Length: 21 km (13 miles) Option to shorten by 2 miles which also omits the afternoon climb
Toughness: 6 out of 10 The morning is flat, with a steady climb in the afternoon up into Wendover Woods
London Euston: 10-24 hrs West Midlands service to Northampton Watford Junction: 10-40 hrs
Arrive Tring: 10-58 hrs
Return
Wendover to London Marylebone: 15-56, 16-26, 17-23, 17-58, 18-29 hrs
Rail ticket The only minor downside to this walk. The railway stations are on different lines run by different rail companies, so a return ticket is not available. Either purchase an all zone travel card with separate singles, or for those with travel cards, senior passes etc, purchase separate single tickets from the edge of your travel card.
This popular walk from Book 1 starts with a relaxing walk beside the Grand Union Canal before you pass three large reservoirs on your way towards the village of Aston Clinton, chopped in half by a road bypass. But on the far side of the bypass in the village you come to your lunch pub, the usually excellent Oak pub. After lunch you walk along the edge of a MOD airfield used for glider flying, then you come to the Wendover Canal. You can shorten today's walk by two miles - and also avoid the afternoon climb - by heading west along the canal, which takes you direct to Wendover. But the main walk has you heading east along the canal before you have a steady, steep(ish) climb up into Wendover Woods. Once on top you can take refreshments in the Visitor Centre before walking through the woods passing by the Go Ape adventure centre before taking a steep descent to the outskirts of Wendover. Once in the town you have a choice of tea stops. Popular with chocaholics is Rumsey's Chocolaterie, whilst those preferring something stronger head for the Shoulder of Mutton pub, next door to the railway station access road.
T=1.11
Walk Directions are here: L=1.11
2 comments:
When this walk was last posted several of you reported errors in places with the gpx route. Best I know this remains the case. The main errors are at point 31 - Temporary Diversion - just before the lunch pub, and point 44 - where the gpx route takes you up the road instead of turning right into the woods.
It were hot. It were w=very-hot
N=8 assembled at the station and set off with yours truly in the lead. Not counting the really fast geezer. After an hour or so, I was cruelly usurped - by everybody. Off we sped along the canal, by the reservoirs, across the fields, past the churches and then, shock horror, through a housing estate built between us and the pub. This didn’t slow us down for long but gave me a few twitchy moments.
People enjoyed what they got in the pub. One person’s lunch could probably have been seen from space and had to be nibbled away at by the others.
And given the heat, what chance was there of me staying off the cider? As much as a wax cat chasing an asbestos mouse through Hell.
After lunch we set off again in the baking heat. As we approached the Wendover Arm, I couldn’t believe my eyes. 6 of our number decided to take the easy route along it. Just because it was a little bit hot. Only 1 went for the proper route over the hill. I was so shocked I had to follow them to verify what I’d just seen (though, of course, I myself would have preferred to go over the top).
The Wendover Arm is much pleasanter than a real canal. More like a very long pond with ducks and plants and stuff. But a bit too long if you ask me. Eventually we staggered into the Leg of Mutton, where more cider was drunk. I hesitate to say how much passed my lips and I’m hoping no-one else can remember.
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