Chiltern Hills walks

A circular walk from Henley-on-Thames Station with a lovely pub, The Flower Pot, halfway. Returning through a deer park with spectacular views of the Thames and the Chilterns.
Good parking at Henley-on-Thames station.

A pleasant linear walk along the Thames Path between Henley-on-Thames and Marlow. The path is easy to follow and is almost all downhill. There are a number of public transport options to return to the start.

This walk explores some of the hamlets of the Chilterns which, although close to Hemel Hempstead retain their remoteness in their quiet locations. It goes over the typical chalk uplands of the Gade valley and up to the beechwoods of the National Trust Ashridge estate. It passes charming 17th century cottages, a vineyard, a Buddhist Temple and long established churches. The country truly merits its AONB designation.

Starting from Hexton this walk on the borders of Befordshire and Hertfordshire includes the attractive downland between Telegraph and Deacon Hills and a section of the Icknield Way.

This Route 2 is a medium-length walk with one steep section. The village of Turville has become famous as the setting of the BBC TV Comedy the Vicar of Dibley. It has also featured in other TV programmes and films such as Midsomer Murders, Goodnight Mr Tom and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

National Trails and Long Distance Paths crisscross the Chilterns in this area. This Circular Walk makes use of short stretches of at least five such to provide a beautiful and varied walk through Chiltern woodland, on Chiltern chalk downs with wide vistas from the scarp edge of the hills, along a stretch of the historic Grand Union Canal, and through one of the prettiest villages in Hertfordshire.

This short Hertfordshire walk explores the pleasant countryside to the south east of Jockey End and follows the Hertfordshire Way to descend into the Gade Valley and the village of Great Gaddesden. The return route leaves the valley following the Chiltern Way for the return to the start.

This walk along the River Chess starts from Little Chalfont in Buckinghamshire and walks east through pleasant surroundings before turning west to Chenies and a return to the start.

A short Oxfordshire walk that explores the woodlands and countryside to the east of Christmas Common. The route is generally easy to follow and includes sections of the Oxfordshire Way and Chiltern Way.

This a circular walk with a slow climb to the heights, avoiding the steep climb on the Hambleden side. On the way, visit Luxters Farm Winery and Brewery and walk parts of Shakespeare's and Chilterns Ways.

A short easy walk along the Thames on the outward leg.

This walk is over the undulating plateau of the Chiltern dip slope, through the parklands of some of the 18th Century mansions which dot the Chilterns. Although the land is now more given over to arable agriculture, the landscape is still greatly influenced by the great designers, including Capability Brown. A walk with great views over the Gade valley and a revelation of the life style of baronets and local squires in the 1700s and the lesser houses of their tenants.

Starting from Hexton this walk on the borders of Befordshire and Hertfordshire offers mile after mile of beautiful countryside with the hilltops steeped in ancient history. The route includes sections of the Icknield and John Bunyan Ways.

This route offers the walker some of the most stunning views in the whole of the Chilterns and visits a number of important wildlife sites featured in the book by Gay Beattie "The Pilgrim’s Progress Wild Flowers and Where to Find Them in The Chilterns." Pegsdon and Deacon Hills were a favourite of the writer and preacher John Bunyan who referred to them in as the "Delectable Mountains".

An undulating walk through woodland and arable farmland, via Penn House Estate, Common Wood and Penn Wood.

Discover the distinguished history of Ewelme, visit its watercress beds, and take in the exhilarating views over Oxfordshire from an old hillfort on Swyncombe Downs. At the right time of year you will see a wonderful display of snowdrops and aconites at St Botolph’s Church in Swyncombe.

From picturesque Aldbury you follow the Ridgeway to Ivinghoe beacon, returning via the Ashridge boundary trail and the Chiltern Way. You can enjoy the contrasts between the two LDPs: airy ridges on the Ridgeway and the patchwork of woods and fields on the Chiltern Way.

This circular walk (Route 1) starts from The Flower Pot, Aston. Apart from a short climb at the start, it’s easy walking for the rest of the route along the River Thames.

A long walk, involving a steep climb up the Chilterns Escarpment. This is The Fat Fox Inn - Route 3.

A medium length walk with some steep climbs. The village of Turville has become famous as the setting of the BBC TV Comedy the Vicar of Dibley. It has also featured in other TV programmes and films such as Midsomer Murders, Goodnight Mr Tom and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

This circular walk (Route 2) starts from The Flower Pot, Aston. Apart from a short climb at the start, it’s easy walking for the rest of the route along the River Thames.

