Significance: Highest peak in The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Member of: None
Parent Peak: Bald Hill. NHN = Bald Hill
Historic County: Berkshire (of which Walbury Hill is the County Top)
Elevation: 145m
Date climbed: 12th December 2020
Coordinates: 51° 31' 19'' N, 0° 48' 55'' W
On route of: Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop, Hurley and Ashley Hill Circular Walk, Littlewick Green, Ashley Hill and Knowl Hill Circular Walk
OS Trig Pillar: TP0903 - Ashley Hill
Map: Chiltern Hills East Map | High Wycombe, Maidenhead & Rickmansworth | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map 172
Links: Wikipedia (Windsor and Maidenhead), Peakbagger, Hillbagging

The summit of Ashley Hill, the highest point in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is in the grounds of a large house. We spent a few minutes looking for a sight of the OS Trig Pillar but there was too much hedging around the property. The green Chiltern Way footpath sign is the closest you’ll get to the summit.

---

View to Robinswood, north-west of Ashley Hill

---

Start & Finish: Parking spaces on north-east corner of Littlewick Green, near corner of Gilchrist Way and Jubilee Road, SL6 3RF
Distance: 9.9 km (6.1 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 135m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop, Wokingham Way, Hurley and Ashley Hill Circular Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 4, Round Berkshire Cycle Route 52
Other Routes Touched (horse): Knowl Hill Bridleway Circuit
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Cricketers, Littlewick Green
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East and OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
Links: Littlewick Green, Knowl Hill, Ashley Hill

---

Having lived in Littlewick Green for about 15 years I’d walked, ran and cycled pretty much every path around there. This was a return trip after 8 years to see what had changed and for another visit to Ashley Hill.

Public transport options are limited, although there’s a bus stop on the A4 at the junction of Jubilee Road and Green Lane. If you’re drivin, the best places to park are by the big tree on the north-east corner of Littlewick Green or outside the Cricketers. Save the drink at the Cricketers for the end though and start the walk by heading north up Green Lane. At the end of Green Lane continue north onto Burchett’s Green Lane. Here you can either visit The Crown pub or take a short cut left through woods to avoid the village centre. Cross over Burchett’s Green Road and through the Berkshire College of Agriculture land to Honey Lane.

From Honey Lane you’ll be following the Chiltern Way Berkshire Extension through Ashley Hill woods and open fields to Warren Row. The summit of Ashley Hill, the highest point in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is in the grounds of a large house. We spent a few minutes looking for a sight of the OS Trig Pillar but there was too much hedging around the property. The green Chiltern Way footpath sign is the closest you’ll get to the summit.

At Warren Row Road you’ll leave the Chiltern Way and join Star Lane through woods down to Knowl Hill and back to the A4. Cross the A4 and follow Knowl Hill Common road and the Knowl Hill Bridleway Circuit east back to Littlewick Green.

---

---

Eastbourne Pier from the west

---

Start & Finish: Eastbourne Pier, 3 Grand Parade, Eastbourne, BN21 3EL
Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 204m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): South Downs Way, Weald Way
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Other routes touched (run): Beachy Head Marathon
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several on Eastbourne sea front, The Kiosk at the start of the SDW, The Beachy Head pub
Trig Pillar: TP0453 - Beachy Head
Map: OS Explorer OL25 Eastbourne & Beachy Head
Links: Eastbourne, Eastbourne Pier, Beachy Head

---

For me this was a walk largely designed to bag the OS Trig Pillar at the top of Beachy Head. I’d had a couple of near misses, most notably on the final stretch of the Beachy Head Marathon, but never got to touch it. The pillar is actually a very easy to get on a drive-by as it’s just behind the big pub on Beachy Head Road. It would be a shame to miss out on the walk though as it’s a South Downs classic.

