Walking
We are all encouraged to take more exercise. Walking, with its relatively low impact, is a free and simple way of doing so. We organise a full programme of walks throughout the year, which is designed to improve both physical and mental health, as well as boost community spirit and involvement.
Join us for
Half day walks on Sundays and Wednesdays with occasional additional walks on other weekdays. Additionally, full day walks on some Wednesdays.
Occasionally we organise special interest walks, such as archaeology walks and wild flower walks. We usually have a special Christmas walk which is followed by a pub lunch.
For full details of about our walks programme, including when and where to meet, see the timetable further down the page, or the diary on the home page, or the back pages of the Society's magazine, Chiltern News.
Because of the popularity of our walks, there is a constant demand for walks leaders – you only need to know your area. Guidelines for walks' leaders are issued to new leaders. Please contact Judy Sonley, the Walks Coordinator, on 01494 712857, or if you're interested in organising and leading a walk.
Chiltern Society Walks Programme
Sunday walks start at 10.00 am. Usually about 5 or 6 miles. Allow 2½ hours.
Weekday walks start at 10.30 am. About 4 to 5 miles. Allow 2½ hours.
Variations from the above will be indicated in the walk description below.
For those interested, day walks between 10 and 12 miles take place on a regular basis (usually Sundays or Bank Holidays and Wednesdays). Variations from this will be indicated in the walk description below.
Enquiries regarding the walks should be directed to the walk leader – where telephone number is given – or Judy Sonley, tel. 01494 712857.
MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS JOIN THE WALKS AT THEIR OWN RISK, AND ARE ADVISED TO CARRY THEIR OWN FIRST AID KIT AND TO ENSURE THAT THEIR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR ARE APPROPRIATE TO THE OCCASION.The Society has public liability insurance for claims made against it, its staff and authorised volunteers undertaking work on its behalf.
Walks are open to all members – non members are welcome to join us as guests on two or three walks, though if you walk with the group regularly you will be expected to join the Chiltern Society to support our work in caring for the Chilterns.
Note:
Chiltern Society Footpath Maps (CS Maps) are available in our online shop. We also have well over 40 FREE walks leaflets (including wheelchair accessible routes) in this website for you to use – click here to open the page where they can be viewed/downloaded.
| Date, description, including any start post code, and leader's details | OS grid ref & any CS Map | |
| JANUARY | ||
| PLEASE NOTE: At times of ice or snow please contact the walk leader before leaving home in case of cancellation. | ||
| Wed 4 | Meet at Turville Church. Hilly walk to Ibstone. Return to Turville via Cobstone Mill. David Pascall 01628 485527. | 175-767911 CS Map 11 |
| Sun 8 | Meet at Tring Station. Park along the road. Walk along the Ridgeway towards Ivinghoe Beacon and continue along Clipper Down, returning through Aldbury. Susan Aldis 01442 822902. | 165-951122 CS Map 19 |
| Sun 8 | Please carry lunch for this 12 mile walk. Meet at Chalfont St. Giles car park. Follow Chiltern Way to Winchmore Hill and return via Penn Wood, Mop End and Amersham. Brian and Val Tordoff 01494 870549 or 07887 620519 on walk day. | 175-992938 CS Map 6 |
| Wed 11 | Meet at Greyhound PH, Wiggington, HP23 6EH. Park nearby in rec ground if not using pub. Mildly undulating walk through Scrubbs Wood and along part of the Ridgeway. Jean Jackson 014442 825339. | 165-938099 CS Map 18 |
| Sun 15 | Meet in the public car park next to the Stag & Huntsman PH, RG9 6RP (Closed for refurbishment). Scenic walk in the Hambleden valley and surrounding hills; a few gradients. Alex Barr 01628 476187. | 175-785865 CS Map 11 |
| Wed 18 | Meet at The Hampden Arms, Great Hampden, HP16 9RQ. Park in pub car park (rear field preferably) if staying for lunch, otherwise beside Hampden Common. A gently undulating route via the John Hampden monument and Little Hampden Farm. David Hanson 01494 675954 or 07754 588956. | 165-846015 CS Maps 12, 3 |
