane.

Be careful on Witheridge Lane as cars can pass down it quite fast and there’s no pavement. You can keep off the road on the grass verges though. After 40 metres, take the first footpath on the right, between some large houses. Follow this path south for ~1.5 km until you meet Forty Green Road, taking a right to briefly follow it. Take the footpath on the left before the Forty Green sign where the road descends steeply. Follow this path south-west until the path junction at Hogback Wood. Take a right onto another path and follow this until you reach Forty Green Road again. Take a left onto the Forty Green Road and follow it back to the Royal Standard of England

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Walking The Colne Valley Trail and the Colne Valley Way
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The Colne Valley Trail runs the length of the Colne Valley Regional Park from Rickmansworth in the North to the River Thames at Staines at the Southern End. The Southern Sections are sign-posted the Colne Valley Way although it’s effectively one continuous trail. There’s also a spur connecting Langley Park to The Grand Union Canal at Cowley Lock.

We completed the first 2 sections from Rickmansworth to Yiewsley in Spring 2020. The bridge over the M4 was currently closed at the time due to roadworks and we completed the 3rd section in July 2021 when the bridge re-opened.

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 - RICKMANSWORTH TO UXBRIDGE

Start: Rickmansworth Aquadrome, Frogmoor Lane, Rickmansworth WD3 1NB
Finish: The Swan and Bottle, Oxford Rd, Uxbridge UB8 1LZ
Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles)
Elevation change: +38m / -50m. Net -12m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Grand Union Canal Towpath, Hillingdon Trail, London Loop
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6, 61
London Coal Duty Posts: 60
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: The Cafe in the Park at Rickmansworth Aquadrome, The Coy Carp at Harefield Lock
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Colne Valley Regional Park, Rickmansworth, Uxbridge

If you’re arriving by public transport, Ricksmansworth Station is a short walk to the start of the trail. If you’re driving the Car Park at Rickmansworth Aquadrome is best. For either start option I recommend the Cafe in The Park at the Aquadrome for an amazing coffee and cake combo to get you going.

This first section of the walk is very easy to navigate as it pretty much sticks to the towpath of the Grand Union Canal. It’s also very well signposted so the minor diversions off the towpath are unlikely to get you lost.

The end of this section at Uxbridge also offers many parking options and the canal is a short walk from Uxbridge Station. Here you can connect back to Rickmansworth on the Metropolitan Line, changing at Harrow-on-the Hill.

SECTION 2 - UXBRIDGE TO Yiewsley

Start: The Swan and Bottle, Oxford Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1LZ
Finish: Trout Lane, Yiewsley, UB7 7FD
Distance: 6.1 km (3.8 miles)
Elevation change: +17m / -23m. Net -6m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Grand Union Canal Towpath, Hillingdon Trail, London Loop, Beeches Way, Shakespeare’s Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 6, 61
London Coal Duty Posts: 65, 66
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: The General Eliott, 1 St John's Road, Uxbridge, UB8 2UR
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Colne Valley Regional Park, Uxbridge, Yiewsley

From the Swan and Bottle continue South along the canal towpath for ~1.25 km, looking out for signs diverting off the the right (East). The path will take you through a residential area and an unattractive industrial estate for ~500m. This is a minor inconvenience to get you to a much more pleasant narrow stretch of park running South next to the River Colne. After ~1 km you’ll reach the B470 Iver Lane Take a left onto the road then a right onto Old Mill Lane. Follow this for ~1 km to Little Britain Lake. Old Mill Lane runs parallel to the River Frays with a highlight being the Old Mill building which was once abandoned and is now apartments.

At the end of Old Mill Lane turn right, following Packet Boat Lane to the footpath that follows the River Colne. Take a left at the path junction and follow the River Colne South. After ~500m you’ll cross the Slough Arm of the Grand Union Canal and will join the Beeches Way. Continue for another ~500m watching out for the footpath junction. The Beeches Way continues onwards to Yiewsley but the Colne Valley Trail splits off the the right (South). Given the M4 Old Slade Lane bridge closure further South, this was the end of the trail for us for now. We’ll be back later to continue on to Staines.

