Posts tagged Trek
Epsom Downs and Langley Vale Wood Circular Walk

Post 130 At Epsom Race Course

Start & Finish: Tattenham Corner Station, Epsom, KT18 5QD
Distance: 11.1 km (6.9 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 160 m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22
London Coal Duty Posts: 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, (132), 133, 134, (135), 136
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Bell (just off route at 7.6 km), several in Tattenham Corner High Street
Map: Dorking, Box Hill & Reigate Map | Leatherhead & Caterham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 146
Links: Coal Duty Posts, Tattenham Corner, Epsom Downs Race Course, Epsom Downs, Langley Vale Wood, Tadworth

Similar to the Banstead Heath Circular, this walk takes advantage of having several Coal Duty Posts in close proximity. On the 11 km walk through Epsom Downs and Langley Vale Wood you can visit posts 125 to 136. Note that post 135 is no longer visible as it’s in a private garden hidden by a large fence and bushes. Even if you’re not into bagging the Coal Posts, this is a very pleasant walk.

The route crosses the Epsom Downs Race Course on public rights of way which are occasionally closed during race events. Check before you go to make sure that the paths are open.

The start of the route is from Tattenham Corner Station where there’s also 2 car parks. From the station walk along Tattenham Crescent toward the race course then take a right onto Tattenham Corner Road heading north, The first Coal Post (132) is near the Tattenham Corner Pub. Take a left onto National Cycle Route (NCN) 22 heading in a south-westerly direction through the race course. Along this 2.2 km stretch you’ll pass posts 129, 128, 127 and 126 either on or just off the cycle route.

At Post 126 leave NCN 22 and take a right to follow the path through Langley Bottom Farm then take a left to the path that runs close to the southern edge of Langley Vale Road in a south-westerly direction. You’ll find post 125 near the junction of Langley Vale Road, Headley Road and Downs Road. Keep on the path running next to Downs Road then a left onto Headley Road to the entrance of the Langley Vale Wood Woodland Trust site.

The next 2.5 km meander through Langley Vale Wood. This was farmland purchased by the Woodland Trust in 2014 and is now one of four First World War Centenary Woods remembering those killed in the war. Its a beautiful place to walk though. Follow the paths until you reach Post 136 at the corner of Motts Hill Lane.

Take a left to follow Motts Hill Lane in a northerly direction but keep on the path when Motts Hill Lane curves to the right at (the hidden) Post 135. Keeping on the path you’ll pass Post 134 and, when the path meets Epsom Lane North, you can squeeze through the hedge for Post 133 on the eastern side of the road. Just after Post 133 you’ll see Post 130 on the opposite side of the race-course. Cross the track on the footpath to visit it. Cross back over to visit Post 131 on the small hill overlooking the race-course and then follow Royal Drive to return to Tattenham Corner Station.

The Coal Duty Posts

Richard gowerTrek, Coal Duty Post, Surrey, London, EnglandComment
Walking The Shakespeare's Way: The Chilterns Section

Rotten Row

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.

Point to Point: Britwell Salome to The Grand Union Canal at Yiewsley

Start: Britwell Salome, Watlington, OX49 5LG
Finish: Grand Union Tow Path, Yiewsley, West Drayton, UB7 7XN
Distance: 59 km (36.7 miles)
Elevation change: + 665 / - 755m. Net +90m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Maps: See individual section posts linked below.
- Chiltern Hills West Map | Henley-on-Thames & Wallingford | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 171
Links: Shakespeare’s Way (LWDA), See individual section posts linked below for other links.

Walking The Shakespeare’s Way Chilterns Section in 12 Circular Routes

If you’re not up for an 59 km walk in one go, you can take in the Shakespeare’s way in 12 circular walks of between 6 and 13 km each. We chose this option, completing all 12 sections over a few years from 2020 to 2025. The advantage of this option is exploring more of the villages and side paths close to the route. After Route 12 you can follow the Beeches Way to reach Yiewsley and the end of the Chilterns Section of the Shakespeare’s Way.

Note that these walks take you through the Chilterns Hills National Landscape. See the Walking The Beeches Way post for the continuation from Cookham to Yiewsley

Each number refers to a circular walk below. Base map: Esri Topo via RideWithGPS

Part 1: Britwell Salome and Lower Warren

  • Distance: 7.8 km (4.8 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 123m

  • Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Britwell Salome to The Ridgeway: 2.2 km

Part 2: Swyncombe and The North

  • Distance: 8.1 km (5 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 176m

  • Shakespeare’s Way section covered: The Ridgeway to Cookley Green: 3.8 km

Part 3: Swyncombe and Park Corner

  • Distance: 9.9 km (6.2 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 199m

  • Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Cookley Green to The Chiltern Way near Maidensgrove: 2.1 km

Part 4: Nettlebed, Park Corner and Maidensgrove

  • Distance: 8.5 km (5.3 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 159m

  • Shakespeare’s Way section covered: The Chiltern Way near Maidensgrove to Park Lane: 1.2 km

Part 5: Russell's Water, Pishill and Maidensgrove

  • Distance: 9.2 km (5.7 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 166m

  • Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Maidensgrove Common to farm at south Maidensgrove: 1.32 km

Part 6: Stonor and Turville Heath

  • Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 208m

  • Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Farm at south of Maidensgrove to Southend: 5.9 km

Part 7: Southend and Skirmett

  • Distance: 12.3 km (7.6 miles)
    Elevation change: +/- 216m
    Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Southend to Hambleden: 5.4 km

Part 8: North-east Hambleden Circular

  • Distance: 9.7 km (6 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 145m

  • Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Hamble Brook to Rogues Plantation: 2.9 km

Part 9: Bovingdon Green and Shillingridge Wood

  • Distance: 10.9 km (6.8 miles)
    Elevation change: +/- 152m
    Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Rogues Plantation to Pullingshill Wood: 2.5 km

