CW2: Walk 1: Wendover Circular via Coombe Hill
Train: Take the 9:57AM train from London Marylebone to Wendover. Return trains at 24 and 54 until 18:54, then hourly at 54 past.
Length: 13 miles or 21 km. Shorter versions also possible. The cross-coppice shortcut reduces the walk to 8.5 miles and if you take the train 1 hour later you would have a reasonable chance of meeting the main walkers at the lunch pub. Please note that there are no trains stopping at Monks Risborough this Sunday -- so this short option would not be available.
Difficulty: 8 out of 10 for the main walk; probably 4 out of 10 for the shorter versions.
This is a great walk in the autumnal Chiltern Hills passing an iron-age fort, several viewpoints and a very cosy pub for lunch. The main walk is fairly energetic with some ups and downs. It passes through various woods which should be starting to show some of their autumnal color. The Coombe Hill ending is recommended and is well worth the added effort. More information and the instructions/gpx can be found here.
Lunch: The Red Lion (tel 01844 344476), Whiteleaf, 10km (6.2 miles) from the start of the standard walk, which serves food from midday to 2pm daily. Booking is advised.
Post-walk Refreshies: Wendover has many options for after-walk refreshments from chocolate indulgences (Rumsey's) to cheese and wine shop (No 2 Pound Street) and good traditional pub (Shoulder of Mutton).
Enjoy the walk!
#2026-10-25T10:00T=2.1
5 comments:
Is it really the case that an 8.5 mile option gives "a reasonable chance of meeting ... at the lunch pub"? My reading of the map shows these options as mutually exclusive. Apologies if I am being dense.
Hi David,
I think this is the 8.5 mile version: "Shortcut via Cross Coppice You may reduce the length of the standard walk by 5km to 13.5km (8.4 miles) by following the standard walk directions as given until [point 3].Then follow the Shortened route directions and then pick up the standard walk directions at [point 6]."
I decided to be an hour behind and do short cuts, however I got to the pub at 1.40pm and couldn't see the group. A good roast lunch with a couple and their baby.in a friendly pub.
The day was elemental with the winds, and groups of 30 Kites rose on thermals. The views from the Ridgeway were stunning.
Pending further walk reports, it seems N=1 w=Windy
4 at the station plus one late starter so n=5 in w=glorious-autumn-weather
The woods were looking as fine as ever I remember. There was no mud despite recent heavy rain, though we did have to bypass a few fallen trees, casualties of yesterday’s storm Austen.
No prime minister was spotted on Coombe Hill unlike a few years ago. Perhaps the current one has found a Chequers North to spend his weekends!
Incidentally the Cross Coppice shortcut is incompatible with visiting the Red Lion as DC moots.
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