SECTION 3 - YIEWSLEY TO STAINES

Start: Trout Lane, Yiewsley, UB7 7FD
Finish: Lammas Recreation Ground, 115 Wraysbury Road, Staines, TW18 4UA
Distance: 15.3 km (9.5 miles)
Elevation change: +44m / -55m. Net -11m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: Ye Olde George or The Ostrich in Colnbrook High Street
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Colne Valley Regional Park, Yiewsley, Colnbrook, Stanwell Moor, Staines Moor, Staines-upon-Thames

We were hoping to return to the Trail later in 2020, but the M4 Old Slade Lane bridge didn’t re-open until July 2021. As soon as we got confirmation that there was pedestrian access across it we headed back to Yiewsley. There’s good parking and public transport options in Yiewsley, all about 1 km from re-joining the Trail at Trout Lane.

This section has quite a different feel from the Grand-Union based sections 1 and 2. From Trout Lane you soon cross under the GWR mainline and into Thorney Park. Here you’ll find one of 3 motorway crossings as the Trail navigates around the unloved western end of Heathrow airport. After crossing the A4 you’ll reach Colnbrook, an old village that’s still pleasant in parts but stranded in an island surrounded by the motorways and airport. This is a good place for a drink and a rest or as an end point if you want to split this longer section in 2.

Leaving Colnbrook, you’re now following Colne Valley Way sign rather than the Colne Valley Trail. From Horton the route leaves the Colne Brook stream, heading east past the top end of the Wraysbury Reservoir and over the M25. Here you’ll join the River Colne, following its route through Stanwell Moor, Staines Moor and the western edge of Staines. Be careful after the M25 crossing as the Colne Valley Way signs disappear and you’ll need to rely on a map or GPX route.

The route ends at the Thames near the café at the Llamas recreation ground. From here it’s a 0.5 km walk along the river to Staines Town Centre.

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Next sections of the London Loop:

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Canal, Coal Duty Post, Middlesex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey, EnglandComment
Risborough Run in The Park

When: August 1st 2021 (when I did it, but it’s on every Sunday)
Where: Wades Park, 50 Stratton Road, Princes Risborough, HP27 9AX
Course: 5 or 6 laps of Wades Park depending on what else is happening in the park
More Info: Risborough Run In The Park
Other routes touched (walk): None, but the Outer Aylesbury Ring runs along the north-east edge of the park
Other routes touched (cycle): None, but NCN 57 runs past the entrance to the park
Finish time: 24:31

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Richard gowerRun, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Railways Walking Routes

Having walked and cycled a lot of the Chilterns over the past few years I’ve become much more familiar with its landscape. I discovered the valleys in my cycling trips along the Chiltern Rivers and the high points while bagging the Trig Points. With a need to find more short local walks during the Covid Lockdowns my attention turned to finding the rail lines and stations in the AONB. All of the walks listed below the map are around 10k (~6 miles) with a start and finish at a Chiltern rail station. This list covers all stations inside the Chiltern Hills AONB, shaded in green on the map. There’s also a selection of walks covering stations in the “Greater Chiltern Area”, shaded in peach, which covers the area bounded by the north end of the AONB and the Rivers Thames, Lea and Colne.

Rail-based circular walks in the Chiltern Hills AONB

Where all or most of the walk is within the boundary of the AONB

Rail-based circular walks in the Greater Chilterns Area

Where all or most of the walk is outside of the boundary of the AONB

Rail-based point to point walks in the Greater Chilterns Area

Rail-based cycle trips in the Greater Chilterns Area

Richard gowerTrek, Canal, Railway, Disused Railway, Underground, Thames, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Speen and Lacey Green
Valley view near Flowers Bottom Lane

Valley view near Flowers Bottom Lane

Start & Finish: Bradenham National Trust Car Park, Bradenham, Princes Risborough, HP27 0PR
Distance: 7.4 km (4.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 125m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): N/A
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: Bradenham National Trust Estate, Speen, Lacey Green, Loosley Row

This pleasant, short Chiltern walk starts with a steep climb through the woods from Bradenham National Trust Car Park. Unlike a lot of our recent Chiltern walks it doesn’t follow or cross any of the well marked trails such as the Chiltern Way or Ridgeway. 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.

