Ascent from Smalldean Lane

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

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For the latest of our Chiltern Rail based walks we visited Saunderton. Once a Victorian-era industrial town, it’s now a quiet village in a scenic Chiltern valley. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

From the train station cross the A4010 Wycombe Road and walk north-west up Smalldean Lane. As you pass the back entrance to The Residence on the right hand side, take a footpath that runs along the field edge parallel to Smalldean Lane. At the end of the field there’s a small gap in the hedge where you can get back onto the lane. Walk back along the lane for ~100m and take the right hand footpath up the hill to the north-east.

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

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

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Following the River Wey at Farnham

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Start: Farnham Station, Farnham, GU9 8AG
Finish: The Good Intent Pub, 60-62 The Street, Puttenham, Guildford, GU3 1AR
Distance: 10.6 km (6.6 miles)
Elevation change: +118m / -100m. Net +8m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): North Downs Way, Puttenham Walk (SCC)
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 22
Pubs / Cafes on route: None on route but several in Farnham plus the Good Intent Pub at the end
Map: OS Explorer Map (145) Guildford and Farnham
Guidebook: The North Downs Way National Trail from Farnham to Dover (Cicerone)
Links: Farnham, Farnham Railway Station, Puttenham, LDWA: North Downs Way, National Trails: North Downs Way, northdownsway.org

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This is the first 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 signposted 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.

For this section we left one car in the car park behind Farnham Railway Station and the other outside the Good Intent Pub in Puttenham. From the Farnham Station car park it’s less than 100m to walk to the large sign that marks the official start of the North Downs Way at Hickley’s Corner on the A31. It struck me as an odd place to start the trail as this is a very busy junction and not representative of the rest of the trail.

The trail follows the right hand side of the A31 for 100m in a northerly direction before you take onto Darville Lane. Follow this onto Snailslynch and you’ll soon be walking next to the River Wey. At the 4km mark you’ll enter into the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) after crossing Crooksbury Road. From here the trail keeps to the northern edge of the National Landscape through to Tatsfield in Kent.

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Next Section (east): Walking The North Downs Way Part 2: Puttenham To Newlands Corner

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View to All Saints Church, Bisham from the Thames Path

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Start & Finish: Higginson Park, High Street, Marlow, SL7 1AW
Alternative Start & Finish: Marlow Railway Station, Station Approach, Marlow, SL1 1AN
Distance: 8.8 km (5.5 miles) or an additional 1.5 km if starting from the Railway Station
Elevation change: +/- 37m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, Shakespeare’s Way
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Marlow High Street, also the café in Higginson Park and the Bull Inn, Bisham
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Marlow, Marlow Bridge, Hurley, Temple Mill Island, Bisham, Bisham Abbey

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This is a scenic and very easily navigable loop of the Thames from Marlow, picking up where the Marlow Donkey route leaves off. If you’re arriving by car there’s a large car-park at Higginson Park. If you’re coming by train the walk to and from Marlow station adds an extra 1.5 km to the total route distance. 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 Higginson’s park take the Thames Path south for 3.5 km to Hurley Lock. This is a very busy part of the National Trail and you’ll soon see why. Just after Hurley Lock, cross a small wooden footbridge and down an alley into Hurley Village Centre. Depending on the time of year you can get refreshments either at Hurley Lock or in a small shop in Hurley village.

From Hurley, take a left onto Mill Lane, now heading east parallel to the Thames. You’ll pass through a static caravan park, then fields and eventually Temple Lane. Follow Temple Lane as it snakes around Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre and joins Bisham Road. This is a busy section of the route as this is one of the main car routes into Marlow. It’s safe enough with a good pavement, just a little less peaceful than the rest of the route. Soon you’ll get back to the Marlow Suspension Bridge with Higginson Park on the north side.

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• Previous Thames Path Section (west): Hurley & Ashley Hill

• Next Thames Path Section (east): Bourne End & Marlow (The Marlow Donkey)

When: April 2nd 2021
Where: Highfield Park, St Albans, AL4 0DY
Course: P-shaped route starting in Highfield Park, following the Alban Way and a loop out to the North Circular/A1 around Sleapshyde
Other routes touched: Alban Way / NCN 61
Finish time: 53:12

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This was the first organized 10k event of 2021 and my first since Newbury Racecourse in February 2020. It was great to be back with other people and in a well organized Covid-secure event.