| Sun 22 | Meet at Great Kingshill car park by The Common. Walk through Hatches Wood to Little Kingshill and back. Mike Timms 01494 716802 or 07936 883248. | 165-876981 CS Map 12 |
| Wed 25 | Meet at Village Lane, Hedgerley. Park on the road, just south of The White Horse PH, SL2 3UY. A 5½ mile walk around Hedgerley and Fulmer, passing a Hof house, a derelict farm and maybe an elephant. One hill and two stiles; generally easy walking, but a short section could be muddy at this time of year. Well behaved dogs welcome. Andy Smithor 07903 727696. | 175-970874 CS Maps 13, 22 |
| Sun 29 | Meet at The Lee by Cock and Rabbit pub HP16 9LZ. Please park round common unless eating at pub. A circular walk of moderate difficulty though pleasant countryside with some climbs and stiles. Janet Steel 01494 862947 or 07969 569637. | 165-900043 CS Map 8 |
| FEBRUARY | ||
| PLEASE NOTE: At times of ice or snow please contact the walk leader before leaving home in case of cancellation. | ||
| Wed 1 | Meet at Nettlebed Common near the brick kiln for joint walk with Henley & Goring Ramblers to Park Corner and back along the Chiltern Way. Good views. Stephen Fox 01491 681646 (07816 289503 only on the day). | 175-702868 CS Map 2 |
| Sun 5 | Meet at Cookley Green car park. Extra parking on Church Lane west of the village green. Moderate 6 mile circular walk, Swyncombe, Dame Alice Farm. Should be first showing of snowdrops and aconites at Swyncombe Church. Peter Hetherington 01844 353296 or 07767 647714. | 175-696902 CS Map 10 |
| Wed 8 | Meet at the Le De Spencers Arms pub near Downley Common, HP13 5YQ. A walk around some of the paths of Downley, West Wycombe and Naphill. One stile and a couple of hills. Clive Knapman 01494 437791. | 165-849958 CS Map 7 |
| Sun 12 | Meet at the Sainsbury's car park, Shenley Road, Woodhall Farm, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 7QH, where permission to park "at the top" – furthest from the store – has been granted. To the fringes of Redbourn, returning past The Aubreys – site of an Iron Age fort – and Revel End Farms. 5-6 miles, level, but muddy in parts. Gruff Edwards 01442 267272. | 166-077102 CS Map 27 |
| Wed 15 | Meet at Ling Ride car park off Beacon Road, Ringshall, Ashridge. Walk towards Ivinghoe Beacon via Wards Hurst, return via Clipper Down. Several hills. John Rowe 01442 862619. | 165-980142 CS Map 19 |
| Sun 19 | Meet at lay-by in South Stoke Road, Woodcote, not far from the village hall for a 6½ mile walk towards Ipsden and Checkendon. One hill and about 5 stiles. Mixture of views and woodland walking. Not too muddy. Andy Smithor 07903 727696. | 175-644821 CS Maps 15, 16 |
| Wed 22 | Meet at the Old Swan PH, Swan Bottom, HP16 9NU; use car park beside pub. A quite hilly and potentially muddy walk taking in The Lee and Kingsash. David Vick 01494 673875. | 165-902055 CS Maps 3, 8 |
| Sun 26 | Meet at the car-park on top of Chinnor Hill, for a 6½ mile walk including fabulous views of the vale, a section of the Ridgeway and then delightful valleys. Two big uphill sections. (To reach the car-park on Chinnor Hill, leave the village by following the signs to the Steam Railway; pass this and climb steeply. On the hillside, swing sharp left and continue until a left turn is reached – take this to the end and you will be in the reserve carpark). Darren Spratt 01491 613971 or 07972 760979. | 165-767004 CS Maps 7, 14 |
| Wed 29 | Meet at the Red Lion, Little Missenden, HP7 0QZ. Park along the road opposite – a few climbs through fields and woodland margins. Superb views through valley breaks in trees, that emerge onto Hyde Heath Common then on into Misbourne Valley – few stiles and gates. Ken Steward 01494 775935. | 165-923988 CS Map 6 |
| Wed 29 | Please carry lunch for this 10½ mile walk. Meet at 10.00 at the Bridgewater Monument, Ashridge. We will explore Northchurch Common and Frithsden Beeches, returning via Golden Valley. Lengthy but not particularly hilly. Carol Howe 01442 249416. | 165-970131 CS Maps 17, 19 |
| MARCH | ||
| Sun 4 | Meet at Chalfont St Peter car park. Walk over the common to Bulstrode Park into Hedgerley Village back passed Wapseys Wood and the fishermen’s lake. Sally Leech 01753 884216. | 175-000908 CS Map 22 |
| Wed 7 | Park near Red Lion PH Coleshill or in car park if lunching. Walk across field and through woods to Winchmore Hill. 1 or 2 stiles, no steep hills. Elizabeth Kerry 01494 812926. | 165-948953 CS Map 6 |