Part 10: Marlow and Harleyford

  • Distance: 10.2 km (6.3 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 94m

  • Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Pullingshill Wood to The Thames Path at Marlow: 3.4 km

Part 11: Marlow Donkey

  • 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

Part 12: Bourne End, Cookham and Wooburn

  • Distance: 8.2 km (5.1 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 83m

  • Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Bourne End Rail Bridge to Broad Lane, Widmoor: 3.9 km

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Thames, National Trust, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Colne Valley, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Southend and Skirmett

View to Turville and Fingest from the edge of Great Wood

Start & Finish: Car park next to the Stag and Huntsman, Hambleden, Henley-on-Thames RG9 6RP
Distance: 12.3 km (7.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 216m
Shakespeare’s Way section covered: Southend to Hambleden: 5.4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Chiltern Way, Shakespeare’s Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Stag and Huntsman at the start and finish, The Frog at Skirmett (closed for refurbishment when we passed)
Map: OS Explorer 171: Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
Links: Hambleden, Skirmett, Southend

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.

For this walk we parked at the car park next to the Stag and Huntsman in Hambleden and took Pheasant’s Hill (lane) in a northerly direction out of the village. After approximately 300m take a footpath on the left to join the Chiltern Way and continue following it north until Shogmore Lane. Take a left then a right onto Fingest Lane. Shortly after The Frog pub in Skirmett, take the first footpath on the left and follow it until it rejoins the Chiltern Way. Take a left onto the Chiltern Way and follow it in a south-westerly direction to Drover’s Lane in Southend.

Take a right onto Drovers Lane, continuing on the Chiltern Way to connect with the Shakespeare’s Way. Take the first footpath on the left to follow both the Chiltern Way and Shakespeare’s Way back to the start in Hambleden.

Shakespeare’s Way previous section (west): Stonor and Turville Heath
Shakespeare’s Way next section (east): North-East Hambleden Circular

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Snaefell: Isle of Man High Point

Snaefell Station and Cafe with the summit marked by the transmitter on the right

Also known as: Sniaull (Manx). Snaefell comes from old Norse, meaning Snow Mountain or snaufjell - “area above the tree line”.
Significance: Country and Island High Point for the Isle of Man
Member of: Marilyn, Hardy, Island High Points, European Country High Points
Nearest Higher Neighbour: Iron Cragg (Cumbria, England)
Elevation: 621m
Date climbed: May 3rd 2024
Coordinates: 54° 15' 47'' N, 4° 27' 42'' W

Route Start: Snaefell Mountain Railway - Summit Station
Route Finish: Manx Electric Railway - Laxey Station.
Route Distance: 8.2 km (5.1 miles)
Route Elevation change: +29m / - 593m. Net - 564m
Subsidiary tops on route: None
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): None
Other routes touched (walk): Isle of Man Cycle Route 6
OS Trig Pillar: TP6035 - Snaefell
Pubs / Cafes on route: Snaefell Summit Restaurant & Café
Map: Isle of Man Map | Port St Mary, Castletown & Ramsey | Ordnance Survey | OS Landranger Map 95
Guidebook: Walking on the Isle of Man: 40 walks exploring the entire island (Cicerone)
Links: Wikipedia: (Isle of Man / Snaefell, Laxey, Snaefell Mountain Railway, Snaefell Mine), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

The Snaefell walk was the highlight of an especially enjoyable 4 days on the Isle of Man. Having completed Nobles parkrun on the morning we set off for Laxey to bag the island’s High Point. In our first plan for the walk we looked at doing a circular route starting at Mountain Box on the A18 that crosses the side of Snaefell. We got excited by taking the old electric train up so we decided on a train-up, walk down combination. It was an amazing day and I’m very happy that we chose that option.

The Snaefell Mountain railway starts at Laxey Station near the island’s west coast. There’s good options for free parking or you can also get there via the Manx Electric Railway from Douglas or Ramsey. We weren’t able to book online so we got tickets from Laxey Station and waited for about an hour for the first train with availability. From Laxey the train takes around 30 minutes to climb up the valley to the summit station. Sit on the right hand side of the train going up for the best views of the Laxey Wheel and the valley. The left hand side has better views as you approach the summit.

Although we were there on a dry sunny week, the summit was extremely windy so take warm clothes to the top whatever the weather is like in Laxey. We stopped in the cafe for a while before completing the short walk up to the Trig Pillar at the summit.

From the summit take the path due south to The Bungalow Station (Mountain Box) at the A18 crossing. The safest way to cross over the road is to take the footbridge then follow the path that returns to cross the railway to the east of The Bungalow. Once on the northern side of the railway follow the path down the valley in a north-westerly direction to the Great Snaefell Mine. Watch the video below to learn about the history of the mine and the disaster that closed it.

After passing the mine take a right onto the old mine road and follow it for 3 km to the small village of Agneash. Take a right at the T-junction and continue following Mines Road to the Laxey Wheel. We stopped here for an hour to explore the Wheel and the old mine entrance. After the Wheel it’s less than 1 km walk back to Laxey Station

Richard gowerTrek, Trig Pillar, Mountain, Country High Points, Island High Points, Isle of ManComment
Walking The North Downs Way Part 8 - Westerham Hill to Otford

North Downs Way near Chevening

Start: The Velo Barn, Unit 1, Betsoms Farm, Pilgrims Way, Westerham TN16 2DS
Finish: Otford Memorial Hall, 28A High St, Otford, Sevenoaks, TN14 5PQ
Distance: 12.8 km (7.9 miles)
Elevation change: +128m / -225m. Net -97m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Berry’s Green Circular Walk, Darent Valley Path
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Velo Barn at the start of the route, Rose & Crown Sevenoaks (10 km in), several in Otford High Street
OS Trig Pilllar: TP4287 - Knockholt Beeches
Map: Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Map | Royal Tunbridge Wells & Westerham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 147
Guidebook: The North Downs Way National Trail from Farnham to Dover (Cicerone)
Links: Chevening, Otford

This is the eighth of a series of short point-to-point walks along the North Downs Way. The full trail is a long distance path stretching from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent. Our walks took in short sections of 10 km to 13 km which we did with a friend over the course of a couple of years when our schedules coincided. The North Downs Way is well sign-posted however I highly recommend taking a map or GPX route to keep you on track. The Cicerone book on the trail is a great guide to the points of interest along the way.

