16.9 km (10.5 miles), with options to shorten
Difficulty 6/10
This Chilterns walk follows the Ridgeway for most of the way. There's ups, downs, views, a nature reserve (Grangelands), Chequers, a hill fort, and, finally, a gradual descent into old Wendover. Grangelands is good for juniper, orchids, chalkland flowers, and several butterflies.
Transport: Take the 9:37 Oxford service from Marylebone, arriving Princes Risborough at 10:22
Return trains from Wendover are hourly at xx:54
The out and back journeys are on different lines. Get a return to Aylesbury (any route permitted) to cover both.
Lunch: A diversion from the original walk takes you to The Swan, Smokey Row 01844 275 288
(There is an earlier pub, The Plough (01844 343 302) in Lower Cadsden but, without some determined dawdling, you will reach it too soon).
Tea: In Wendover, Rumsey's Chocolaterie (open till 6) is a favourite. There are several pubs, the Shoulder of Mutton and the Red Lion being the most visited. The former is nearest the station.
Walk directions here t=1.52
Options to shorten -
• stay on the Ridgeway at point 35 instead of detouring to Dunsmore (the directions rejoin the Ridgeway at Coombe Hill) This cuts out about a mile .
• or, bypass the Swan and settle for a picnic lunch (8.8 miles).
2 comments:
Princes Risborough to Wendover, 11 October 2025. (Feel free to switch this walk report to the walk report section, webmaster, as I can't see how to report in that section): Five turned up on this walk today - rather surprisingly, perhaps - were there transport problems somewhere? A slightly lonely walk therefore, with three peeling off around lunchtime. Two of us went to the Swan pub, which is open on Thurs-Sun. It serves a good range of lunchtime food, including omelettes, jacket potatoes and pub staples, as well as home-made desserts. The pub itself was also deserted apart from us so do keep them in business! It has been going more or less continuously as a pub about 159 years apparently, and is quite a small place with low timbered ceilings. A big party would need to book.. A possible early tea stop is the Buckmoorend Farm Shop (outside tables only) which could also serve as a late lunch stop for smaller appetites. This serves savoury food such as baps, sausage rolls etc. some of which has been produced from stock reared on the Chequers Estate (where it is located) - the Prime Minister's pigs. Soup offered included unusual suggestions such as swede and ginger, and roast cauliflower., and there are also cakes and pastries on offer.
The leaves were turning nicely, and the beautiful views of a mottled green, read and orange woodland accompanied us along most of the walk. I last did this walk a very long time ago, but had no memory of skirting the edge of the Chequers estate, where one enjoys an excellent view of the house itself. My memory was that the walkers passed outside the front gate. Chequers is therefore now one of the highlights of the walk, along with the Boer War monument views, IMO. We concluded with a dramatic view of the newly constructed HS2 tunnels, which are currently exposed to the surface. The last section on the walk down to Wendover station requires a little common sense by following a tarmac road instead of the book instructions, as the path has been re-routed. However, once the tunnel is covered over, I imagine this path may be reinstated. A lovely walk under perfect October skies.
Correction, I meant HS1.....
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