| Sun 11 | Park round the common at Winchmore Hill. A walk along the Chiltern Way returning through Common Wood (A Community owned wood). John Coombe 01895 672068. | 175-933949 CS Map 6 |
| Tues 13 | Meet at 10.30 in public car park (free) between Ivinghoe and Aldbury. A 5 mile walk taking in the Bridgewater Monument, a Bunny Girl Training School and the site of a double murder in 1891. One ascent/descent with lovely views of the oldest windmill in the British Isles. Colin Wingfield 07974 801162. | 165-955148 CS Map 19 |
| Sun 18 | Meet at the Hart and Magpies, Magpie Lane junction with A355 between Amersham and Beaconsfield. Please park in the overflow car park. An early spring walk though fields and woodlands. No steep climbs. Great Beards Wood, skirt Knotty Green, get lost in Highfield Grove and rejoice when we find the path back to the pub. T im Kendell 01628 521149/07840/738818. | 175-957942 CS Maps 6, 13 |
| Wed 21 | Meet at the Dashwood Arms, Piddington. Park on the slip road or in the pub car park if lunching. A stile-free walk through rolling countryside (two short climbs) up to Studley Green and back through the Chiltern Society’s Bottom Wood, using permissive paths. Juliet Weale 01753 880538/07932/637701. | 175-808944 CS Map 7 |
| Sun 25 | Meet at Whiteleaf Cross car park, to the east of Princes Risborough. Circular walk around Princes Risborough, some on the Icknield way, Ridgeway path. 5-6 miles. Some steep hills. Gill Gravestock 07511 550873. | 165-825035 CS Map 3 |
| Wed 28 | Park roadside in Slade Road, Stokenchurch near start of footpath running through the underpass beneath the M40 (marked Chiltern Vale Farm). A walk into the Wormsley Valley returning via Ibstone Common. Only two stiles but plenty of hills! Some muddy stretches if wet underfoot. 4.8 miles. Richard Boas 01628 527978. | 165-759961 CS Map 14 |
| APRIL | ||
| Sun 1 | Fascinating walk in the northern Chilterns. Meet outside the tearooms in Hexton from where the route sets off into the hills. Telegraph Hill, Deacon and the Pegsdon Hills are visited – a great opportunity to visit the final heights of the Chilterns. Darren Spratt 01491 613971/07972/760979. | 166-106305 CS Map 26 |
| Wed 4 | Meet at The Harrow PH, Hughenden Valley HP14 4LX. Charming 4 mile walk to Speen and back. Hills, stiles, views, some road/verge walking. Jane Boughton 01494 562991. | 175-861976 CS Map 12 |
| Sun 8 | Easter Sunday. No walk | – |
| Wed 11 | Meet in the NT car park at Cookham Moor. Walk to Cookham Dean and Winter Hill finishing up along the river. Jan Sawyer 01753 885741. | 175-895854 |
| Wed 11 | Please bring lunch for this 9 mile walk. Meet at 10.00am. Park in the village hall car park in Little Missenden, or along the road. A lovely walk with some good views, passing through Hyde Heath and Chesham, with the possibility of visiting Little Missenden Church with its fine wall paintings. Alison Caw 01494 674524. | 165-926988 CS Maps 6, 8 |
| Sun 15 | Meet at Chalfont & Latimer Underground station car park (£1 Sun). Easy Chess Valley walk via Chenies and Latimer villages. Bob Fish 01494 774145. | 165-997976 CS Map 5 |
| Tues 17 | Meet at Swan PH Swan Bottom. Park in pub if eating there. Fairly flat walk at a leisurely pace in a well known bluebell area. Passing through Lordlings Wood, Baldwins Wood and Erriwig Farm. Some stiles, possibly mud. Joint walk with Aylesbury Ramblers. Margaret Eaves 01844 347252. | 165-902055 CS Map 8 |
| Wed 18 | Special Interest Archaeology Walk Meet at 10.00am in car park at NW corner of Cow Common Ewelme. Visit Ewelme Church and Almshouse, Swyncombe Church with bits of archaeology en route. 6 miles, allow around 3 hours. Brian Bowman 01844 290346. | 175-648913 CS Map 10 |
| Sun 22 | Meet at Cadmore End in the lane opposite the school. Park on the gravel and grass verge normally used by parents. A hilly walk of 6 miles with great views. Walk to Ibstone through Fingest and Turville returning past Harecramp Farm. Sue Brinn 01628 483639. | 175–784927 CS Map 11 |
| Wed 25 | Meet at Red Lion, Studham. Park along Road. A steady 5 mile walk in the Studham, Kensworth and Whipsnade area. David Betterton 01525 222135. | 166-024158 CS Map 11 |