Our original plan was to only walk the first seven sections covering Surrey before the driving from home started getting to long. It was only when I was completing my quest to bag all OS Trig Pillars within the M25 that I realised that I needed to do one final section and get the Knockholt Beeches Trig Pillar to complete the set.

Picking up from the Velobarn at Westerham Heights we continued east along the North Downs Way. This was a bright, sunny day in mid-April and a nice change from the gloominess of the previous section that we did nearly 18 months ago. The first 5 km of this section stays high on the ridge with great views to the south across open fields. At around 4.7 km you can take a very minor diversion to the north of the trail to find the Trig Pillar hiding in a bush along a field fence-line.

Shortly after the Trig Pillar the trail enters Cooper’s Wood. Watch out for the cutting in the trees where you can see down to Chevening House, the official country residence of the British Foreign Secretary. You can also get a good view of the estate as the trail descends out of the woods, across farmland to Sundridge Road. When we were there in April 2025 a diversion was being put in place to cut off part of the route that follows Sundridge Road. We chose not to take it, prefering to stick to the route that we had on the map. In hindsight I wish we had taken the diversion as there’s no pavement on some of the road and very fast cars wizzing by.

Shortly after crossing over the A21 on Morrants Court Road you’ll reach the Rose and Crown at the 10 km point. It’s the first pub to stop for a rest on this section. The final 3 km after the Rose and Crown also follows the Darent Valley Path into Otford. This is a pretty village with some well kept old buildings and several information boards detailing its history.

Richard gowerTrek, National Trails, National Trust, Trig Pillar, Kent, EnglandComment
Walking the River Wey Part 7: Worplesdon to Guildford

Woodbridge Crossing, Guildford

Start: Worplesdon Station, Woking, GU22 0RN
Finish: Guildford Station, Guildford GU1 4UT
Distance: 11.9 km (7.4 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 52m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Wey Navigation Footpath, The Fox Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
Cafe / pubs on route: The Olive Tree (2.5 km in), The Row Barge (9.1 km in), Cafe at National Trust Dapdune Wharf (just off route at 11 km in), many in Guildford Town Centre at end
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Wey Navigation, River Wey, River Wey and Godalming Navigations (National Trust), Worpledon, National Trust Dapdune Wharf, Guildford

This is the seventh of a series of short circular walks along the River Wey and the Wey Navigation canal in Surrey. 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.

In a change to the circular routes of previous sections, this one is a station-to-station walk with a train connection between them. We parked near Guildford Station and took the train one stop north to start the walk at Worplesdon Station. From Worplesdon Station entrance walk north to meet Prey Heath Road and take a right. You’ll now be on the Fox Way which you’ll follow in an easterly direction until you reach the Wey Navigation between Sutton Green and Fell Hill. Note that the Fox Way isn’t well sign-posted so a map or GPX route is important here.

You’ll reach the Wey Navigation at the marshy island where section 6 left the canal. Cross over to the eastern side of the canal and take a right heading south. From here the rest of the route is very simple with 8.5 km of towpath walking all the way back to Guildford Station. When you get to the Woodbridge Crossing (as featured on the banner photo above), around 11 km in, it’s worth taking a short diversion over the footbridge to the National Trust property at Dapdune Wharf. There’s exhibitions about the Wey Navigation, a cafe and and old barge.

Previous section (north): Walking the River Wey Part 6: Newark Lane and Send
Next section (south): Walking the River Wey Part 8: Guildford to Godalming (Blog post coming soon)

Richard gowerTrek, Canal, National Trust, Surrey, EnglandComment
Walking The Chiltern Heritage Trail

View to the Chess from the Latimer Estate

The Chiltern Heritage Trail is a 83 km (52 mile) circular long-distance footpath in Buckinghamshire. 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. Along the way it passes through Chesham, Latimer, Chorleywood, the Chalfonts, Amersham, Penn, the Missendens and Chartridge. We completed the trail in a series of shorter circular walks.

Point to Point: The full Chiltern Heritage Trail

Recommended start points:
- Chesham Underground Station (51°42'19"N 0°36'40"W)
- Chalfont St Giles High Street (51°37'56"N 0°34'13"W)
- Chalfont St Peter High Street (51°36'26"N 0°33'24"W)
- Seer Green Railway Station (51°36'35"N 0°36'28"W)
- Old Amersham High Street (51°39'59"N 0°36'60"W)
- Great Missenden Railway Station (51°42'13"N 0°42'33"W)
Distance: 82.9 km (51.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/-933m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Maps:
- Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
- Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenshead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Chiltern Heritage Trail (LDWA), See individual section posts linked below for other links.

