Length: 24.1 km (15.0 mi) [shorter walk
possible]
Ascent/Descent:
692m; Net Walking Time: 6 hours
Toughness: 9/10
To
shorten:
walk the ‘normal’ version (17.0 km/10.6 mi, 5/10) or even the ‘short’ version
of this walk.
Take
the 09.13 Aylesbury train from Marylebone (09.22 Wembley Stadium, 09.35 Gerrards
Cross etc.), arrives Saunderton 09.53.
For the shorter walks, the 10.13 is
sufficient.
Return trains are on xx.50 (49 mins journey time).
The
standard version of this walk combines a fairly easy stroll in The Chilterns through a
mixture of woodland and sloping meadows, with an optional visit to Hughenden Manor
and Hell-Fire (West Wycombe) Caves.
The route heads south east over the Chiltern Hills to Bradenham, and continues
through Naphill Common, and Flagmore Wood to Hughenden Manor. The route from
Hughenden heads west across Downley Common to West Wycombe lunch/early tea. Today’s walk will then extend this by
a westerly loop to Wheeler End,
adding a fair bit more undulation to it, before picking up the standard walk
again in Hearnton Wood.
Lunch/Tea:
Hughenden
Manor Tea Room (8.0 km/5.0 mi, hot food to 14.30);
Le De Spencer’s Arms in Downley Common (9.8 km/6.1 mi, food to
15.00);
The George and Dragon Hotel in West Wycombe (12.9 km/8.0 mi, food all
day);
The Chequers in Wheeler End (16.3 km/10.1 mi, food to
15.00).
The Golden Cross in Saunderton (at the end of the walk).
For
summary, map, height
profile, photos, walk directions and
gpx/kml files click here.
T=2.3.c
5 comments:
Hi Guys I am attending this walk and its the standard walk 10 miles or 15 miles? Don't fancy walking in the dark with 15 miles although Wheeler ends looks good as I have not done this walk before. Any suggestion not to finish in the dark?
Thanks
Monica
The Wheeler End route branches off from the standard Saunderton via West Wycombe Circular at West Wycombe, which is about three quarters of the way through the walk. So you could just do the standard finish to the Saunderton Circular, which would be only 10.6 miles: it is a fairly straightforward route along the top of a ridge.
Many thanks Walker I shall do the standard version and hope to finish before sunset.
Monica
Is the nearest train before or after at 09.13? The 09.43 requires a change.
Walking in an Autumn Wonderland!
That's what it felt like, what with all (ALL!) the non-evergreen trees suddenly (compared to even just 3 days ago) having burst out in Ye Olde Russete Hues. Lots of leaves on the ground, a wind in the air, and w=all-kinds-of-weather : from blue skies and sunshine at the start, to sloooowly clouding over, to going all dark grey brooding skies in no time at all, then to heavy downpour just 5 minutes b4 reaching the lunch pub, to overcast with rainbows and blue sky patches, to dark and broody again and then more rain, although lighter than b4.
An amazing number of dog walkers out in the morning, they had obv studied the weather forecast. And even more Red Kites in the air. 3 of the group had declared they wanted to walk the 'normal' 17 km version of the walk, in the end only 2 did. The rest had lunch at The Chequers in Wheeler End (this has been spruced up by Fuller's since last visited, now with impressive oak wooden floors etc.) and reached Saunderton at 16.15, leaving enough time 'til the 16.50 train for tea and cakes at The Golden Cross. The Landlady seemed disinterested in our business to a touch grumpy, but at the end of a walk, who really cares, as long as the cakes are del...?
Back in The Smoke at 17.30. Result!
n=7, including one driver (over from Newbury).
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