Having completed my Zwift Masochist badge, the obvious one to do next was the 100 kph Extra Credit badge. I already knew that the best place to do it was on the descent down from the Radio Tower. I’d tried it a few times before but could never get over 97 kph. As it turns out, you need a little help and the Aero Boost Helmet Power-up is the best way to do it.

Top Tips to get the 100 kph Badge

• Select the Mountain 8 Route in Watopia.

• After around 400 metres you’ll pass through the Downtown start/finish arch. This normally gives you a Power-up. If you get the Aero Boost Helmet, carry on. If you don’t get it, stop the ride, start again and keep trying until you get the helmet. I got it on my 6th attempt.

• At 12km into the Mountain 8 route you’ll get to the top of the Radio Tower. Stop here and have a rest.

• For the descent you’ll need a heavy bike. I chose the Zwift TT frame with the Zipp 808 wheels.

• Continue round the loop at the top of the Radio Tower loop, gradually picking up speed. Keep accelerating down the first part of the descent. When you get to the bend (at 12.8 km) hit the Power-up button and give it everything you’ve got. This will give you the boost you’ll need to get you over 100 kph.

Other Notes

• Check your own weight in your profile before starting off. I discovered that my Zwift weight was showing lower than my real weight. I hadn’t updated it after Christmas :-). Be sure to correct your weight if it’s understating it.

• When I first attempted it using the tips above I pressed the Power-up button too early and just missed the badge. I’ve heard of different people pressing it at different points on the descent. It’s probably also related to how much power you’re putting though too.

• You notice that my cadence is going crazy for the first few seconds in the video. It always does that after I’ve stopped and re-started and likely a faulty cadence monitor. It doesn’t affect the speed on the descent though. The horrible cranking sound is what my bike does since the Mascochist badge. Time for a service I think.

Comment below if you have other tips for breaking 100 kph.

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More Zwiftery

• Alpe du Zwift Tracker

• Zwift Everested! Extra Credit Badge

• Zwift Watopia and (not)parkrun Mash-up

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Significance: Highest peak in London Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Botley Hill. NHN = Clock House
Historic County: Surrey (of which Leith Hill is the County Top)
Elevation: 90m
Date “climbed”: 27th March 2021
Coordinates: 51° 19' 49'' N, 0° 19' 39'' W
Nearest Station: Chessington South (South Western Railway): 3.4 km
On route of: N/A. Chessington Countryside Walk is 2.2 km to the north-east
OS Trig Pillar: TP5774 - Rushett Common (Missing)
Coal Duty Post: 115
Map: OS Explorer Map (161) London South, Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham
Links: Wikipedia (Kingston-upon-Thames), Peakbagger

After the under-whelm of visiting High Holborn, this went one step further by both lacking in elevation and being inaccessible. The summit of Telegraph Hill is in private property so you can only get within a few hundred metres of it. You can either pull in by the blue gates on the A423 for a nice view of discarded waste on the shabby driveway or access it via the woods off The Avenue. The latter option gets you slightly closer and at least gives you a walk there from The Star pub on the main road. Look out for the Coal Duty Post in the pub car park.

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View to Rushett Farm airstrip from the Coal Post on the north edge of Ashtead Woods

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Start & Finish: Chessington South Station, Chessington, KT9 2JR
Distance: 9.1 km (5.6 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 92m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Down Link
Other routes touched (cycle): N/A
OS Trig Pillar: TP2145 - Chessington
London Coal Duty Posts: 117, 118, 119, 120
Pubs / Cafes on route: N/A
Map: OS Explorer Map (161) London South, Westminster, Greenwich, Croydon, Esher & Twickenham
Links: Explore Surrey - Chessington Countryside Walk Leaflet, Chessington, Chessington South Station, Chessington World of Adventures, Ashtead Common, Epsom Common, Horton Country Park

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This is an easy, scenic walk in countryside to the south of Chessington. It was our latest walk in the Explore Surrey series whose website is a rich source of information about getting out and about in the county. As with all of their routes, their PDFs have all the details so I won’t cover them again here.