This is definitely a walk of two halves with a central hill section bookended by the flat, coastal out-and back from the pier. If you just wanted to do the hilly part you can save 5k and do the big loop starting either from The Beachy Head pub or from the start of the South Downs Way on Dukes Drive. If you’ve got the time the full 10k route is well worth it and gives you a diverse “Down and Town” trip.

We started from the pier entrance on the B2106 Grand Parade with a circuit of the pier. A combination of it being December and just out of the latest Covid Lockdown meant that there was nothing going on there at the time. After the pier, follow the Promenade south, keeping to the higher path when you have an option. After ~2.5k you’ll reach the sign that marks the start of the 100 mile South Downs Way. Follow the South Downs Way up a steep hill and continue for a further 2km until you reach the cliff-edge RAF memorial. To visit the Trig Pillar walk a further 100m up hill to the north-west then retrace your steps back to the memorial.

To return, take the first footpath to the left of the memorial (as you face the sea). Descend on the steep path to the cliff edge (but not too far) and continue round heading north back to Eastbourne. When you reach the cliff edge look back to the south along the coast for a great view of Beachy Head Lighthouse. Keep the the cliff-edge path and you’ll end up back at the kiosk on Dukes Drive. From here return to the pier following the lower promenade along the top of the beach.

---

---

---

Start & Finish: Pevensey Castle Car Park, Pevensey, BN24 5LF
Distance: 11.4 km (7 miles)
Elevation change: + / - 80m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): 1066 Country Walk - South Downs Link
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 2
Pubs / Cafes on route: Royal Oak and Castle (Pevensey), Pevensey Castle Tea Room, Cafe at Sharnfold Farm Near Stone Cross
Map: OS Explorer OL25 Eastbourne & Beachy Head
Links: Pevensey, Pevensey Castle, 1066 Country Walk

---

Now that my brother-in-law has moved to Eastbourne this is likely to be the first of several walks we’ll be doing in the area. We chose Pevensey Castle as a good meeting point near to the town and a great start for a flat countryside walk.

From the Pevensey Castle Car park, the walk starts in the grounds of the castle. It’s an English Heritage property but you only have to pay to enter the ruins of the main part of the castle. At the south-west end of the castle grounds take a right onto High Street and cross over the B2191. Here you’ll pick up the 1066 Country Walk which you’ll follow for 3km in a westerly direction to Stone Cross.

The Stone Cross section of the 1066 Walk is on the busy Dittons Road. It’s only for 800m though and you’ll be able to take a right back onto a footpath. After crossing the A27 Pevensey Bypass (crossing very carefully!) you’ll reach Sharnfold Farm with a Farm Shop and Cafe for a mid-point rest.

From Sharnfold Farm cross over the Hailsham road and into a large field. The path across the field wasn’t visible when we were there but it’s in a roughly north east direction crossing under the electricity lines. At the north end of the field the route follows a stream bed and through a farm into Hankham. Take a left onto Hankham Street and follow the road for 2km to Rickney.

Just before Rickney Road crosses the river and joins Rickney Lane take a footpath on the right. This follows Pevensey Haven River all the way back to Pevensey. This was extremely muddy on the day that we went so be sure to take boots if it’s even remotely damp. You’ll cross over the busy A27 for a final time before reaching Castle Road and back to the car park at the start.

---

---

---

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

---

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

---

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

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

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

---

---

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

Where the Misbourne meets the Chiltern Line and M25

---

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

---

This trip was both part of our River Misbourne Circulars and our walks based around the rail and underground stations of the Chilterns. The River Misbourne runs from its source at Great Missenden, to Denham where it joins the Colne. There’s much more interesting, less-motorwayey walks on the Misbourne so this is probably one for the completists. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

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

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

---

---

Old Mill, Denham

---

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

---

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

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

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

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

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

---

---

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

Gerrards Cross Golf Club

---

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

---

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

This is the first of a set of shorter routes at the southern end of the Misbourne. The open fields of the upper part of the valley now make way for residential areas, roads and golf courses. It’s also the part where the river meets the Chiltern Line connecting Gerrards Cross, Denham Gold Club and Denham with London. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

