Length: 21 km (13 miles) Option to shorten by 1 mile plus by walking along the canal into Wendover
Toughness: 6 out of 10 One steady ascent up into Wendover Woods - which can be avoided if you stay on the canal into Wendover. Rest of walk 3 out of 10
London Euston: 09-24 hrs West Midlands service to Northampton Watford Junction: 09-39 hrs
Arrive Tring: 09-57 hrs
Return
Wendover to London Marylebone : Chiltern Rail services at 28 and 58 mins past the hour
Rail ticket: As the rail termini serve different rail companies you cannot buy a return ticket for today's walk. Instead, utilising your railcard, buy an off-peak single from the edge of your railcard (or travelcard) to Tring, and for your return journey, an off-peak single from Wendover to the edge of your railcard or travelcard.
Those who attended and enjoyed the Princes Risborough to Wendover walk a month ago should also enjoy today's Chilterns walk, which inspite of ending in the same town, is totally different. The morning is completely flat - and the afternoon hilly.
You start with a relaxing leg along the tow path next to the Grand Union Canal before walking around three large reservoirs. Inland then over fields to cross under the A41 Aston Clinton bypass and over a vast field to Buckland, and on then to the village of Aston Clinton where you stop for lunch at the very good Oak pub.
After lunch you walk along the edge of a MOD airfield to come to the Grand Union Canal again. The main route has you heading east on the tow path before heading up into Wendover Woods. But this ascent can be avoided if you turn west along the Canal and stay on the towpath all the way to Wendover.
On reaching Wendover you walk up through the town to one of its refreshment options. The two most popular venues with SWC walkers are Rumsey's Chocolaterie, for those in need of a chocolate fix, and The Shoulder of Mutton pub, next door to the railway station access road.
Unfortunately I cannot be with you today (for one of my favourite Book 1 walks) due to a family commitment in Kent but usually those who give this walk a go really enjoy it, for its variety.
T=1.11
Walk Directions are here: L=1.11
1 comment:
W=A-gorgeous-sunny-day at last! The wind was occasionally a bit chilly, especially around the reservoirs, but otherwise it felt almost springlike. Plenty of cherry plum blossom, some daffodils, and carolling greenfinches, dunnocks and chaffinches (almost the first of the latter I have heard all year) added to the impression.
N=9 had got off the train at Tring. Two shot off, but the rest of us were reasonably cohesive in a sort of spread out kind of way. The initial canal section was as pleasing as ever. We saw cormorants by the reservoirs and our front runners witnessed an angler with a huge pike.
Seven of us lunched at the Oak. How nice to be in a normal pub, where one could order straightaway at the bar and not have to wait for cumbersome table service! Everyone eschewed the signature “hanging kebabs” and there was some disappointment about the vegetarian options - not that tasty, apparently. But my steak pie was nice.
Leaving lunch we nearly left one walker behind, but checked ourselves in time. However, he was not seen again. We actually went the wrong way soon after and had to do a detour to get back on the route. Maybe he went the right way? We hope he did not feel slighted.
Paths were mainly dry, with the exception of one evil gloopy section just before this airfield. A mystery this place, with its stern Ministry of Defence ‘Keep Out’ notices guarding nothing more sinister than a few gliders. Then to the canal, where two took the short route into Wendover.
The remaining four of us went over the wooded hill by a somewhat original route. At the top we were appalled by about 100 cars in the car park, the county having seemingly all driven there to have a walk. We bypassed the cafe there to get to Rumsey’s for tea. Three stopped there and we also found our front runners there.
After chocolate cake, my two companions went for the 16.58 train. I made a last minute decision to go up onto Bacombe Hill for the sunset, ending up on the train an hour later. A lovely day and let’s hope lots more are in store in the happy months ahead.
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