Our walk was a slight variation on the route described in the PDF in order to bag an OS Trig Pillar and 4 Coal Duty Posts. You’ll pass 2 of the Coal Posts on the Public Bridleway through Ashtead Woods. It’s a minor diversion off the trail to visit the other 2 which are on either side of the B280 Christ Church Road near the Epsom Common Car Park.

The OS Trig Pillar is right at the end of the walk before returning to Chessington South station. It’s an unloved pillar sitting in a vacant patch of land at the end of a residential cul-de-sac. From the footpath off Green Lane look out for the wooden information sign for Huntingate Walk. Take a right here, through a gate and descend a short, steep bank to cross Hunting Gate Drive. Walk up Vivien Close, keeping to the right to find the Trig Pillar is at the end of the road.

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

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

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For the latest in our Chiltern Railways circular walks we visited Princes Risborough. It’s a market town on the north edge of the Chilterns and a meeting point of current and disused railway lines. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

From the station take the B4444 Summerleys Road north, passing under 2 railway bridges. After the 2nd bridge, take a right onto a small road, also called Summerley’s Road (but leaving the B4444). Pass under another railway bridge then take a right onto Mount Way. Carefully cross over a level crossing and continue to the T junction with Stratton Road. Take a left onto Stratton Road, then onto Church Street and take a right at the end onto the High Street. You’ll now be on the Outer Aylesbury Ring. Follow this along the High Street, left onto the A4010, right onto New Road. Continue up New Road, climbing the hill until you get to the Ridgeway. Take a right onto the Ridgeway.

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

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

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

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Significance: Highest peak in the City of London
Member of: N/A
Parent Peak: Haddington Hill. NHN = Primrose Hill
Historic County: Middlesex (of which Bushey Heath is the County Top)
Elevation: 22m
Date “climbed”: 13th March 2021
Coordinates: 51°31'05.3"N 0°06'49.5"W
Nearest Station: Chancery Lane (Central Line): 0.2 km
On route of: City of London Boundary Walk, Jubilee Walkway
Map: OS Explorer Map (173) London North, The City, West End, Enfield, Ealing, Harrow & Watford
Links: Wikipedia (City of London), Wikipedia (High Holborn), Peakbagger, Hillbagging, Jubilee Walkway

No great adventure, or even a micro-adventure, for this one. The Wife had an appointment in Central London, so needing something to fill 30 minutes after I dropped her off, I headed over to the City to bag this one. It’s one of the lowest London high points both in terms of elevation and (probably) excitement.

The best way to bag High Holborn is on the route of the City of London Boundary Walk where you can also visit the 14 dragons that guard the city.

Note that The City of London is actually a Ceremonial County, not a London Borough. See The English County Tops for details.

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View to Conway’s Bridge from the Thames Path

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Start & Finish: Shiplake Station, Lower Shiplake, Henley-on-Thames RG9 3NU
Distance: 8.8 km (5.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 80m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Thames Path, The Wokingham Way, The Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Henley Town Centre and The Baskerville at Shiplake Station
Map: OS Explorer Map (171) Chiltern Hills West, Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford
Links: Shiplake, Shiplake Station, Henley-on-Thames, Henley-on-Thames Station, Harpsden

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This short walk continues both our Thames path based circulars and is the latest in the Chiltern Rail based walks. You’ll pass both Henley-on-Thames and Shiplake Stations. I’ve started the walk at Shiplake Station but it can just as easily be started at Henley. Both are on the same train line and have good parking close by. 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 Shiplake station pick up the Thames Path and follow it north to the north-western end of Mill Meadows park in Henley. Follow the paths that route by Henley-on-Thames Station and onto Station Road. Take a left onto Station Road, another left onto Reading Road, then a right onto Hamilton Avenue. At the end of Hamilton Avenue take a left onto Vicarage Road, heading south-east. Just after passing Singers Lane on the left, take a footpath between houses on the right. This path cuts diagonally through housing in a south-westerly direction for 600m before reaching Peppard Lane. Take a right onto Peppard Lane then the first footpath on the left. This path will take you steeply downhill to Harpsden Village.