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

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

---

---

Farm near Frogmore Meadows

---

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

---

This trip was both part of our River Chess Circulars of around 10 km. The River Chess runs from its source at Pednor, near Chesham, to Rickmansworth where it joins the Colne. The Chess Valley Walk is a point-to-point trail along the course of the river from Chesham to Rickmansworth stations. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

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

---

---

View to the Chess from the Latimer Estate

---

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

---

This trip was part of our River Chess Circulars of less than 10 km. The River Chess runs from its source at Pednor, near Chesham, to Rickmansworth where it joins the Colne. The Chess Valley Walk is a point-to-point trail along the course of the river from Chesham to Rickmansworth stations. It’s also part of a series of 17 walks that, between them, cover the 83 km of the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Created as a Millennium project, this trail links the towns and parishes within the district, offering stunning scenery, charming villages, and points of historical interest.

The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

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

---

---

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

Panorama from Coombe Hill

---

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

---

This trip was both part of our walks based around the rail and underground stations of the Chilterns. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

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

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

---

---

Cows grazing on Chorleywood Common

---

Start & Finish: Rickmansworth Station, WD3 1QY
Alternative start with car parking at: Chorleywood Common, WD3 5EG
Distance: 9.4 km (5.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 100m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chess Valley Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): none
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Black Horse Pub, Chorleywood Common
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Rickmansworth, Rickmansworth Station, River Chess, Chorleywood

---

This trip was both part of our River Chess Circulars and our walks based around the rail and underground stations of the Chilterns. The River Chess runs from its source at Pednor, near Chesham, to Rickmansworth where it joins the Colne. The Chess Valley Walk is a point-to-point trail along the course of the river from Chesham to Rickmansworth stations. 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 Rickmansworth station the route follows the first (or last!) 4 kilometres of the Chess Valley Trail. The confluence with the River Colne is to the south of the station and you can pass over it on the Rickmansworth Three Rivers Circular walk. After the M25 crossing you’ll leave the Chess Valley Walk and continue up Solesbridge Lane to Chorleywood Common. Solesbridge Lane is quite narrow with no pavement so a diversion around Chess Way and Wyatt’s Road is recommended. Once over the A404 keep to the paths alongside Dog Kennel Lane until you reach the rail line. Footpaths through the woods to the south side of the rail line will take you back to Rickmansworth.

---

View fullsize

View fullsize

---

View from High Spring Woods south to Shardeloes

---

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

---

This trip was both part of our River Misbourne Circulars and our walks based around the rail and underground stations of the Chilterns. The River Misbourne runs from its source at Great Missenden, to Denham where it joins the Colne. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

This walk starts at Amersham Station in Amersham New Town and also passes through Old Amersham. The New Town sits at the top of the hill with the Chess Valley to the North and the Misbourne Valley to the South. An unexpected find for us was the Martyr’s Memorial on the edge of a field near Station Road. Per the description on the monument: “In the shallow depression at a spot 100 yards left of this monument seven protestant men and one woman were burnt to death at the stake. They died for the principles of religious liberty, for the right to read and interpret the holy scriptures and to worship God according to their consciences as revealed through God’s holy word. Their names shall live forever.”

---

View fullsize

---

Descending to Chesham on the Chilterns Heritage Trail

---

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

---

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

It’s also part of a series of 17 walks that, between them, cover the 83 km of the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Created as a Millennium project, this trail links the towns and parishes within the district, offering stunning scenery, charming villages, and points of historical interest. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

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

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

---

View fullsize

View fullsize

---

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

Grand Union Canal near Croxley Green

---

Start & Finish: Cassiobury Park Car Park, Gade Avenue, Watford, WD18 7LG.
Alternative Start & Finish: at either Croxley or Watford Underground Stations
Distance: 10.1 km (6.3 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 84m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Grand Union Canal Towpath, Whippendell Circular Walks
Pubs / Cafes on route: Cafe In The Park at Cassiobury
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Cassiobury Park, Whippendell Wood, Croxley Green, Croxley Station, Watford Station, Cassiobury Estate.