Keep an eye out for the sculptures on display in the garden of the large house on the north side of Kiln Lane. Although there’s no pubs on the main route, you can take a short diversion at the half-way point into Lacey Green village for a rest at the Black Horse.

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Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, National Trust, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Saunderton and Loosley Row
Ascent from Smalldean Lane

Ascent from Smalldean Lane

Start & Finish: Saunderton Station, High Wycombe, HP14 4HX
Distance: 9.1 km (5.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 125m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way, The Ridgeway, Risborough Blue Route
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Golden Cross, Saunderton at start and finish.
Map: OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford and OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Saunderton, Saunderton Station, Loosley Row

For the latest of our Chiltern Rail based walks we visited Saunderton. Once a Victorian-era industrial town, it’s now a quiet village in a scenic Chiltern valley. 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 the train station cross the A4010 Wycombe Road and walk north-west up Smalldean Lane. As you pass the back entrance to The Residence on the right hand side, take a footpath that runs along the field edge parallel to Smalldean Lane. At the end of the field there’s a small gap in the hedge where you can get back onto the lane. Walk back along the lane for ~100m and take the right hand footpath up the hill to the north-east.

Continue along this path, following the ridgeline for nearly 2km until you reach Little Lane. Cross over and take Foundry Lane into Loosley Row village centre. Shortly after passing the old Foundry, take a right up Loosely Hill to the crossroad with Lower Road. Take a left onto Lower Road to join the Chiltern Way. After 100m take a left off Lower Road, continuing to follow the Chiltern Way through a farm. Follow the Chiltern way for another 1.5 km until you meet The Ridgeway next to the railway line. Carefully cross the rail line via the level crossing and continue to follow the Ridgeway south. Here you’ll leave the Chiltern Way which heads north next to the rail line.

Here the Ridgeway cuts through Princes Risborough Golf Course and meets Lee Road. Here continue south along Lee Road rather than taking the Ridgeway to the east. When Lee Road curves to the left, continue south along the footpath through a farm. Keep to the main path on a south-westerly direction, eventually returning to Saunderton.

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Richard gowerTrek, Railway, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Risborough Railways Ramble
Level Crossing on the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway near the start of The Phoenix Trail

Level Crossing on the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway near the start of The Phoenix Trail

Start & Finish: Princes Risborough Station, Princes Risborough, HP27 9DD
Distance: 10.7 km (6.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 83m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Risborough Blue, Orange, Green and Pink Routes, Outer Aylesbury Ring, The Ridgeway, Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 57, Phoenix Trail, Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Princes Risborough High Street, including The Crepe Escape
Map: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: Princes Risborough, Princes Risborough Station, Watlington and Princes Risborough Railway, Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway

For the latest in our Chiltern Railways circular walks we visited Princes Risborough. It’s a market town on the north edge of the Chilterns and a meeting point of current and disused railway lines. 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 the station take the B4444 Summerleys Road north, passing under 2 railway bridges. After the 2nd bridge, take a right onto a small road, also called Summerley’s Road (but leaving the B4444). Pass under another railway bridge then take a right onto Mount Way. Carefully cross over a level crossing and continue to the T junction with Stratton Road. Take a left onto Stratton Road, then onto Church Street and take a right at the end onto the High Street. You’ll now be on the Outer Aylesbury Ring. Follow this along the High Street, left onto the A4010, right onto New Road. Continue up New Road, climbing the hill until you get to the Ridgeway. Take a right onto the Ridgeway.