Take a right onto the road through Harpsden, then first left onto Chalk Hill, then a left onto a footpath. Follow this steeply uphill until you join Upper Bolney Road and the Chiltern Way Berkshire Extension. Take an left onto Upper Bolney Road and follow it for 1.5 km until the A4155 Reading Road. Cross the main road and take a footpath that runs diagonally through a farm to the south-east. The path will take you onto Northfield Avenue to the junction with Station Road and Mill Road. Follow Station Road back to Shiplake Station.

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• Previous Thames Path Section (west): Shiplake, Binfield Heath and Sonning Eye

• Next Thames Path Section (east): Henley-on-Thames, Remenham and Aston

Tring Park

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Start & Finish: Tring Station, Tring, HP23 5QS
Distance: 9.8 km (6.1 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 138m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Ridgeway, Tring Park: Woodland Walk; Walter’s Wander; Parkland Walk, Grand Union Canal Towpath, Hertfordshire Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Tring Route 5
Pubs / Cafes on route: Several in Tring Town Centre
Map: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: Tring, Tring Park, Tring Natural History Museum, Tring Station, Ashridge National Trust, Dunsley Farm Trig Pillar

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For the latest of our Chiltern Rail based walks we visited Tring. As a stop on the Grand Union Canal and at the heart of several cycle and walking routes, it’s a place that’s featured in several of my trips. 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 first section of the trip follows the Ridgway for 2.5 km from Tring Station to Tring Park. As soon as you reach Tring Park, leave the Ridgeway and follow the Woodland Walk down through the park to the footbridge that crosses the A41. Cross the A41 and continue north to Tring High Street. Take a right, following the High Street to the roundabout. Take a left onto the B488 Brook Street, then first right onto Mortimer Hill. Continue for 0.5 km then take a left hand footpath between houses shortly after the school. Take a right onto Carrington Place, continue onto Chiltern Way (road). Follow Chiltern Way, through footpaths between houses via Sulgrave Crescent and onto Grove Road. Take a right onto Grove Road then first left onto Marshcroft Lane.

Following Marshcroft Lane takes you out of town and into the countryside. Soon you’ll pass over the Grand Union Canal and the railway line. After the railway line you’ll pass trough a farm and onto Northfield Road. Take a right onto the road, following it along the grass verge for ~150m before taking a footpath on the left. Follow this path into Aldbury Nowers woodland to connect with the Ridgeway. Take a right onto the Ridgeway, heading south east. Follow the Ridgway for 1 km to return to Tring Station.

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View of Bourne End Marina from the rail and footbridge

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Start: Bourne End Railway Station, 1 Station Road, Wooburn Green, Bourne End, SL8 5RN
Finish: Maidenhead Railway Station, Maidenhead SL6 1EW
Distance: 9.6 km (5.9 miles)
Elevation change: +60m / -58m. Net +2m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Shakespeare’s Way, Thames Path, Maidenhead Boundary Walk, Maidenhead Green Way, The Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop, Walking The High Wycombe to Bourne End Disused Railway
Other routes touched (cycle): NCN 50
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: Costa Coffee at Cookham Station, several in Maidenhead Town Centre
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Maidenhead - Marlow Passengers’ Association History, Wycombe to Bourne End railway - looking back at the historic line (Photos)
Wycombe Railway, Bourne End Station, Cookham Station, Furze Platt Station, Maidenhead Boyne Hill Station, Maidenhead Station

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The Wycombe to Bourne End Railway was originally part of a longer section that connected Maidenhead and High Wycombe. The Maidenhead to Bourne End section is still intact but the line to Wycombe closed in 1970. We completed the disused section last year and were keen to continue the route of the original line from Bourne End to Maidenhead. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

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

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

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

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

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Berkhamsted Castle

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Start & Finish: Berkhamsted Station, HP4 2AJ
Distance: 10.4 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 119m
Hertfordshire Way section covered: Berkhamsted Common to Berkhamsted Castle: 4 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Ashridge Boundary Trail, Hertfordshire Way, Grand Union Canal Towpath, Berkhamsted Heritage Walk
Other routes touched (cycle): Chilterns Cycleway, Berkhamsted Route 6
Pubs / Cafes on route: several on Berkhamsted High Street
Map: OS Explorer Map (181) Chiltern Hills North
Links: Berkhamsted, Berkhamsted Station, Berkhamsted Castle, Berkhamsted Common, Ashridge Estate National Trust, River Bulbourne, Grand Union Canal