Walking The Chiltern Heritage Trail in 17 Circular Routes

If you’re not up for an 83 km walk in one go, you can take in the Chiltern Heritage Trail in 17 circular walks of between 7.5 and 13 km each. We chose this option, completing all 17 sections over a few years from 2020 to 2025. The advantage of this option is exploring more of the villages and side paths close to the route

Each number refers to a circular walk below. Base map: Esri Topo via RideWithGPS

Route 1: Ashley Green and Whelpley Hill

  • Distance: 10.5 km (6.5 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 113m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Chesham Vale to Orchard Leigh: 6.5 km

Route 2: Orchard Leigh and Botley

  • Distance: 6.9 km (4.3 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 58m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Orchard Leigh to Tyler’s Hill: 3.4 km

Route 3: Chesham & Tylers Hill

  • Distance: 9.3 km (5.8 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 84m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Tylers Hill to Lower Bois: 4.49 km

Route 4: Chesham & Bois and Wychfield Spring

  • Distance: 7.8 km (4.8 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 166m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: River Chess at Lower Bois to Blackwell Hall Lane: 4.4 km

Route 5: Latimer and Codmore Wood

  • Distance: 7.7 km (4.8 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 120m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Blackwell Hall Lane to Stoney Lane: 3.2 km

Route 6: Little Chalfont and Latimer

  • Distance: 7.5 km (4.7 miles)
    Elevation change: +/- 91m
    Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Latimer to Carpenters Wood: 3.3 km

Route 7: Phillipshill Wood and Hanging Wood

  • Distance: 9.1 km (5.7 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 101m

  • Chilterns Heritage Trail Section Covered: Carpenters Wood to Newland Gorse: 3.5 km

Route 8: Chalfont St Giles and Newlands Park

  • Distance: 8.6 km (5.3 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 75m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Newland Gorse to Chalfont Common: 4.6 km

Route 9: Chalfont St Peter, Seer Green and Chalfont St Giles

  • Distance: 13.1 km (8.1 miles)

  • Elevation change: + / - 124 m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Chalfont St Giles to Hodgemoor Wood: 10.3 km

Route 10: Amersham and Coleshill

  • Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 118m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Bottrells Lane to Amersham: 5.2 km

Route 11: Amersham, Winchmore Hill and Penn

  • Distance: 12.5 km (7.8 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 119m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Coleshill to Toby’s Lane: 8.1 km

Route 12: Little Kingshill and Little Missenden

  • Distance: 9.9 km (6.1 miles)

  • Elevation change: + / - 104m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Beamond End Lane to Little Kingshill Recreation Park: 6.2 km

Route 13: Great Missenden and Little Kingshill

  • Distance: 9.2 km (5.7 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 114m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Little Kingshill Recreation Ground to Buryfield Car Park: 4.4 km

Route 14: Great Missenden and Ballinger

  • Distance: 9.8 km (6 miles)

  • Elevation Change: +/- 113m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Buryfield Car Park to Ballinger Common: 3 km

Route 15: Lee Common and Ballinger

  • Distance: 7.5 km (4.6 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 65m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Ballinger Common to Chartridge: 5.2 km

Route 16: Chartridge, Asheridge and Buckland Common

  • Distance: 9.5 km (5.9 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 97m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Hightree Wood to Buckland Common: 5.1 km

Route 17: Cholesbury and Asheridge

  • Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles)

  • Elevation change: +/- 103m

  • Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Blue Ball Braziers Lane to Ramscote Lane: 7.8 km

Cycling The Chilterns Heritage Trails

If you have completed the Chiltern Heritage Trail walking routes there’s also 3 cycling routes in the area. Each route is a circuit so can be started at any point, however Amersham New Town is an obvious base. Amersham has a direct rail and Underground connection to London and good parking options.

The 3 routes are:

  • Milton Route, named after John Milton who was an English Poet and Civil Servant.

    • Distance: 42km / 26 miles. Elevation Change: +/- 391m

  • Hampden Route, named after John Hampden, who was an early parliamentarian.

    • Distance: 41km / 25.5 miles. Elevation Change: +/- 352m

  • Harding Route, named after Thomas Harding who was burnt at the stake in 1532 for possessing a Bible when this was still forbidden.

    • Distance: 40 km / 24.8 miles. Elevation Change: +/- 385m

Click here for more information on the Chiltern Heritage Trail cycle routes.

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Walking to the Tajogiante Crater, La Palma

Tajogiante Crater

Tajogiante

Also known as: Jedey or Cabeza de Vaca
Significance: New crater formed by the 2021 La Palma eruption.
Elevation: 1,120m. At the time it was not possible to access the highest point.
Date “climbed”: February 25th 2025
Coordinates: 28°36′46″N 17°51′58″W

Start / Finish: Parking spot on the LP-301
Distance: 7.5 km (4.7 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 305m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Camino Cabeza de Voca, PR LP 14 El Paso - Refugio del Pilar. SL LP Coladas de San Juan - Llano de Jable
Cafe / pub on route: None
Links: Wikipedia (La Palma, Tajogiante), Centro de interpretación Caños de Fuego

 

A highlight of our 2025 winter-sun trip to La Palma was learning about Tajogiante, the new volcano created after the island’s 2021 eruption. We had booked our hotel in Puerto Naos in the south-west the island not knowing how impacted the town was by the eruption. We soon found out on our drive from the airport along a newly built highway across the lava fields.

The best place to learn about the eruption and its after-effects is the Visitors’ Centre (Centro de interpretación Caños de Fuego) near Las Manchas. The knowledgeable staff, videos and displays describe the events of both the 2021 and 1971 eruptions. You can also visit one of the lava tubes with a guide and walk along the raised platform over the lava fields. You can visit the larger lava tube (Cueva de Las Palomas) but you’ll need to use a separate tour company. You can find details of these companies at the Visitor Centre reception. Several of them also do the guided tours to the Tajogiante Crater.

We chose La Palma Natural for our 3-hour guided walk to the crater. Note that you can’t do the walk without an authorised guide and you’ll be stopped by a ranger at the hut near the start of the walk. We met our guide plus the 4 other guest at the Tourist Office in El Paso and were driven to trail-head on the LP-301 road. From there it’s a beautiful 4 km walk descending down to the nearest point you can get to the crater. As with the Roque de los Muchachos trip earlier in the week, we were blessed with warm, dry weather and a clear sky so the views were amazing. The return to the start followed a different route, gradually ascending to the road.