A long a steady climb over the second quarter of the walk, thereafter an easy walk back.

A medium length walk with a couple of steep climbs en route.

This circular route (Route 2) starts from Henley-on-Thames. You walk along the Thames via Remenham and Hambleden Lock before going up the hill to get a great view of the crops. Apart from a short climb mid-way through, it is easy walking for the rest of the route.
⚠️ During the Henley Regatta a section of the Thames Path is closed and there is a signposted diversion route.

A medium length walk with quite hilly terrain around The Five Horseshoes pub.

Easy walk with no hills around The Leathern Bottle.

A moderate walk with some steep hills around The Leathern Bottle.

This Chilterns walk takes in parts of the Chess Valley walk at the start and end of the route and a section of the Chiltern Way in between. There is a variety of scenery with undulating landscapes, pastoral scenes of grazing animals, fields of wild flowers in summer, a cricket pitch, a golf course, a quarry, two churches and the shallow chalk stream of the River Chess.

A scenic walk with far-reaching views over the Thames Valley. Two short, steep climbs and a longer one, less steep to the top of the escarpment. The path in the wood may be muddy in places.

A very pleasant walk exploring the attractive woods and landscape in and around the village of Checkendon in South Oxfordshire.

Climb to the top of Chinnor Hill with fine views over the Vale of Aylesbury before following quiet rural paths and lanes to pretty Radnage. Return over Bledlow Ridge.

Circular walk from Wendover to the pub at Swan Bottom, across fields and through woods.

An easy walk over fairly even terrain. Stoke Row – Wyfold Court – Stoke Row.

A medium length walk with some steep climbs through woods.

This is a surprisingly hilly walk for this general area, being the northern end of the Chilterns AONB, mostly through rolling farmland, with some wonderful views across the flatlands of south Bedfordshire to the north, especially if the air is clear. Most of it is along the edges of/through fields, along grass & hard-surfaced paths & tracks. There are two tree-covered 'alleys'. It passes a large late-Tudor manor house. You will walk part of the Icknield Way & visit Pegsdon Hills Nature Reserve.

This circular walk starts (Route 2) at Peppard Common and goes through Sonning Common.

A fairly long walk over mostly even terrain. Stoke Row – Hook End – Exlade St – Checkendon – Stoke Row.

A medium length walk with a high stile : Stoke Row – Ipsden Heath – Stoke Row.

A fairly long walk over hilly terrain with two steep uphill sections.

This circular offers heaps of views, wildlife spotting, and history preserved by the National Trust. It goes up and down the Chilterns hills and woodlands where end of May-June you can enjoy the bluebells. Keep your ears and eyes wide open listening to the whistling red kites or spot some pheasant or squirrels.

A medium length walk over fairly flat terrain through two adjacent villages and surrounding woodland.

This walk demonstrates that modern Hemel Hempstead and its environs have much more to offer than cynics would have you believe.

This walk explores the picturesque Chess Valley and the pretty village of Chenies with its Tudor manor house, 15th century church and village green. It climbs to Church End, Sarratt, passing through the churchyard of the 12th century church. There are fine views of the valley and the river Chess.

This circular route (Route 1) starts from Henley-on-Thames. You walk along via Rotherfield Greys and Pack and Prime Lane . An easy walk with no steep gradients.

A beautiful circular walk through woodland and pastures to Greys Court National Trust.

This walk takes a look at the evolution of the London to Oxford passage through the Chilterns as it has changed to meet evolving needs through the ages. Over the centuries a variety of routes have tried to find the easiest way over the Chiltern Hills. Just to the south of the start there used to be a Roman road. Henry II built a road from London to his palace in Woodstock and there are old packhorse trails, coach routes, turnpikes and now a motorway.

A mixed route on footpaths and tracks through fields and woodland, visiting the picturesque village green at The Lee.

This walk is packed with so much of interest it’s impossible to describe it all here. It includes the history and architecture of Henley, the picturesque Thames and the natural beauty of Chiltern woodland.

This is a stile-free circular walk around Pangbourne countryside and along River Thames.

A walk that’s attractive at any time of year. The route is quiet and peaceful, with magnificent views looking north into Bedfordshire and beyond. Visit the Iron Age hillfort at Sharpenhoe Clappers.