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For the latest of our Chiltern Rail based walks we visited Berkhamsted. As a stop on the Grand Union Canal and at the heart of several cycle and walking routes, it’s a place that’s featured in several of my trips. 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 Berkhamsted Station it’s a short walk along Lower Kings Road to the Grand Union. Cross over the bridge to pick up the towpath on the southern side. Follow the towpath in a westerly direction for 1.4 km until the Billet Lane Bridge. Cross over the bridge and follow Billet Lane for 200m then take a right onto Bridgewater Road then left onto Billet Lane. Be careful here as following the main road called Billet Lane from the canal will take you onto Bridle Way. Keep your eyes open at the roundabout to make sure you take on the smaller road on the right called Billet Lane.

At the entrance to Bridgewater Primary School take a left onto Bridle Way then a right onto The Beeches footpath. Follow this through woodland for 600m until New Road and an open space with a National Trust sign. Take the north-westerly footpath up the hill to a path junction where you’ll take the right hand footpath heading north-east. Continue along here for 2 km, following the Ashridge boundary Trail, until you connect with the Hertfordshire Way at Berkhamsted. Common. Take a right here and follow the Hertfordshire Way all the way back down to Berkhamsted.

If it’s open, the moat walk around the castle is well worth an additional 800m before you reach the end of the trail back at the railway station.

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Hertfordshire Way next section clockwise: Cow Roast and Berkhamsted Common
Hertfordshire Way next section anti clockwise: Berkhamsted and Bourne End

If you’re into collecting the Zwift achievement badges and all of the low-hanging ones are in the bag, you’ll probably be wanting to head up the Alpe du Zwift. There’s 2 badges for multiple climbs of the Alpe. Both are awarded for total climbs and, thankfully, not just in one session.

The Avid Climber badge for 5 climbs is fairly straightforward. If you’re also completing all of the Watopia routes you’ll automatically get it as the Alpe is part of:

• Road To Sky

• Tour of Fire and Ice

• Four Horsemen

• Quatch Quest

• Über Pretzel

The Masochist badge takes a lot more dedication as you’ll need another 20 climbs to achieve it. The shortest route to choose is Road To Sky which has a little over 5k of mostly downhill cycling before you reach the Alpe ascent.

One annoying Zwift “feature” is that there’s no way of seeing how many ascents you’ve already completed. Click on the image on the right for a printable version of a low-tech tracker to keep you sane as you approach the 25 climb target.

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More Zwiftery

• Breaking 100 kph in Zwift

• Zwift Everested! Extra Credit Badge

• Zwift Watopia and (not)parkrun Mash-up

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The Plough, Winchmore Hill

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Start & Finish: The Hill, Winchmore Hill, Amersham HP7 0PA
Distance: 10.4 km (6.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 141m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): The Chiltern Way, Penn House Estate Paths
Other routes touched (cycle): Chiltern Heritage Trail: Milton Route
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Plough and The Potter’s Arms, both at Winchmore Hill
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Winchmore Hill, Penn House Estate, Common Wood

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This was a return to the area following last year’s Penn Wood circular. This one takes a different route through Common Wood and covers countryside to the south of Penn Street. The guidance below will help you navigate but don’t use it as a fully accurate turn-by-turn guide. Always take a map and/or a GPX route and prepare well for the weather and terrain.

Start at Winchmore Hill village centre where there’s ample free on-street parking and a choice of pubs. From here follow the Chiltern Way for 3 km until the B474 Church Road. Rather than crossing the road to follow the Chiltern Way, take the next footpath to the west that cuts through farmland in a northerly direction. After 1 km you’ll reach Common Wood Lane and the entrance to Common Wood.

There’s several options for routes through Common Wood. We kept to the paths on the western perimeter, taking a right onto Bluebell Way. Follow Bluebell Way for 1.5 km until it reaches the Chalk Track. Take a left onto the Chalk Track and follow it for 200m then take another left onto Penn House Way. Follow this path for 1.5 km, crossing over Gravelly Way and Penn Street on the way. At the corner of Priestlands Wood, take a right onto the Chiltern Heritage Trail following this back to Winchcombe village centre.