Richard gowerTrek, Mountain, Canary Islands, SpainComment
Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma High Point

View to Tenerife from Roque de Los Muchachos

Roque de los Muchachos

English Translation: “Rock of the Boys”
Significance: Highest point on the Island of La Palma, Canaries, Spain
Elevation: 2,428m
Date “climbed”: February 23rd 2025
Coordinates: 28° 45' 15'' N, 17° 53' 5'' W

Start / Finish: Small parking area at Mirador de Roque de los Muchachos, Ctra. al Roque de los Muchachos, 38788, Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Distance: 1.3 km (0.8 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 84m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): GR 131 El Baston
Cafe / pub on route: None, nearest refreshments are vending machines at the Observatory Visitors Centre
Map: La Palma Tour & Trail Super-Durable Map (David Brown)
Guidebook: La Palma and El Hierro Walking Guide (Sunflower Guides)
Links: Wikipedia (La Palma, Roque de los Muchachos), Peakbagger,

 

At the end of February we always escape the UK winter to go somewhere warm for Timea’s birthday. The Canary Islands have been a good choice for us for winter sun and we’ve been working our way through them one per year. As well as a bit of relaxation we always attempt to tick off each island’s highest point. Unfortunately, often due to weather, we’ve missed out on a few of the summits. That’s why I was excited to see that you can drive to La Palma’s highest point. I wasn’t completely sure that we would reach it though. My friend Joel had visited the island 6 weeks before and the the access road was closed. The weather was on our side with no issues getting to the top.

While you’re there, it’s well worth visiting the space observatories located near the high point. We booked a 90 minute tour with Ad Astra which included a tour of the Gran Telescopio Canarias, the largest optical-infrared telescope in the world. The high point is a 10 minute drive from the Observatory visitor centre.

The main thing to know about the car at the high point is that it’s very small and gets very busy, especially right after the Observatory tours. We made a point of leaving the Observatory Visitor Centre straight after the tour had finished to get ahead of everyone else. The car park was full when we got there but we only had to wait a few minutes to get a space. Those that came after us had to wait on the tricky hair-pin bends for spaces to become available. We found the guy at the top in the hut to be especially unhelpful at managing the traffic so Timea had to get out to be an unofficial car park supervisor. Without that nobody would have got in or out for ages.

Once parked you’ll find the Trig Pillar at the northern edge of the lot with great views across to the observatories. From here you can take a 1.3 km out-and-back walk down to the Mirador del Espigón del Roque. We were especially lucky as it was a clear day and we had views across to Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro.

Richard gowerTrek, Mountain, Canary Islands, Spain, Island High Points, Trig PillarComment
Chiltern Walks: Orchard Leigh and Botley

In the woods near Tylers Hill

Start & Finish: The Crown Pub, Blackwell Hall Lane, Ley Hill, Chesham, HP5 1UY
Distance: 6.9 km (4.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 58m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Orchard Leigh to Tyler’s Hill: 3.4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Harding Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Crown at the start and finish, Hen & Chickens (1.7 km in)
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Botley, Ley Hill

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.

For this walk we parked opposite the Crown Pub in Ley Hill. From the pub walk north along Blackwell Hall Lane for 100m, then find the footpath to the right-hand side of the Ley Hill Methodist Church. Follow this path in a westerly direction for ~1km to Tylers Hill Road. Cross the road and continue on the path diagonally through the field to the south-western corner. In the next field take a sharp right to follow the field-edge path to Bottom Lane. Follow Tyler’s Hill Road to Botley Road and take a right at the Hen & Chickens junction.

Shortly up Botley Road take a left into a farm entrance and follow the footpath north to Lye Green Road. Take a right onto Lye Green Road then a right onto the first footpath. Follow this path as it curves up in a north-easterly direction, crossing over Rushmere Lane and into another field. Approximately 0.5 km after Rushmere Lane you’ll reach a path junction where you’ll take a right onto a farm heading in a south-easterly direction. Follow this path for ~1 km, reconnecting with the Chiltern Heritage Trail half-way. Take a right onto Chesham Road then a left on a path at the road bend, keeping on the Heritage Trail. Follow the Chiltern Heritage Trail all the way back to the Crown pub at Ley Hill.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Chesham & Tylers Hill
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Ashley Green and Whelpley Hill

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Ashley Green and Whelpley Hill

Footpath north of Ashley Green

Start & Finish: King Charles pub, Chesham Road, Chesham, HP5 3PF
Distance: 10.5 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 113m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Chesham Vale to Orchard Leigh: 6.5 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Harding Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The King Charles at start and end, The Golden Eagle, just off route at 4 km in
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Ashley Green, Whelpley Hill

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.

For this walk we parked at the King Charles pub on the A416 and walked in a northerly direction up the small unnamed road that’s on the southern end of the pub car park. Take a left into the private road (with public right of way) leading to Pressmore Farm. Follow the footpath through the farm to Vale Road. Cross over the road to continue to follow the path in a north-westerly direction. You’re now on the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Continue for ~600m then, before the Chiltern Heritage Trail takes a left up the hill, take the footpath on the right to climb the hill on the northern side, then take a right to follow the path back to Vale Road.

Take a left onto Vale Road, then take the first lane on the right opposite the Black Horse Inn. Continue on the Chiltern Heritage Trail as it snakes through farmland to Hog Lane in Ashley Green. Take a right onto Hog Lane, cross over the A416 and pick up the Heritage Trail again heading in an easterly direction. Approximately half a mile from Ashely Green there’s a fork in the path where you need to take the right hand path heading south-east.

