Family Friendly 60 Choice Walks in the CHILTERNS for the inexperienced map reader Short ‘taster’ walks introduce graded choices Table of Contents Locations map 2 Acknowledgements 4 Introduction 6 How to use this Guide 8 Other matters 13 10 Locations each with 6 choices of graded walks between 2-13 miles: 1. Hambleden is close to the Thames and to Henley 14 (3 miles). Its picturesque village is surrounded by hills and ancient settlements, which we explore. 2. Pishill includes the toughest walking, rewarded by 24 stunning views and a visit to the deer park of Stonor House. 3. Turville is well known because of TV ( e.g,. The vicar 32 of Dibley) and films (‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’). The walk up to the Windmill is one you’ll never forget! 4. Piddington lies close to the M40 and High Wycombe. 40 Apart from the starter walk, the others are quite tough but extremely varied in landscape, with incredible views providing reward for your efforts. A delightful set of walks. 5. Stokenchurch lies just off the M40 (junction 5). 48 Wormsley Estate and Yoesden Nature Reserve are visited as are many viewpoints overlooking tranquil beauty. 6. Great Kingshill has a lot to offer with strong contrasts 56 between the walk choices. A good location for you if you want to mix exploration with visiting Hughenden Manor. 7. Lower Cadsden is very close to the Prime Minister’s 64 residence which we walk both by and through and overview from Coombe Hill. 8. Cholesbury has a great variety of landscapes to 72 choose from with a windmill and an Iron Age hill fort to visit en route. 9. Ashridge is a heavily visited tourist location, visiting 80 the Aldbury Stocks, the Bridgewater Monument and the Ashridge Estate. Peace and tranquillity are still yours once on your way e.g. the longer walk takes in another prominent landmark- Ivinghoe Beacon. 10. Little Gaddesden explores not only the Golden Valley, 88 but out to the Dunstable Downs and Whipsnade Zoo. Further walk choices for the experienced map reader 96 About the author 112 5 Further walk choices for the experienced map reader You will need to have one or more of OS EXPLORER maps 171, 172, 181, 182 to follow/mark-up routes; I mark up my routes with pencilled arrows. There are 14 locations (numbered 11-24 continuing on from the other section of the guide) each with 3 walk choices (two half- day, and one whole day) between 3 -13 miles. Table of contents Location Map 97 11. Whitchurch Hill: Hartstock Nature Reserve; 98 panoramic views over the Thames 12. Stoke Row: Maharaja’s Well; fine views; beech 99 woodland. 13. Rotherfield Greys: Greys Court; Greys Church; 100 Water Tank at Bix; panoramic views 14. Middle Assendon: lovely views; beech woodland. 101 15. Christmas Common: World War II bomber 102 memorial; panoramic views; beech woodland. 16. Studley Green: Red Kite (feeding of); lovely views; 103 beech woodlands. 17. Forty Green: Royal Standard of England (oldest pub); 104 wild flower meadow; beech woodland; lovely views. 18. Chalfont St Giles: golf course; lovely viewpoints; 105 beech woodland. 19. Bledlow: Radnage church; panoramic views; beech 106 woodland. 20. Parslow Hillock (Princes Risborough): windmill; 107 Hampden House; beech woodlands; lovely views. 21. Mobwell (Gt Missenden): Hot Air Ballooning; Roald 108 Dahl Museum; panoramic views; beech woodlands. 22. Chipperfield: River Chess Valley; Latimer House; 109 Chenies Manor; beech woodland; panoramic views 23. Wendover: Chequers (Prime Minister’s country 110 residence); Boer War memorial; panoramic views; beech woodland. 24. Studham: Chilterns Gateway Centre; Dunstable 111 Downs; panoramic views; Tree Cathedral. 96 To Peace and Tranquillity 7. Lower Cadsden 8. Cholesbury A41 5. Stokenchurch 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1. Hambleden 2. Pishill within an hour of YOU! 9. Ashridge 10. Little Gaddesden 10 9 M1 8 6. Great Kingshill M40 M25 M40 3. Turville 4. Piddington Walk choices location map Numbers 1-10 = Fully described routes at locations linked to map extracts: 1. Hambleden; 2. Pishill ; 3. Turville; 4. Piddington; 5. Stokenchurch; 6. Great Kingshill; 7.Lower Cadsden; 8. Cholesbury; 9. Ashridge; 10. Little Gaddesden (see Table of Contents of all these locations on page 5) Numbers 11-24 = For experienced map readers with OS EXPLORER maps (see Table of Contents opposite) 10 Dunstablestable DownsDow 24 Little Gaddesden 23 8 9 Wendover Berkhamsted 7 Princes Risborough 20 Chesham 21 Chipperfield Chiltern Hills19 22 6 Stokenchurch 18 5 16 4 High Chalfont 15 B N Wycombe St Giles O A 17 s rn 3 Beaconsfield e ilt h 2 C 1 14 12 Henley-on-Thames 11 13 River Tham Whitchurch on Thames