Follow the Ridgeway for ~2.5 km in a south-westerly direction. Be careful on the section that follows the A4010. There’s a wide pavement but it’s a very busy road and you’ll need to cross over it. At the end of this Ridgeway section you’ll join the Chiltern Way and cross over the railway. Take a right onto the Chiltern Way and follow this north. Cross over a level crossing again and continue north towards Horsenden. After the level crossing make sure you follow the Risborough Blue route and not the Chiltern way which takes a turn to the left.

When you get to Horsenden Lane, take a left and pass Horsenden Parish Church. Keep on Horsenden Lane as it turns right. You’ll now be on the Risborough Pink Route and NCN 57. Follow this in a north-westerly direction until you meet the B4009. Just before the main route you’ll have passed over a level crossing on the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway and then the start of the Phoenix Way.

Take a right turn on the B4009, passing under the old railway bridge that’s now the start of the Phoenix Trail. Take a right hand footpath immediately after the bridge and follow the path parallel to the still abandoned rail line that connects the Phoenix Trail to Princes Risborough Station. The path will connect with Summerley’s Road where you can take a right and return back to the start.

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Richard gowerTrek, Railway, Disused Railway, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Walking The Bourne End To Maidenhead Line
View of Bourne End Marina from the rail and footbridge

View of Bourne End Marina from the rail and footbridge

Start: Bourne End Railway Station, 1 Station Road, Wooburn Green, Bourne End, SL8 5RN
Finish: Maidenhead Railway Station, Maidenhead SL6 1EW
Distance: 9.6 km (5.9 miles)
Elevation change: +60m / -58m. Net +2m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Shakespeare’s Way, Thames Path, Maidenhead Boundary Walk, Maidenhead Green Way, The Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop, Walking The High Wycombe to Bourne End Disused Railway
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 50
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: Costa Coffee at Cookham Station, several in Maidenhead Town Centre
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, Bourne End Station, Cookham Station, Furze Platt Station, Maidenhead Boyne Hill Station, Maidenhead 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. We completed the disused section last year and were keen to continue the route of the original line from Bourne End to Maidenhead. 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.

As this is a working rail line, doing a point to point walk then returning to the start by train is pretty straightforward. We picked up where we finished last year at Bourne End Station. From here you can pick up a footpath to the south of the station. This path will connect with the Thames Path and cross over the footbridge next to the river’s rail crossing. Once over the bridge, take a left onto the Thames Path, heading south. After ~0.5 km leave the Thames Path, following a footpath to the south of Strand Water, a minor tributary of the Thames. When you meet the railway again, take the left had footpath running between the railway and the golf club. Continue walking south until you reach The Pound. Take a right onto the Pound and follow it west until Cookham Station.

Once over the level crossing at Cookham Station take a left onto High Road. Continue south along High Road, Peace Lane and the edge of Alfred Major park, keeping the rail line on your left. When you reach the B4447 take a left, following it under the rail bridge, taking the first footpath on the right. This path opens onto Bass Mead which you’ll follow to the junction with Lightlands Lane and Strande Lane. Just before that junction take a right hand track heading south. Continue walking south, picking up the Maidenhead Boundary walk until you cross railway bridge on the B4447 Gardner Road.

Leave the Maidenhead Boundary Walk by taking a left onto Queensway, a left onto Edinburgh Road, a left onto Connaught Close and a right onto a footpath leading back to Queensway. At the junction of Queensway and Harrow Lane take a left to visit Furze Platt Station. Then double back on Harrow Lane taking Bridle Road, the first road on the left. Follow Bridle Road until you meet Gringer Hill. Here you can take a westerly heading footpath to College Avenue. Follow College Avenue south, curving round to the east to cross the rail line on a footbridge. Once over the footbridge take a right onto Elm Grove and follow it until you reach the A4 at Castle Hill. Here you can see the site of the, now disused, Maidenhead Boyne Hill Station.