When you reach Whelpley Hill cross through the small estate and onto Whelpley Hill Road. Take a right onto a footpath heading in a south-westerly direction, leading to Grove Lane. After 1km you’ll reach a path junction where you’ll leave the Heritage Trail and take the path that leads in a north-westerly direction to Grove Lane. Cross over Grove Lane and take the path to Two Dells Lane. Take a left then the first footpath on the right to cross through fields back to the A416 and the King Charles pub.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Orchard Leigh and Botley
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Cholesbury and Asheridge

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Cholesbury and Asheridge

The Vale

Start & Finish: The Blue Ball, Braziers End, Asheridge, Chesham, HP5 2UX
Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 103m
Chilterns Heritage Trail Section Covered: Blue Ball Braziers Lane to Ramscote Lane: 7.8 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Harding Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Blue Ball at start and end, The Full Moon (4.1 km in)
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Asheridge, Cholesbury, Hawridge, Bellingdon

This is part of a series of short circular walks in the Chilterns. It’s a part of a series of 19 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.

For this walk we parked at the Blue Ball pub on Braziers End Road. From here walk along Braziers End in a north-westerly direction, crossing over Oak Lane, until reaching a path junction just south of Cholesbury Lane. Take a right to continue along the Heritage Trail into Cholesbury village via Cholesbury Lane. Take a right onto Ray’s Hill (road) before the Full Moon Pub and keep an eye out for the old windmill on your left.

Before Ray’s Hill (road) curves to the left, take the left-hand footpath to keep on the Heritage Trail heading in a south-easterly direction. Continue for 3.5 km through The Vale until you a junction of Ramscote Lane. Leave the Heritage Trail here to take a right, ascending up the hill. Take the first path on the right to path through Ramscoat Wood in a northerly direction until reaching Ramscote Lane again. Take a left onto Ramscoat Lane and follow it to a path that runs between The Old Brickworks and Bloomfield Copse. Take a left onto this path to Chesham Road. Take a right onto Chesham Road then take the path on the left between 2 houses. Follow the paths in a south-westerly direction to return to the start at the Blue Ball.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Ashley Green and Whelpley Hill
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Chartridge, Asheridge and Buckland Common

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Chartridge, Asheridge and Buckland Common

Ascending from Chartridge to Asheridge

Start & Finish: Chartridge Village Hall, Chartridge, Chesham, HP5 2TN
Distance: 9.5 km (5.9 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 97m
Chilterns Heritage Trail Section Covered: Hightree Wood to Buckland Common: 5.1 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail, Chiltern Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Harding and Hampden Routes
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Blue Ball (1.4 km in)
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Chartridge, Asheridge, Buckland Common

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.

For this walk we parked outside Chartridge Village Hall and walked along The Bungalow (road) in a south-easterly direction. Take the path on the left before the Chartridge Mission Church and follow the Heritage Trail in a north-easterly direction until you reach Braziers End (road). Take a left to follow Braziers End (road) until it starts to curve to the right at Ashotts Lane. Leave the road at follow the footpath heading to the north-west. Keep on the Heritage Trail, crossing over Oak Lane until you get to a path junction in a corner of a field south of Cholesbury Lane.

At the path junction leave the Heritage Trail by taking the left hand path heading in a westerly direction. Take a right onto Oak Lane then take the first footpath on the left to follow the Chiltern Way in a south-westerly direction. Approximately 1 km from Oak Lane you’ll reach a path junction at the south-western edge of some woodland. Take a left to follow the inner edge of the woodland. The path will take a sharp turn to the left to meet another path along a field edge. Take a right to follow the path heading south to Arrewig Lane. Take a right onto Arrewig Lane, following it south to Chartridge Lane. Take a left onto Chartridge Lane then the first footpath on the right to cut across fields and rejoin the Heritage Trail. Stay on the Heritage Trail to return to Chartridge Village Hall.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Cholesbury and Asheridge
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Lee Common and Ballinger

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
2024 in numbers

My stats for the year:

TOTAL DISTANCE IN 2024

  • Run (outdoor): 233 miles / 372 km

  • Cycle (Outdoor): 828 miles / 1,325 km

  • Cycle (Zwift): 1,079 miles / 1,726 km

  • Walk/Hike: 739 miles / 1,183 km

  • Total = 2,879 miles / 4,606 km (target was > 5,000 km)

Walk / Hike = recorded hiking & walking events, not general steps.
Total includes “other” activities such as SUP.

KEY EVENTS IN 2024

Richard gowerRun, Cycle, Trek, Zwift, SUPComment
Walking The South Bucks Way

The start of the South Bucks Way at the Coombe Hill Monument

The South Bucks Way is a 37 km (23-mile) trail that promises a delightful escape for walkers and hikers. This scenic route, often overshadowed by its more famous counterparts, offers a tranquil journey through charming villages, lush countryside, and the gentle murmur of the River Misbourne. This post is part of a series of circular walks featuring the South Bucks Way. The full trail stretches from Coombe Hill near Wendover to the Grand Union Canal at Denham. Our walks take in short sections of the South Bucks Way and loop back to the start on other paths. The South Bucks Way is well sign-posted however you’ll need a map or GPX route to keep on track for the return sections of the loops. The guidance below will help but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide.

Point to Point: The full South Bucks Way

Start: Coombe Hill Monument via Coombe Hill Car Park, Coombe Hill, Lodge Hill, Aylesbury, HP17 0UR
Finish: Grans Union Canal via Denham Country Park, Denham Court Drive, Denham, Uxbridge UB9 5PG
Distance: 37 km (23 miles)
Elevation change: + 251m / - 461m. Net -210m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Pubs / Cafes on route: See individual section posts linked below.
Maps:
- Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
- Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenshead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: South Bucks Way (LDWA), See individual section posts linked below for other links.

