Length:
25.2 km (15.7 mi) [shorter versions possible, see below]
Ascent/Descent:
329m; Net Walking Time: 5 ½ hours
Toughness:
5/10
Take
the 10.42 Oxford train
from Marylebone (calls Gerrards X, Beaconsfield, Princes Risborough), arrives
Haddenham & Thame Parkway 11.32
Return trains to
Marylebone are on xx.20 (via Amersham), xx.33 (via Princes
Risborough) and xx.50 (via Amersham).
Buy
a Haddenham & Thame return; as this is dearer than an Aylesbury return,
it should hopefully be accepted in the unlikely event of a ticket inspection,
although there is no overlap of the lines if you travel via Amersham. If you
travel back via Princes Risborough (i.e.: xx.33), your ticket IS VALID from
Risborough onwards though.
This
walk through some scenic northerly parts of Aylesbury Vale combines tranquil
stretches of the Thame Valley Walk with more energetic climbs in between,
heading north through Upper Wichenden and the Rothschild’s Waddesdon estate,
finally along a long tree-lined avenue up towards Waddesdon Manor, situated on a
prominent hill. After lunch in Waddesdon village, Eythrope Park (another
Rothschild estate) is passed through and the route follows the Thame River and
Bear Brook into Aylesbury.
Alternative (shorter) finishes
in Stone by the Rose & Crown (hourly buses to Aylesbury [xx.42] or
Haddenham [xx.10]) or at Aylesbury Vale Parkway station are described.
There
is also a shortcut just before lunch. See
the pdf for details.
Tea: lots of choice in
Aylesbury, see the pdf for details. Recommended is The King’s Head (open to
22.00, dinner served 18.00-20.00).
For
summary, map, height profile, some photos, walk
directions and gpx/kml files click here.
T=swc.192
2 comments:
Looking forward to it.
The late start today was of course not out of choice, but because there were no earlier trains today (planned engineering works, I guess). As a consequence, the train was pretty busy. n=4 walkers alighted for a walk in w=mostly-sunny-then-overcast weather.
All stayed together to Waddesden, where 1 turned left towards the Manor House, trying to charm her way into the house by way of an Art Fund promo free ticket. We hope she succeeded.
Us 3 others waltzed on to The Long Dog, which - for the first time in my many visits - was fully booked and weren't having us. On to The Lion, who don't usually serve food after 14.00, but one large group with a reservation was running late, so they took us in anyway, while warning us that we were behind the group of 10 now with our orders and it would take a while. Just an excuse for a second drink, really...
On to Aylesbury, where we decided to take the next train and go for a drink in Marylebone Station. And so we did: the pub was closing, but the Sports Bar & Grill was still very much open, showing NFL games on all screens. We found a quiet(-ish) corner and had a meal.
As for the walk: the views were splendid, the blackberries are coming into their own (about time too), cows and sheep were docile, we saw a couple of birds of prey (not red kites) sitting in a field just off path, as well as a large balloon travelling over us and a hang glider some distance away. And then we crossed the prospective route of HS2, just before the fringes of Aylesbury, where the golf course used to be. This is not much of an event really: the footpath is slightly diverted from the old route, all the way between fences, one can't go wrong, and after 2 minutes one is through the site.
Splendid day.
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