On the east side of the rail bridge you can take a path heading south to West Road. Continue down West Road, taking a right onto High Town Road. When you meet Grenfell Road, continue heading west over the railway bridge and take a left onto Kings Grove. Just after Clare Road on your right take a footpath on the left that goes under the rail line. Take a right onto Grenfell Road, following it as it curves round to the west. Take the right hand footpath round the back of a private car park to the end of the trip at Maidenhead Station.

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Richard gowerTrek, Railway, Thames, Chilterns, National Trust, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Winchmore Hill and Common Wood
The Plough, Winchmore Hill

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.

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Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Great Missenden and Little Kingshill
View to the south-east from Great Missenden Parish Church

View to the south-east from Great Missenden Parish Church

Start & Finish: Great Missenden Station, HP16 9WH
Alternative Start / Finish: Link Road Car Park, Great Missenden, HP16 9AE
Distance: 9.2 km (5.7 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 114m
South Bucks Way section covered: Great Missenden to Little Kingshill: 3.3 km
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Little Kingshill Recreation Ground to Buryfield Car Park: 4.4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): South Bucks Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 57, Chilterns Heritage Trail: Hampden Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Black Horse (1km in), The Full Moon (5.3km in), several cafes in Great Missenden Town Centre
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: River Misbourne, Great Missenden, Great Missenden Station, Great Kingshill, Roald Dahl

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.

The walk starts at either Great Missenden Railway Station or nearby parking in Link Road. From here follow Link Road and take a right onto the South Bucks Way through Buryfields Recreation Ground. If you continue along Church Lane and over the A413 you can visit Great Missenden Parish Church of St Peter & St Paul and the grave of famous local resident and writer, Roald Dahl. From here retrace your steps back over the A413 bridge and rejoin the South Bucks Way heading south through Abbey Park. You’ll cross over a metal footbridge over the Misbourne at the south end of Missenden Abbey Lake. The bridge was in disrepair when we were there, so be careful and be prepared for a tricky crossing. Once over the bridge, the South Bucks Way crosses London Road and wiggles round the perimeter fence of the Misbourne School before crossing under the railway line.

After the railway line continue along the South Bucks Way in a south-westerly direction until the Full Moon pub in Little Kingshill. This is a great half-way point for a rest before you’ll leave the South Bucks Way and travel north along the Chiltern Heritage Trail. You’ll notice a small triangle at the bottom of the map which is there to make sure there’s no gap in completing the whole of the South Bucks Way between this section and the next. If you’re not worried about the gap take the Chiltern Heritage Trail in a north-easterly direction. If you’re a completer-finisher like me, continue south along the South Bucks Way to Windsor Lane, take a right, then another right onto Hare Lane and you’ll end up back at the Full Moon pub.

This latter half of the trip is fairly easy to navigate as you’ll be on the Heritage Trail all the way back to Great Missenden Station.

South Bucks Way previous section (north): Little Hampden and Great Missenden
South Bucks Way next section (south): Little Kingshill and Little Missenden

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Great Missenden and Ballinger
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Little Kingshill and Little Missenden

Richard gowerTrek, Railway, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Zwift Watopia & (not)parkrun Mash-up

It took me nearly a year of cycling on Zwift before starting to do Zwift running too. I was hesitant to buy a treadmill so I considered buying the £38 RunPod to see if I could run both in Zwift and in real life (IRL) at the same time.

Winter 2020 approached and, with the prospect of being locked down for a long time, I bit the bullet and bought a treadmill. Predictably, I got hooked on Zwift running and was soon collecting the Run Achievement badges.

My friend Brian reminded me about the question of whether you can run both IRL and in Zwift at the same time. Having now had a better understanding of how Zwift Running works I thought that it would be weird but possible. As it turned out, that was true.

So, on a chilly Saturday afternoon in January I got to the start line of the Black Park parkrun course ready for the experiment. I had my Garmin watch ready to record the IRL run, my RunPod on my trainer and the Zwift App open on my iPhone. I selected the Watopia 5k Loop course, pressed start on the Garmin and I was off.