---

This trip was part of our series of walks based around the rail and underground stations of the Chilterns. On this one we explored the canal and green spaces around the Metropolitan Line spur to Watford. 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 Cassiobury Park Car Park head north towards the cafe and around it to reach the main path running through the park. Take a left to follow the path out of the park and across the Grand Union Canal. On the western side of the canal follow the towpath in a northerly direction for 200m then take the path on the left to cross through the golf course into Whippedell Woods.

The next 4 km takes a circular route through Whippendell Woods, emerging onto Rousebarn Lane. There’s several routes through the woods so here’s where a GPX file or map is important. After emerging into Rousebarn Lane find the junction with Lodge End and follow that in a southerly direction to Baldwins Lane. Cross over and follow Winton Drive to the A412 Watford Road. You’ve now reached Croxley Station.

After the station follow the A412 Watford Road in an easterly direction then take a right onto Frankland Road and first left onto Mill Lane. This will take you back to the towpath on the western side of the Grand Union Canal. Take a left to follow the towpath in a north-easterly direction until you cross under the Watford Road / Rickmansworth Road flyover. On the northern side of the flyover take the steps to climb up to the bridge and cross over to the eastern side of the canal.

Follow the eastern edge of the Rickmansworth road, then take a left to follow Gade Avenue then a right onto Swiss Avenue and another right onto Cassiobury Park Avenue. You’ll pass Watford Station, the second underground station on the route. Shortly after the station take a left into Shepherds Road which takes you back into the park and the car park where you started.

---

View fullsize

View fullsize

---

Fields near Flaunden Grove

---

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

---

This trip was part of our River Chess Circulars of less than 10 km. The River Chess runs from its source at Pednor, near Chesham, to Rickmansworth where it joins the Colne. The Chess Valley Walk is a point-to-point trail along the course of the river from Chesham to Rickmansworth stations. It’s also part of a series of 17 walks that, between them, cover the 83 km of the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Created as a Millennium project, this trail links the towns and parishes within the district, offering stunning scenery, charming villages, and points of historical interest.

The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

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

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

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

---

View fullsize

---

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

The Pheasantry at Bushy Park

---

Start: Car Park at Cranford Park, London, TW5 9RZ
Finish: Bushy Park car park, near Diana Fountain, Hampton Wick, Molesey, East Molesey, KT8 9BZ
Distance: 17.5k (10.9 miles)
Elevation change: +60m / -79m. Net -19m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Hillingdon Trail, River Crane Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Pheasantry, Bushy Park (TW11 0EW)
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
and OS Explorer Map (161) London South, Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham
Guidebook: The London Loop: Recreational Path Guide
Links: London Loop, River Crane, Cranford Park, Hounslow Heath, Bushy Park

---

For this walk we picked up the London Loop where we finished the Hillingdon Trail at Cranford Park. Up to this point we had covered the Loop all the way from South Oxhey on a combination of several other routes through the Colne Valley. This section is simple if you do a 2-car combo like we did, but a bit more difficult if relying on public transport. We were able to use the free car parks in both Cranford Park and Bushy Park. For a public transport variant you can start at the south end of Cranford Park where there’s a bus service to Bushy.

Once out of Cranford Park, the route gets busier, noisier and less pleasant for a while as you navigate around the east side of Heathrow Airport. When you reach the A30 at the south-east corner of the airport, the route takes you on a long diversion east up to The Parkway. This is the safer option than the much more direct crossing of the dual carriageway. We were there on a quiet Sunday morning and chose to cross the A30 instead. Be very careful if you do this too.

