Backup Only

This Week's Walks - Archive

Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.

This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.

Saturday 30 January 2016

Saturday Third Walk - Aylesbury Vale Hills: Haddenham Circular (w/o Brill)


SWC Walk 191a – Haddenham Circular (omitting Brill)

Length:  20.1 km (12.5 mi)  [longer walk possible, see comments below]
Ascent/Descent:  300 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 ½ hours
Toughness:  5 out of 10 
  
Take the 09.05 Oxford Parkway train from Marylebone, arriving Haddenham & Thame Parkway at 09.40
Return trains: XX.13 and XX.38 hours (53 and 40 minutes journey time respectively)

This is a walk through the pleasant rolling countryside of the north westerly parts of Aylesbury Vale, between the Chilterns and the Cotswolds, with some fine views. The walk first crosses the Thame Valley north of Haddenham and then passes through the area of the ancient Bernwood Royal Hunting Forest on a circular route to return south on a different route through the Thame Valley back to Haddenham. There are a few minor ascents throughout the walk at regular intervals, as the walk links some hilltop villages and crosses one other hill chain.

The lunch pub is the The Hundred of Ashendon (11.5 km/7.2 mi), which has just been awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand 2016 for its cuisine. They also serve sandwiches and more traditional dishes from a Bar Snack Menu though. A table has been booked. For tea, the Little Italy Espresso Bar in Haddenham village is the café option (open until 16.30), while The Rising Sun en-route to the station is the pub option.
                                                                                                               
For walk directions, map, height profile, and gpx/kml files click here.
T=swc.191.a
L=swc.191

5 comments:

Thomas G said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Thomas G said...

addendum: with this early train, fast walkers can of course tackle the full walk (27.6 km/17.2 mi, 8/10 rating, 6 1/4 hours of walking - assuming 5 km/h on the flat) and still finish in daylight. pub lunch would be in one of the two splendid pubs in Brill...

Anonymous said...

Looking forward to doing this walk. Anyone else?

Celine said...

I will come along :)

Kelda said...

N=18
W=Perfect_sunny_winters_day!

16 off the train at Haddenham & Thame Parkway. 2 (including the walk-poster!) were fractionally late for the suggested train but managed to catch up with the group up by lunch.

The morning was a lovely wander across fields and valleys. Despite recent heavy rain the potentially dubious river crossing was perfectly navigable and the ground was generally firm enough under foot to be able to look UP and enjoy the stunning views.

6 scampered off on the extension to Brill (where lunch at the The Pointer was apparently very good). The remaining group headed to Ashendon, where 2 had a picnic at the church, and the rest devoured a delicious lunch at The Hundred of Ashendon Inn. The food was so good most of us opted for dessert before our afternoon of admiring even more beautiful views.

The Rising Sun (en-route ro the station) was the pub of choice for post walk drinks. The majority reached it well before sunset, then we all had a bit of a mad-dash for the 17:38 train back to London.

Thanks for a fab day everyone!