I normally run IRL with my iPhone in an arm strap. I kept it in my hand for this run as I wanted to keep track of my Zwift progress on screen and didn’t want to end the run by accidentally clicking on something. Keeping an eye on the IRL course and on the screen was a bit distracting but I wasn’t going for a PB so it was doable. I loved the contrast between the grey, drizzly Black Park and the bright, clear beach scene in Watopia.

When I’m running indoors there’s normally a noticeable difference between the treadmill speed and what shows in Zwift via the RunPod. The variance between Zwift and my Garmin for this run was only very slight. By the end of the run my Garmin showed 5.01 km to 4.77 km in Zwift.

5k is probably as far as I would do as a dual run. Apart from the distraction it was a quite a drain on the phone’s battery so it won’t have lasted for a 10k. It was a fun experiment to prove that it could be done but I don’t think I’ll be doing any more dual runs.

Zwift stats after sync with Garmin Connect

Zwift stats after sync with Garmin Connect

Zwift print screen at end of run

Zwift print screen at end of run

IRL stats directly recorded via Garmin watch

IRL stats directly recorded via Garmin watch

Start of Black Park parkrun course

Start of Black Park parkrun course

Black Park parkrun elevation profile

Black Park parkrun elevation profile

Richard gowerRun, Zwift, parkrun, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Seer Green and Jordans
Jordans Village Green

Jordans Village Green

Start & Finish: Seer Green & Jordans Station, Farm Lane, Seer Green, HP9 2UP
Distance: 7.3 km (4.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 47m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Jolly Cricketers, just off the route at 6.8km
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Jordans, Seer Green and Jordans Station, Seer Green

This was the latest in our series of short circular walks starting from Chilterns Railway 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.

Starting from Seer Green and Jordans station you’ll follow a steep path up through some very nice houses into Seer Green village. Here you’ll cross over the Chiltern Heritage Trail but don’t follow it. From Seer Green village take a path in a north-easterly direction through fields and farmland to the junction of Newbarn Lane, Twitchell’s Lane and Three Households.

Continue in a north-easterly direction along Three Households for ~500m before taking a right-hand footpath through Oakland Park Golf Club. Continue in a south-easterly direction for ~1.4 km until you reach a T-junction in the footpath in the woods. Take the right hand footpath, following along the edge of the boundary with the communications site with the large satellite dishes.

You’ll come to a large open space where you can take a right hand path, heading west. Follow this path through farmland to Jordan’s Lane and the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Briefly follow this south toward the Quaker Centre, crossing the road when you see a footpath on the right heading west. Follow this path through the field, Crutches Wood, over Longbottom Lane and back to the start at Seer Green and Jordans station.

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Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Hedgerley and Bulstrode
Bulstrode Park

Bulstrode Park

Start & Finish: The White Horse, Hedgerley, Village Lane, Hedgerley, Slough, SL2 3UY
Distance: 6.9 km (4.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 52m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hedgerley Circular
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Hedgerley, Gerrards Cross, Bulstrode Park

If you’ve already done the Hedgerley Circular, this short route returns to the highlights of the eastern section plus an extra loop over the M40. This additional section takes you into the grounds of Bulstrode Park. The estate pre-dates the Norman Conquest and a house has been on the land since the 1600s. For much of recent history the estate has been owned by an evangelical Christian mission although it has been in private hands since 2016. The house was being renovated when we were on this walk, although the paths through the park are always open. 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.

If you’re starting at Hedgerley, the furthest point of the route stops just before the A40 at Gerrards Cross. With an extra 10 minutes walk you’ll reach the town where there’s several cafe and pub options. Alternatively, Gerrards Cross station can be used as a starting point and the White Horse pub at Hedgerley would be your half-way rest stop.

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Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Walks Along The Thames Path National Trail
Maidenhead Bridge

Maidenhead Bridge

I’ve spent a lot of my life living close to the Thames and have done countless walks, runs and rides along it. It’s also the first National Trail that I’ve completed end to end. That was a cycle trip and, as my blog post on it describes, it’s best discovered on foot.