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View to the south-east from Great Missenden Parish Church

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

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

The route is also part of a series of 17 walks that, between them, cover the 83 km of the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Created as a Millennium project, this trail links the towns and parishes within the district, offering stunning scenery, charming villages, and points of historical interest.

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

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

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

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

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

Here’s a Tube-style map of the rivers of the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog in Welsh). Let me know if you spot any mistakes and I’ll donate £1 per correction to one of my causes. If you would like a printable PDF version, please Buy Me a Coffee and send me your e-mail via the Contact page. All copies for personal, not commercial use.

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Note: the map shows rivers that start, end or pass through the Brecon Beacons National Park. There are some rivers such as the Rhondda, Ogmore and Ely that are not included as their source is south of the Park even though they flow into the Bristol Channel or join another river on this map.

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Other Posts for the Brecon Beacons (Bannau Brycheiniog)

Pen y Fan

Black Mountain

Fan Foel

Chwarel y Fan

Twmpa

Monmothshire & Brecon Canal

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Tube-style Maps

English & Welsh National Trails

Scottish Great Trails

Chiltern Rivers

South Downs Rivers

Colne Valley Trails

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Zwift stats after sync with Garmin Connect

Zwift print screen at end of run

IRL stats directly recorded via Garmin watch

Start of Black Park parkrun course

Black Park parkrun elevation profile

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More Zwiftery

• Breaking 100 kph in Zwift

• Alpe du Zwift Tracker

• Zwift Everested! Extra Credit Badge

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Downhill to Amersham

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Start & Finish: The Red Lion, Coleshill, Village Rd, Amersham, HP7 0LH
Distance: 11.5 km (7.1 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 118m
South Bucks Way section covered: Amersham to (near) Chalfont St Giles: 4.0 km
Chiltern Heritage Trail Section Covered: Bottrells Lane to Amersham: 5.2 km
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Way, Chiltern Heritage Trail, South Bucks Way
Other routes touched (cycle): Milton Route
Other Pubs / Cafes on route: Seasons Cafe, Old Amersham plus others in Old Amersham town centre
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Coleshill, Amersham, River Misbourne

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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.

This section starts at the Market Square in Amersham. From here there’s 2 options, the first to follow the South Bucks Way, or to follow the Chiltern Heritage Trail and pick up the South Bucks Way after 1.8 km. We chose the Chiltern Heritage Trail option as it stays closer to the River Misbourne and is more interesting. If you take the South Bucks Way option follow Broadway in a south-easterly direction from Market Square and take the footpath on the eastern side of the Tesco Roundabout. Whichever option you take you’ll reach a path junction with the Chiltern Way around 4 km into the walk.

Here you’ll leave the South Bucks Way and take a right turn following the Chiltern Way up the hill. Follow the Chiltern Way in a westerly direction for 4 km along paths and through farmland back to Coleshill. Be careful when crossing the A355 as it’s very busy. At Coleshill take a right onto Village Road and follow the Chiltern Heritage Trail for in a northerly direction for 3 km back to Old Amersham.

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South Bucks Way previous section (north): Amersham, Winchmore Hill and Penn
South Bucks Way next section (south): Chalfont St Giles and Chalfont St Peter

Chiltern Heritage Trail next section clockwise: Amersham, Winchmore Hill and Penn
Chiltern Heritage Trail next section anti-clockwise: Chalfont St Peter, Seer Green and Chalfont St Giles

Jordans Village Green

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Start & Finish: Seer Green & Jordans Station, Farm Lane, Seer Green, HP9 2UP
Distance: 7.3 km (4.5 miles)
Elevation change: +/- 47m
GPX File: get via Buy Me a Coffee
Other routes touched (walk): Chiltern Heritage Trail
Other routes touched (cycle): None
Pubs / Cafes on route: The Jolly Cricketers, just off the route at ~1 km in
Map: OS Explorer Map (172) Chiltern Hills East
Links: Jordans, Seer Green and Jordans Station, Seer Green, William Penn, Jordan’s Quaker Meeting House and Centre

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The Chiltern Hills National Landscape (formerly AONB) is a picturesque landscape located in the southeast of England. It covers an area of approximately 324 square miles and spans across four counties: Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire. The hills are characterized by rolling chalk hills, ancient woodlands, and charming villages with thatched roofs. It is a popular destination for hikers, cyclists, and nature lovers who come to enjoy the stunning vistas and the rich biodiversity of the area. The area is also rich in history and has many sites of archaeological and historical interest, such as Iron Age forts and medieval churches.