| Sun 29 | Meet in public car park next to the Kings Hotel Stokenchurch HP14 3TA. Walk via Wormsley Valley passing the deer park to Ibstone common returning by Twigside or Studderage Farm, 6 miles or so one hill, longish but not steep, a few stiles and little public road walking. Roger Lawton 01494 482743. | 165-760963 CS Map 14 |
| MAY | ||
| Wed 2 | Park around the church at Checkenden. Part woods, some hills and lovely views of the Oxfordshire plain. Can be muddy at times. Anne Hartley 01491 682890. | 175-664830 CS Map 15,16 |
| Wed 2 | Please bring lunch for this 11-12 mile walk. Meet at 10am in Pink Road. Park in the strip along the road opposite The Whip HP27 0PG A hilly walk around Speen and Great Hampden, including a 2 mile section of the Chiltern Way to Redland End, Hampden House, Stony Green, Upper North Dean and Turnip End. Andy Smith 07903 727696. | 165-818008 CS Maps 7, 12 |
| Sun 6 | Meet at Wendover Woods exit car park (free). Access from road near Chivery Hall Farm. Walk along Ridgeway through Pavis Wood, into Stubbings Wood and through open country returning by Bittam’s Wood. Greta Brown 01442 891800 | 165-895083 CS Map 18 |
| Wed 9 | Park and meet at the right hand (southern) end of Cowleaze Wood car park for a hilly walk around Bald Hill and part of Wormsley Park. Afterwards at the 'Fleur de Lys’ PH on Stokenchurch Green. Peter Hill 01494 864878. | 165–725955 CS Map 9 |
| Sun 13 | Meet in Hambleden village car park by Stag & Huntsman pub, RG9 6RP. A walk across hills, along Thames, around Hambleden/ Medmenham area. Alex Barr 01628 476187. | 175-785865 CS Map 11 |
| Wed 16 | Meet in Frieth village car park. Easy circular walk through Mousells Wood, Fingest, Turville, and Skirmett. Beech woods and beautiful open views. Peter Hetherington 01844 353296/07767 647714. | 175-798903 CS Map 11 |
| Sun 20 | Park along the road opposite Red Lion PH Little Missenden. Walk up through woods and fields to Mop End and return via Amersham Cricket Ground and along the lakeside below Shardeloes, on the South Bucks Way. Keith Sonley 01494 712857. | 165-923988 CS Map 6 |
| Wed 23 | Special interest Wild Flower walk: Meet at 10:30 at canal car park at Wellonhead Bridge on B489, just before Green Park. 3-mile walk, including a short stretch along the canal and Aston Clinton Ragpits, hopefully to see fragrant orchids and butterfly orchids. Slow pace to allow plenty of time for observing/ photography. Allow 2½ hrs. Gay and David Beattie 01753 888707. | 165-888113 CS Map 18 |
| Sun 27 | By request – repeat of Nov 20th walk done in thick fog: Meet in the Five Horseshoes pub car park at Maidensgrove Common. A varied, hilly walk, with some spectacular views in a beautiful part of the south Chilterns. Please only use the car park if you are planning to book there for lunch after the walk. Maggie Templeman 01491 637942. | 175-720885 CS Map 9 |
| Wed 30 | Meet at Dew Drop Inn, Honey Lane, Hurley SL6 6RB just off the Chiltern way, Berkshire Loop. Well signed from Honey Lane. Good views of Thames Valley, pass through Hurley Village and along the Thames Path. Richard Booth 01628 521185. | 175-824815 |
| JUNE | ||
| Sun 3 | Meet at the car park opposite Chorleywood House on A404. Walk through Sarratt bottom to Sarratt Church and back via Beechengrove Wood. Brian Tordoff 01494 870549. | 165-034966 CS Map 5 |
| Wed 6 | Meet at The Lions at Bledlow. Park in car park at rear if lunching or on the road. Walk via Saunderton and Lodge Hill. Fine views. One hill otherwise quite gentle. Jo Spratley 01753 883066/07754 048041. | 165-776020 CS Maps 14, 7 |
| Wed 6 | Please bring lunch for this 10 mile walk meeting at 10 am at Chipperfied Church. We will explore some of the villages of the Chess Valley. Some walking on minor country lanes. One steepish downhill, otherwise fairly flat. Carol Howe 01442 249416. | 166-042017 CS Map 5 |
| Sun 10 | Meet at the pavilion on the green in the centre of Woodcote for an 8½ mile walk taking in extensive woodlands, Thames valley views and the rolling escarpment west of Woodcote. You are welcome to bring a snack. Darren Spratt 01491 613971 mob 07972 760979. | 175-645822 CS Map 16 |
Don’t forget to bring drinks and food for longer walks! If you are looking for shorter walks in the Chilterns, the ‘Simply Walks’ programme run by Buckinghamshire County Council will be of interest. See their website for details.
