Marylebone
to Bicester Village via Haddenham seems to be the only railway line running today (but serving only selected stops), so it’s either Book 1 Walk 10
- Beaconsfield Circular (but posted on Boxing Day 2013) or one of the Haddenham
walks. This one has the advantages of passing four (!) pubs (plus a 5th just a little bit off-route in
Stone), while offering flexible lengths, as the route crosses the A418 several times, where the 200/280 Oxford to
Aylesbury Bus runs frequently to get us
back to Haddenham station.
Length: from 10.3 km (6.4 mi) to 23.3 km (14.5 mi)
Ascent/Descent: up
to 180 m; Net Walking Time: from ca. 2 hours to 5 hours
Toughness:
from 1/10 to 4/10
Take
the 09.45 Oxford Parkway train from Marylebone, arrives Haddenham
& Thame Parkway at 10.28;
Return
trains
from Haddenham: xx.17 and xx.47 hours (47 minutes journey time).
Buy a Haddenham
& Thame Parkway return.
To quote the write-up:
“This pleasant walk through the scenic heart
of Aylesbury Vale passes through the tranquil Thame Valley in the
morning, linking up many unspoilt and picturesque hamlets with gentle views to
the surrounding hills, while
passing four good village pubs en route. After lunch several grassy fields and
a substantial newly planted
community woodland are passed through. Later the stately mansion of Hartwell
House is rounded, before
the route heads in to Aylesbury for tea.
The
regular Oxford to Aylesbury bus service is never far away from the route,
making it easy to choose a shorter
option.“
The recommended lunch stops are The Bottle and Glass in Gibraltar
(10.3 km/6.4 mi) or the The Seven Stars in Dinton
(10.9 km/6.8 mi). There’s also The Crown at
Cuddington early in the walk (7.1 km/4.4 mi). For
tea the choices are The Bugle
Horn as well as Hartwell House Spa Cafe and Bar, both in Hartwell (ca. 3.5 km
from the end) and numerous options in
Aylesbury (check page 2 of the directions for details).
For
walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.
T=swc.193
1 comment:
The first day of the sales meant that the Bicester Village-Express was full to the brim, with standing room only for late arrivals (I think the SWC all got seats though), so much so that Chiltern Rail were later apologising for the conditions due to "unforseen high demand". Maybe next year just put on 6 car-trains?
Anyway, n=10 walkers managed to disentangle themselves from the crowds to get off the train at Haddenham and embark on this gentle walk in w=very-sunny weather. 3 arable field crossings early on (1 large, 2 small), else fine grassy fields or grassy field boundaries. The Thame River, Notley Abbey and several pretty villages with lots of thatched and Wychert-walled houses provided some interest on top of the views of rolling hills left and right (did I mention the fine far views in the crisp, clear air?). The Chilterns never seemed so close...
Lunch at the Bottle & Glass in Gibraltar was just right, served at a table by the fireplace, after which two walkers had another short stop at the next pub in Dinton.
2 other walkers left us after Dinton church to take the bus back from the nearby A-road, 1 sandwicher was long out of sight (and later met again on the bus, having finished the full walk to Aylesbury), the other 7 arrived at the Bugle Horn in Stone at 16.15, which left 20 minutes to the next bus for a swift one.
A great day for being out and about, spent in very good company.
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