Walking The South Bucks Way in 10 Circular Routes

If you’re not up for an 37km walk in one go, you can take in the South Bucks Way in 10 circular walks of between 6 and 13 km each. We chose this option, completing all 10 sections over a few years from 2020 to 2024. The advantage of this option is exploring more of the villages and side paths close to the route

Each number refers to a circular walk below. Base map: Esri Topo via RideWithGPS

Part 1: Coombe Hill and Little Hampden

  • Distance: 8.6 km (5.3 miles).

  • Elevation change: +/- 139m

  • South Bucks Way Section Covered: Coombe Hill to Little Hampden: 3.71 km

Part 2: Little Hampden and Great Missenden

  • Distance: 11.2 km (7.0 miles).

  • Elevation change: +/- 200m

  • South Bucks Way Section Covered: Little Hampden to Great Missenden: 5.19 km

Part 3: Great Missenden and Little Kingshill

  • Distance: 9.2 km (5.7 miles).

  • Elevation change: +/- 114m

  • South Bucks Way Section Covered: Great Missenden to Little Kingshill: 3.3 km

Part 4: Little Kingshill and Little Missenden

  • Distance: 9.9 km (6.1 miles).

  • Elevation change: +/- 104m

  • South Bucks Way Section Covered: Little Kingshill to Little Missenden: 3.47 km

Part 5: Little Missenden and Shardeloes

  • Distance: 8.1 km (5.0 miles).

  • Elevation change: +/- 74m

  • South Bucks Way Section Covered: Little Missenden to Shardeloes: 2.84 km

Part 6: Amersham, Winchmore Hill and Penn

  • Distance: 12.5 km (7.8 miles).

  • Elevation change: +/- 119m

  • South Bucks Way Section Covered: Shardeloes to Amersham Market Square: 1.2 km

Part 7: Amersham and Coleshill

  • Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles).

  • Elevation change: +/- 118m

  • South Bucks Way Section Covered: Amersham Market Square to Rushcroft Wood: 4.0 km

Part 8: Chalfont St. Peter, Seer Green and Chalfont St. Giles

  • 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

Part 9: Gerrards Cross to Denham

  • Distance: 10.4 km (6.4 miles).

  • Elevation change: +81 / -116. Net -35m

  • South Bucks Way Section Covered: Chalfont St Peter to Denham Station: 7.6 km

Part 10: Denham Village and The Grand Union Canal

  • Distance: 6.2 km (3.9 miles).

  • Elevation change: +/- 29m

  • South Bucks Way Section Covered: Denham Station to the Grand Union Canal: 2.3 km

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, National Trust, Buckinghamshire, Colne Valley, Canal, Railway, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Lee Common and Ballinger

Between Chartridge and Ballinger Bottom

Start & Finish: The Cock and Rabbit Inn, The Lee, Great Missenden, HP16 9LZ
Distance: 7.5 km (4.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 65m
Chilterns Heritage Trail Section Covered: Ballinger Common to Chartridge: 5.2 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail, The Chiltern Link
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Cock and Rabbit Inn at start and finish
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: xx

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.

For this walk we parked near the Cock and Rabbit Inn and followed Lee Clump Road in a north-easterly direction. After 700m take a right onto Oxford Street and follow it all the way to Ballinger Road. Take a left onto Ballinger Road then take the first footpath on the right to follow the Heritage Trail in an easterly direction to the village of Chartridge. Take a right on to Cogdells Lane and follow it for 400m to a path junction. Here you have a choice of continuing down into the valley or taking a right to follow the top of the valley. Either route re-connects at the Chiltern Link Path at Ballinger Bottom.

Take a left onto Ballinger Road and follow it in a southerly direction to Ballinger Common. Take a right onto Blackthorne Lane where you’ll be back on the Hertiage Trail, following it all the way back to the start at the Cock and Rabbit.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Chartridge, Asheridge and Buckland Common
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Great Missenden and Ballinger

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Chesham Bois and Wychfield Spring

Start & Finish: On-street parking around junction of Bois Lane, Green Lane, Woodside Avenue, HP6 5LN
Distance: 7.8 km (4.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 166m
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: River Chess at Lower Bois to Blackwell Hall Lane: 4.4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail, Chess Valley Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Hampden Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: None. Small convenience store on Bois Lane near start and end
Map: Chiltern Hills North Map | Aylesbury, Berkhamsted & Chesham | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 181
Links: Chesham Bois, River Chess

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.

For this walk we parked on Bois Lane and walked along it in an north-easterly direction. Take a right onto Holloway Lane, next right onto St Leonards Road then right onto the footpath that descends through Blackwell Shrubs to pass under the rail line. Continue to Latimer Road and cross over to follow Blackwell Hall Lane, crossing over the River Chess. At Blackwell Farm Cottages continue along Blackwell Hall Lane, leaving the Chiltern Heritage Trail.

When Blackwell Hall Lane takes a sharp right you can either continue along it or take the footpath on the left to take a short-cut across the fields. Either way you’ll end up on Burns Lane, leading to Green Lane. Follow Green Lane in a westerly direction for ~1.7 km then take a left onto Pump Lane heading south.

When you reach Latimer Road again, cross over and take a right onto the Chess Valley Walk. Take the first footpath on the left to cross the River Chess and pick up the Chiltern Heritage Trail again, heading south. Take a right onto Bois Moor road, then a left to cross under the rail line. Continue in a south-westerly direction ascending through Bois Wood to North Road. Take a left onto the road to follow it to Bois Lane then take a left to return to the start.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Latimer and Codmore Wood
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Chesham & Tylers Hill

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Phillipshill Wood and Hanging Wood

Highland Cows at Lodge Farm

Start & Finish: Junction of Chalfont Lane and Shire Lane, Chorleywood, Rickmansworth, WD3 5NT
Distance: 8.4 km (5.2 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 87m
Chilterns Heritage Trail Section Covered: Carpenters Wood to Newland Gorse: 3.5 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Milton Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: None
Map: Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenhead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Chorleywood, Phillipshill Wood, Hanging Wood

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.