es 97 Introduction My aim in writing this guide is to tempt the general public, especially families living within an hour’s drive (which includes the whole of West London), to come and explore this wonderful area of tranquillity; the ideal place to escape to. I say ‘especially families’ because it is they who have the most to gain. Children have space to let off excess energy across open fields and beech woodlands; they delight in climbing trees and seeing the wildlife e.g. Red Kites (see photo opposite), deer, pheasants, squirrels, rabbits and also the farmers livestock e.g. cattle, horses, sheep, pigs; it’s a huge adventure for kids. The family dog is given a treat… all those new smells! As for mum and dad… well, first of all they’ll feel good because of their commitment to having fit and healthy children; then they’ll love the country pubs, windmills, thatched cottages, ancient churches, wild flower meadows and fantastic hilltop views, being such a contrast to urban living. The Chilterns are not only beautiful to behold, but are an oasis of peace and calm; tranquillity is the trade mark of the Chilterns. The contrast between that and the rush and bustle of urban life is a very pleasant surprise that awaits anyone stepping out onto Chiltern footpaths for the first time- enough to encourage them to want to repeat that surprise time and time again. So why aren’t the footpaths swarming with escaping urbanites at the moment? Because most guidebooks are written to suit experienced walkers. They don’t cater for people who are inexperienced at map reading; such people not only fear getting lost in the myriad of paths that link all the villages in the Chilterns, they don’t feel they own the necessary walking gear for the whole family e.g. boots, rucksacks, maps. This guide has been specially written for families to go on short, starter or ‘taster’ walks, in normal clothing and trainers or wellies, with the necessary maps included in this guide; everything you need to get started. All you have to do is believe in that day’s fine weather forecast and jump into the car; but don’t forget your brolly (just in case). However, beware- you can quickly become addicted to exploring the Chilterns and be adding walking gear to your Christmas present wish-list so that you can plan to visit the Chilterns in all weathers and at any time of the year. You can even design a weekend break, or a week’s holiday based on this guide. What’s that? I can’t stop you getting lost? Well, no, but I have built into the system a number of features that help you avoid getting lost (including teaching the essentials of map reading), plus a way to quickly get you back on track should you (despite all my best efforts) chatter your way past a turning you should have taken! It is also important, from a family point of view that you know where you can park, where you can get refreshments and that you have a choice of walks from a single location. Why the latter? Flexibility. For example, you may have done the ‘taster’ short walk before lunch and 6 Introduction Red Kite then, having had a good lunch in the pub, want to go for a longer walk as the sun is still shining and you hadn’t got lost in the morning! Matters are catered for by having six choices of walk at each of the 10 different locations; walks range in distance from 2 -13 miles. Each location has parking and refreshment facilities available- allowing you to decide whether to picnic or to treat yourselves to a lovely country pub snack/ meal. So which location do you choose? All 10 locations are in what I call the heart of the Chilterns; that lovely area (part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) between the Thames and the Dunstable Downs. So it depends whether you are going to whizz to tranquillity along the M4 (Southern Chilterns), the M40 (Mid- Chilterns) or the M1 (Northern Chilterns). The locations map on pages 2 and 3 will help you decide. Dick Chapman p.s. This guide is for YOU! For the beginner, to enjoy becoming experienced; for the experienced to enjoy not only the 60 fully described walk choices, but also (possibly) 42 other walk choices, too. See page 96. 7 How to use this guide Introduction Your fi rst decision is which location you want to start at and whether you are going to want to take a picnic or take refreshments on site. Directions as to where to park if picnicking are given on the front page of the location (including the post code of the pub for your Sat Nav). If you are taking refreshments on site, it shows consideration to phone the pub to let them know you’re parking your car in their car park, and that you’ll be in for lunch (or whatever).