Once out of Heathrow the route meanders south east following the River Crane. Quiet, pleasant parkland of Hounslow Heath and Crane Park are interspersed with west-London residential streets. Eventually you’ll reach Bushy Park where it all gets very pleasant again. The route takes you along the Longford River and through the Woodland Gardens to our finishing spot at the car park next to the Diana Fountains.

---

View fullsize

View fullsize

---

Next sections of the London Loop:

• Clockwise: Yiewsley to The Parkway via the Grand Union, then Grand Union to Cranford Park via the Hillingdon Trail

• Anti-clockwise: Kingston to West Ewell via the Thames Down Link

In my ever-deepening County-Top related geekery I decided that I needed to document the Parent Peaks of every UK County Top. Many are easily findable with a bit of Googling, others are harder to come by. I’ve used the following sources in priority order:

• Hillbagging (the online version of the Database of British and Irish Hills)

• Peakbagger: if the Parent Peak is shown there but not in Hillbagging

• Wikipedia: If the Parent Peak is shown there but not in either Hillbagging or Peakbagger

• Peakbagger’s Nearest Highest Neighbour (NHN) field if a Parent Peak is not listed in the above.

Some are disputed and others I’ve had to assume, so here’s my best attempt. Contact me or comment below if you have any corrections and I’ll happily make a donation to one of my causes.

---

England’s County Top Parent Peaks

View fullsize

---

Scotland’s County Tops Parent Peaks

Compared to England there’s a lot fewer Parent Peaks listed in my key sources, so the following is largely based on Nearest Higher Neighbours and some assumptions. Likely there will be a lot of corrections to be below.

---

Wales’ County Tops Parent Peaks

Similar to Scotland, there’s a lot fewer Parent Peaks listed in my key sources, so the following is largely based on Nearest Higher Neighbours and some assumptions. Likely there will be a lot of corrections to be below.

---

Coming soon: Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland County Top Parent Peaks

---

UK County Tops on Islands

• Goat Fell (843m), Arran, Buteshire, Scotland

• Ward Hill (481m), Hoy, Orkney, Scotland

• Ronas Hill (450m), Mainland, Shetland

• Holyhead Mountain (220m), Anglesey, Wales

---

“A peak’s line parent is the closest higher peak on the highest ridge leading away from the peak’s “key col”. A col is the lowest point on the ridge between two summits and is roughly synonymous with pass, gap, saddle and notch. The highest col of a peak is its key col. If there is more than one ridge which can be followed to a higher peak then the line parent is the peak closest to the key col. Usually, a line parent must meet some prominence criteria, which might vary depending on the author and the location of the peak.”

— https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_parent

---

Start & Finish: The Savill Garden Wick Lane, Englefield Green, Egham, TW20 0UJ
Distance: 7.8 km (4.8 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 66m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched: none
Pubs / Cafes on route: Savill Garden Kitchen inside the Visitors’ Centre
Map: OS Explorer Map (160) Windsor, Weybridge & Bracknell
Links: Windsor, Windsor Great Park

---

This is an easy navigable walk on the southern end of Windsor Great Park. There’s a big car park at Savill Garden which makes it an obvious place to start. An alternative is the Virgina Water Lake Visitor Centre car park on the A30. Both are expensive but free parking is hard to find around there.

From Savill Garden take the south gate from the car park and continue due south for ~1km until you reach the Totem Pole. Virgina Water Lake starts to the south-east of the Totem Pole. Cross the footbridge and stay on the lake-side path continuing clockwise to the Blacknest corner in the south-west end of the park. Continue clock-wise, crossing Five Arch Bridge, now heading north-east. Cross the bridge the connects Johnson’s Pond to Virgina Water onto High Flyer’s Hill. Be careful here to stay on the north-east track rather than the road heading north into Guards Polo Club. Eventually you’ll reach Rhododendron Drive, connecting with the east side of Obelisk Pond and back to Savill Garden.

---

View fullsize

View fullsize

---