For this walk we parked at the side of the road near the junction of Chalfont Lane and Shire Lane. Start by walking in a southerly direction down Shire Lane until you get to a T junction in the path after 1.5 km. Take a right then follow the Heritage Trail as it curves up to the north-west. Don’t take the left hand path following the Heritage Trail, instead continue north to a path junction where you can take a left to follow the path through the woods to Nightingale Lane.

Take a right onto Nightingale Lane, then right into Roughwood Lane. Be careful on the short walk along Roughwood Lane as it’s a fast road without a pavement. There’s a wide verge to walk along though. Follow Roughwood Lane to the junction with Burtons Lane, then cross over to follow Lodge Lane to the entrance of Lodge Farm Estate. Take a right into the estate, following the path to the railway line. After the tunnel under the rail line, take a right to follow the path through Old Hanging Wood to reconnect with the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Take a right to cross back under the railway line and follow the Heritage Trail back to the start.

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Chalfont St Giles and Newlands Park
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Little Chalfont and Latimer

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment
Walking the River Wey Part 6: Newark Lane and Send

Reflections in the Wey

Start & Finish: Newark Lane Car Park, Ripley, Woking, GU23 7ES
Distance: 9.7 km (6 miles)
Elevation Change: +/- 39m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other Routes Touched (walk): Wey Navigation Footpath, The Fox Way
Other Routes Touched (cycle): Surrey Cycleway
Cafe / pubs on route: The New Inn, Send (3.1 km in) and The Seven Stars (9.3 km in)
Map: Guildford & Farnham Map | Godalming & Farnborough | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 145
Links: Wey Navigation, River Wey, River Wey and Godalming Navigations (National Trust), Send

This is the sixth of a series of short circular walks along the River Wey and the Wey Navigation canal in Surrey. 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 section starts at Newark Lane Car Park where there’s enough (free) parking for around 10 cars. It was very rutted with large water-filled holes when we were there so be careful if you have a car with low clearance. This route is a narrow circular taking in more of the Wey Navigation than other sections. The actual River Wey and the Broadmead Cut, another channel, split off on the northern bank at ~750m into the route and rejoin at 3.5 km in.

At 3.1 km into the route you’ll cross over Send Road to the south eastern side of the navigation. Here’s a good place to stop for a rest at The New Inn, the only pub on the route until you reach The Seven Stars near the end point. After the new Inn continue south along the navigation to a bridge at 4.7 km. Here you’ll leave The Fox Way as it crosses the bridge heading west. Instead, hop over the style and follow a path across marshland to another bridge. It was extremely wet and boggy when we were there so be sure to wear waterproof boots if it has recently rained. Cross over the bridge and follow the northern bank of The Wey to St Mary The Virgin Church.

From the church follow Church Lane as it curves to the north, cross over Potter Lane and continue north up Send Hill. Shortly after the junction with Winds Ridge road take a footpath on the left to follow it onto Farm Lane. Take a right onto Sandy Lane, cross over Send Road and follow Tannery Lane onto Peppercourt Lane until the junction with Newark Lane. Take a left onto Newark Lane to follow it back to the car park.

Richard gowerTrek, Canal, National Trust, Surrey, EnglandComment
Chiltern Walks: Gerrards Cross to Denham

Crossing under the M25 near Denham

Start & Finish: Gerrards Cross Station, SL9 8PP, United Kingdom
Distance: 10.4 km (6.4 miles)
Elevation change: +81 / -116. Net -35m
South Bucks Way section covered: Chalfont St Peter to Denham Station: 7.6 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): South Bucks Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail Milton Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Gerrards Cross, Chalfont St Peter and Denham village centres.
Map: Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenshead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: South Bucks Way (LDWA), Gerrards Cross, Chalfont St Peter, Northmoor Hill Nature Reserve, Denham

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.

For this section there weren’t any great options for circular walks so we did a point-to-point from Gerrards Cross to Denham stations and got the train back instead. From Gerrards Cross Station follow the footpath that runs to the north parallel to the railway line to Bull Lane. Take a right onto Bull Lane to the junction with Maltmans Lane and pick up the footpath heading north. Continue north on the footpath then onto Austenwood Close then a left onto Austenwood Lane and a right onto Gold Hill East. Follow Gold Hill East as it curves round to the north-east and descents down Market Place to the centre of Chalfont St. Peter. At the mini-roundabout take a right onto High Street and you’ll now be back on the South Bucks Way.

Follow the South-Bucks Way as it takes a left up Chiltern Hill through a very nice estate then a right into fields, through a Scout Campsite and Gerrards Cross Golf Club. When exiting the golf club take a right onto Denham Lane then a left on to a footpath that heads north and runs parallel to the M25. Cross under the M25 through a foot-tunnel and follow the path as it snakes around the boundary of the HS2 site through to Tilehouse Lane. Take a right onto Tilehurst Lane and follow it in a southerly direction past Denham Aerodrome and take a left onto Denham Green Lane. Follow Denham Green Lane in a south-easterly direction to the A412 North Orbital Road. Cross over the A412 and follow Link Way, cross over Moorfield Road and down Savoy Lane. Take a right onto a footpath called The Phygtle which leads you to Denham Station. There’s regular trains on the Chiltern Main Line back to the start at Gerrards Cross Station.

Richard gowerTrek, Chilterns, Buckinghamshire, EnglandComment