Walking Directions

This pleasant 7.3 km circular walk begins at the convenient Seer Green & Jordans Station, immediately taking you up towards the quintessential Buckinghamshire village of Seer Green. Escaping the residential streets, you will quickly find yourself immersed in the serene farmland and open spaces that make the Chilterns so spectacular, skirting the edges of the Oakland Park Golf Club and tranquil woodlands.

The return leg brings you near the historic heart of Jordans, brushing past the famous Quaker Centre and winding through the picturesque Crutches Wood. It’s a beautifully varied route that perfectly balances charming village scenery with the quiet, rural escapes the Chiltern Hills are famous for.

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

• Starting from Seer Green and Jordans station you’ll follow a steep path up through some very nice houses into Seer Green village. This is a good point to stop for a drink at the Jolly Cricketers before tackling the rest of the walk.

• From Seer Green village take a path in a north-easterly direction through fields and farmland to the junction of Newbarn Lane, Twitchell’s Lane and Three Households.

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

• You’ll come to a large open space where you can take a right hand path, heading west.

• Follow this path through farmland to Jordans Lane and the Chiltern Heritage Trail. Briefly follow this south towards the Quaker Centre, crossing the road when you see a footpath on the right heading west. Follow this path through the field, Crutches Wood, over Longbottom Lane and back to the start at Seer Green and Jordans station.

Points of Interest along or near to the Route

• Seer Green Village Seer Green gets its name from the Old English sere (meaning dry) and grene (meaning a grassy spot). It was referred to as La Sere or La Cere in its earliest recorded mention in a legal writ from 1232, and historically sometimes spelt Sear Green or Shere Grene. The name Seer Green first appears in a 1407 document: an Inquisition Post Mortem recording the heir to the Lord of the manor of Farnham Royal. For much of its history, Seer Green was a detached part of Farnham Royal. Farnham (from farn meaning ferns and ham meaning village) held the 'Royal' designation because the Lord of the manor and Tenant-in-Chief provided a special service to the monarch: a privilege likely granted by Henry II after 1174 and later removed by Henry VIII in 1541. Renowned for cherry-growing, the village was once a key provider of the fruit to London markets throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.

• Jordans and the Quaker Centre While the area served as a significant early centre for the Quaker movement in the 17th century, the village of Jordans itself is much younger: it came into existence as a model Quaker community established on a green-field site from 1919. The village takes its name from Old Jordans Farm, which was identified as Jurdens on the 1770 Thomas Jefferys Buckinghamshire county map and John Cary's 1801 map, before becoming Jordans on Andrew Bryant's 1825 county map. The Jordans Meeting House, built in 1688, is one of the oldest in the country and is the final resting place of William Penn, the founder of the Province of Pennsylvania. Its simple, historic architecture reflects the Quaker values of peace and equality, making it a culturally significant and peaceful stop along your walk.

• The Jolly Cricketers, Seer Green. The pub’s wisteria is well over 100 years old. The landlord serves Cask Marque accredited local real ales. The kitchen has an AA Rosette offering modern British food specialising in Cornish seafood. The owners have had the pub since 2008.

• Old Long Grove is a historic woodland that has been established since at least 1557. The woods hold a fascinating royal connection: they were documented in the 'Court Survey of 1560' for Queen Elizabeth I, which recorded that the woodland had three years of growth at that time.

• Crutches Wood. As you walk through Crutches Wood, you are experiencing a prime example of the ancient woodlands that characterise the Chiltern Hills. These tranquil, broadleaved woods are crucial habitats for local wildlife, offering shaded shelter for various woodland birds and mammals. Depending on the season, walkers might also be treated to spectacular carpets of native bluebells, a natural hallmark of the region's ancient woodland floors.

• The Chiltern Heritage Trail. Your route briefly intersects with the Chiltern Heritage Trail, a celebrated 52-mile circular path designed to showcase the very best of the local area. Following this historic trail, even for a short stretch, connects you to a wider network of rolling chalk hills, ancient hedgerows, and historic parish boundaries that have shaped this National Landscape for centuries.

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