More recently I’ve been returning to the trail to do shorter circular walks containing stretches of the Thames Path. So far it’s been mostly focused on the Chilterns section, but I’ll extend towards the outer ends later. Here’s the links to the walks that I’ve done so far. They’re in order of closest to the source first.

From The Source to The Chilterns: Kemble to Wallingford

Circular Walks including the Thames Path

The Chilterns Section: Wallingford to Staines-upon-Thames


Circular Walks including the Thames Path

The London Section: Staines-upon-Thames to The Thames Barrier

Walks Crossing or Ending at The Thames Path

Richard gowerTrek, Thames, Chilterns, Colne Valley, National Trust, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Middlesex, London, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Heronsgate and Bottom Wood
View east from Philipshill Wood

View east from Philipshill Wood

Start & Finish: The Stag, Long Lane, Heronsgate, WD3 5BT
Distance: 6.5 km (4 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 82m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail, South Bucks Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Milton Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Stag, Heronsgate
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Heronsgate, Philipshill Woods, Newlands Park

A short walk in the eastern Chilterns, touching parts of our previous walk from Chalfont St Giles to Newlands Park. We started from The Stag pub in Heronsgate, but Chorleywood station is not far and only adds a short distance if you’re coming in by train. 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 Chiltern Way section of the route follows Old Shire Lane along the edge of Philipshill Wood. This ancient trackway is “is thought to mark part of the boundary between the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia” (Wikipedia).

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Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Chalfont St Giles and Newlands Park
Fields at eastern end of Newlands Park

Fields at eastern end of Newlands Park

Start & Finish: Chalfont St. Giles Village Centre, HP8 4QF
Distance: 8.6 km (5.3 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 75m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Newland Gorse to Chalfont Common: 4.6 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): Chiltern Heritage Trail Milton Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Chalfont St. Giles Village Centre
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Chalfont St Giles, Newlands Park, Philipshill Wood, Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy, Gott’s Monument, River Misbourne

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.

From the village centre you’ll follow the Chiltern Way in an easterly direction over fields, across the A413 then up a steep hill. Soon you’ll pass the picturesque H2 construction site for one of the Chiltern tunnel vents. Continue along the Chiltern Way as it enters the Newlands Park Estate, curving around its perimeter.

Approximately 3 km into the trip you’ll meet a path junction in Philipshill Wood. Instead of taking a left turn to continue on the Chiltern Way, continue straight on, keeping to the left of the boundary of Newlands Park. After ~350m take a right hand path (Old Shire Lane), again keeping Newlands Park on your right. After ~600 metres, take a right hand path back into Newlands Park and follow the path toward then over Gorelands Lane. Continue in a south-westerly direction through farmland and into the Chalfont Centre for Epilepsy.

To the right of the main gate of the Centre for Epilepsy, look out for Gott’s Obelisk. According to the plaque, it was “… built in 1785 by Sir William Gott who lived at nearly Newlands Park, it was a marker to George III his hunting partner. Once struck by lightning it is half it’s original height”.

From the monument, take Misbourne Avenue down to the A413, take a left and briefly follow the main road until you see a footpath sign on the right. Carefully cross the road and take the path across the River Misbourne until you meet the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Turn right onto the trail and follow it back to Chalfont St. Giles.

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Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Chalfont St Peter, Seer Green and Chalfont St Giles
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Phillipshill Wood and Hanging Wood

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Colne Valley, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Walking The Chiltern Way Part 2 - Cow Roast to Chalk Hill
Dunstable Down

Dunstable Down

Start: Cowroast Lock, 46 Wharf Ln, Tring HP23 5RE
Finish: White Lion Pub, Watling Street, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU6 1RS
Distance: 21.9 km (13.6 Miles)
Elevation change: +314m / -315m. Net -1m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Iknield Way, Rangers’ Ramble, Foresters’ Walk, Ashridge Boundary Trail, Hertfordshire Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway, Berkhamsted Route 6, Grand Union Canal Towpath
Pubs / Cafes on route: Bridgewater Arms, Little Gadesden / National Trust Cafe at Dunstable Downs
Maps: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North and OS Explorer Map (193) Luton and Stevenage
Links: Chiltern Way (Chiltern Society), Cow Roast, National Trust Ashridge Estate, Ashridge, Little Gaddesden, Whipsnade Zoo, Whipsnade, Dunstable Downs National Trust

