Walking The Midshires Way Part 10: Addington and Great Horwood

V-shaped junction on the Cross Bucks Way near Addington

Start & Finish: Church End, Adstock, Buckingham, MK18 2HY
Distance: 10.3 km (6.4 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 79m
Terrain: A pleasant mix of open arable fields, ancient bridleways, and quiet village lanes.
Midshires Way section covered: Addington to Great Horwood: 4.3 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Midshires Way, The Swan Way, Cross Bucks Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Old Thatched Inn, Adstock (at the start and end), The Swan Inn, Great Horwood (6.1 km in)
Map: Buckingham & Milton Keynes Map | Leighton Buzzard & Woburn | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 192
Links: Addington, Great Horwood, Midshires Way

This is part of a series of short circular walks following the length of the Midshires Way in Buckinghamshire. The Midshires Way is a 225-mile (362 km) trail that journeys through the rural heart of Middle England, linking the Ridgeway National Trail at Bledlow in the south to the Trans Pennine Trail at Stockport in the north. Opened in 1994, this route traverses several counties, including Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Greater Manchester, following a scenic tapestry of ancient bridleways, quiet country lanes, and historic canals. In Buckinghamshire, the Midshires Way has a significant connection with the Swan's Way (often referred to as the Swan Way), a 65-mile long-distance bridleway. Essentially, the Swan's Way forms the backbone of the Buckinghamshire section of the Midshires Way, with the two routes being broadly coincident for approximately 50 miles between Salcey Forest and Bledlow. While the Swan's Way strictly adheres to bridleways to accommodate horse riders and cyclists, the Midshires Way sometimes offers alternative waymarked footpaths for walkers to avoid on-road sections.

Walking Directions

This delightful circular walk takes you through the serene Buckinghamshire countryside, starting in the quiet village of Adstock. The path initially guides you south across open farmland to Addington, picking up the Cross Bucks Way. From Addington Church, you join the official Midshires Way trail heading east and then north-eastwards. The wide views of the agricultural landscape serve as a fantastic backdrop as you make your way towards the picturesque village of Great Horwood.

Once you reach Great Horwood, you will find a charming village centre that makes for a perfect mid-walk rest stop. Leaving the Midshires Way behind, the route loops back towards the west via quiet lanes, taking you through more peaceful meadows before returning to Adstock. The gentle undulation of the landscape makes this an excellent afternoon stroll or a highly scenic alternative to your weekend parkrun.

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 your walk where there are free parking spaces in the village of Adstock, near the junction of Church End, Main Street and East Street.
Walk south down Main Street, then take a left onto Scots Lane.
Continue heading in a south-easterly direction to carefully cross over the Buckingham Road (A413).
Keep heading south through the fields to pick up the Cross Bucks Way, eventually reaching the road that runs east to west through the village of Addington.
Take a left onto this road, continuing to follow the Cross Bucks Way, then take a left to join the Midshires Way near Addington Church (the Church of St Mary the Virgin).
Continue east along the Midshires Way until you reach the equestrian centre, then take a left to follow the road to the east of the centre heading north.
Upon reaching the Buckingham Road (A413) again, carefully cross over to the north side of the road and follow the pavement in an easterly direction.
Take the footpath on the left to leave the A413, following this path (which is the Midshires Way and North Bucks Way) in a north-easterly direction.
Keep following the path until you reach Winslow Road, then take a left and follow it into the village centre of Great Horwood.
At the village centre, you will see The Swan Inn: a good halfway spot for a rest and a drink.
Leave the Midshires Way here by taking a left off Winslow Road onto Singleborough Road, following it in a westerly direction.
Continue as this leads onto Pilch Lane, heading in a west or north-westerly direction.
Just after a bend and crossing a bridge over a stream, leave Pilch Lane by taking a left onto a footpath through the fields.
Follow this footpath as it curves down to the south-west, taking you all the way to The Gardens, a small lane in Adstock.
Keep following this down to West Street, then onto East Street, before finally returning to your starting point in the Adstock village centre.

Points of Interest along or near to the Route

Church of St Cecilia, Adstock: Dating back to the late 11th or early 12th century, this historic parish church boasts a remarkable Norman doorway featuring intricate zigzag and dog-tooth carvings. Its peaceful churchyard is a fantastic starting point, grounding the walk in a millennium of Buckinghamshire history.
Addington Estate & Equestrian Centre: The Addington estate is not only steeped in Civil War history but is also renowned today for its prestigious Equestrian Centre. The surrounding parkland, with its ancient trees and well-kept bridleways, offers lovely glimpses of the 19th-century landscaping originally designed by William Andrews Nesfield.
Great Horwood & The Swan Inn: Great Horwood is a designated conservation area characterised by a charming village green and 17th-century timber-framed cottages. The village was granted a royal charter in 1447 to hold a weekly market. Today, it hosts the historic Swan Inn, a perfect resting point that has been serving weary travellers for centuries.
Pilch Lane & Rural Meadows: The return leg via Pilch Lane crosses vital local waterways and natural meadowlands. These fields are prime habitats for local wildlife, including grazing deer, red kites soaring overhead, and a variety of hedgerow songbirds that thrive in the undisturbed Bucks countryside.