For our latest Winter Solstice walk we picked up the Chiltern Way from where we left off a year ago. Cow Roast Lock at 08:00 was a bit brighter and significantly less rainy than how we left it in 2019.

As we got into the first hour of the walk Brian and I reflected on some of the changes in a weird year of Covid-19. For the first time since I started my Solstice Walks I wasn’t doing it to unwind from my usual year-end work stress. I hadn’t been to an office since mid-February, had no work-related travel and very little commuting. This gave me a chance to build in more positive daily habits and have more control over my working environment. Year-end at work was still very busy, but now I felt energised rather than exhausted.

This first half of this section of the Chiltern Way was pleasant but with fewer points of interest. Fields and woodland went by in a blur as we caught up on our recent events. The route became more interesting as we ascended out of the Gade Valley after Dagnall and up toward Whipsnade. This part of the Chiltern Way converges with the Icknield Way path that I covered a few years ago in similar damp weather and muddy terrain.

We were walking between Lockdowns 2 and 3 and food stops were few and far between. Normally the Bridgewater Arms at Little Gadesden would have been open when we arrived, but we were too early for their later opening times. The National Trust Cafe at Dunstable Downs was our main hope but the Visitor Centre and Cafe were closed. We has to make do with a pasty and a coffee from the small takeaway hatch at the back. It was drizzling and freezing so we didn’t hang around for long and continued north.

Our finish point was the White Lion Pub on the A5 north of Dunstable. This felt like the obvious target as it was the starting point of our 2nd Icknield Way trip 2 years ago. As that also covered the next section of the Chiltern Way, we’ll start again from Streatley for our next Solstice walk.

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Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, Herefordshire, Bedfordshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Little Kingshill and Little Missenden
View to Little Missenden on the Chiltern Heritage Trail / South Bucks Way

View to Little Missenden on the Chiltern Heritage Trail / South Bucks Way

Start & Finish: The Red Lion, 1 Highmore Cottages, Little Missenden, Amersham, HP7 0RB
Distance: 9.9 km (6.1 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 104m
South Bucks Way section covered: Little Kingshill to Little Missenden: 3.47 km
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Beamond End Lane to Little Kingshill Recreation Park: 6.2 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): South Bucks Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Heritage Trail: Hampden Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Red Lion and The Crown Inn at the start and finish in Little Missenden. The Square and The Earl Howe in Holmer Green
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: River Misbourne, Little Missenden, Great Kingshill, Holmer Green

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 the Crown Inn in Little Missenden village centre, cross Village Road and follow the Chiltern Heritage Trail south for 2.65 km. When you reach Beaumond End Lane, cross it to take the footpath on the other side rather than continuing along the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Cross over Sheepcote Dell Road and follow the footpath across the field to reach Hogg Lane. Take a right onto Earl Howe Lane and follow it in a northerly direction through Holmer Green village. Here you pass a few pubs and cafes for a mid-walk rest.

Continue up New Pond Road, take a left onto Beech Tree Road, a right onto Watchet Lane, then take the first footpath on the left. Follow the path through fields and woods in a north-westerly direction until you reach Windsor Lane in Little Kingshill. Here you’ll connect with the end of the South Bucks Way section of Part 3. Take a right onto Windsor Lane to follow the South Bucks Way/Chiltern Heritage Trail back to the start at Little Missenden.

South Bucks Way previous section (north): Great Missenden and Little Kingshill
South Bucks Way next section (south): Little Missenden and Shardeloes

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Great Missenden and Little Kingshill
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Amersham, Winchmore Hill and Penn

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment