Hambleden Circular

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.

Technical sheet

n°3264072

A Hambleden walk posted on 22/05/20 by Hicksey. Last update : 28/12/22

Activity: Walking
Distance: 9.98 km
Calculated time: 3h 15
Difficulty: Easy
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 153 m
Vertical drop: - 155 m
Highest point: 199 m
Lowest point: 47 m

District: Hambleden
Start/End: N 51.567542° / W 0.870006°
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Description

Start : Ridgewood street along the main road (Skirmett Road). Grid ref. SU 784 860.

(S/E) From the main road, follow the main track around the foot of the hill on your right side (South-South-West). Follow this path for around 1 Km until you meet a metalled road (Dairy Lane).

(1) Turn right (North) on the road and continue to follow as you begin a slow climb, initially through farmland changing to woods (Great Wood). The footpath is clearly marked as you walk around 2 Km.

(2) When you meet the Shakespeare's Way coming down the hill from the right, you should turn left (West) as the path ahead is closed (marked on a 4-way direction post).

Here you can also take a shortcut (see alternative) and carry on to read from waypoint (7).

Otherwise, climb this new dirt track up towards a field boundary fence. The path is rutted and can be muddy if it has recently rained. Follow the boundary fence until you reach a stile on your right.

(3) Turn right (North-East), climb over the stile and cross over 2 fields before re-entering woodland.

(4) At the end of this short wooded stretch, turn right (East) along a minor road and carry on past Luxters Farm Winery and Brewery, descend Dudley Lane to a road junction.

(5) Cross the road (take extra care along this busy, narrow, country road) to take the road opposite. Join the Chiltern Way after about 250m.

(6) Turn right on the Chiltern Way (South-East) walk along to reach a road at Colstrope Farm. Follow the road straight South and as the road curves right, find a footpath on your left, still following the Chiltern Way.

(7) At the path junction, keep straight and follow this path South towards Hambleden.

(8) Cross the road and continue along the path when you reach Pheasant's Hill and continue south until the path ends at a road.

(9) Turn left past the church in Hambleden on your left. Follow the road around and turn right when you reach the village square. Cross the bridge and your start point will be ahead of you. (S/E)

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 52 m - Main road Skirmett Road - Hambleden village
1 : km 1.05 - alt. 47 m - Metalled road
2 : km 3.19 - alt. 125 m - Intersection - Shakespeare's Way
3 : km 4.19 - alt. 170 m - Upper Woodend Farm
4 : km 5.06 - alt. 198 m - Luxters Farm Winery and Brewery
5 : km 6.68 - alt. 72 m - Intersection
6 : km 7.06 - alt. 64 m - Chiltern Way
7 : km 8.04 - alt. 57 m - Path junction
8 : km 8.38 - alt. 57 m - Pheasant's Hill
9 : km 9.19 - alt. 47 m - Church
S/E : km 9.98 - alt. 52 m - Main road Skirmett Road - Hambleden village

Useful Information

Start : Ridgewood street along the main road (Skirmett Road). Grid ref. SU 784 860.

Parking : Find a spot nearby the start in Hambleden village there's plenty of parking around the church then walk to the start following the main road South. Otherwise, go to Mill End car park 0.5km South of the start point and use the footpath behind the opposite hedge to walk to the start.

Alternative route : At waypoint (2) take the Shakespeare way for a short way (300m) before taking the footpath on the LHS through Barn Wood and by Bacres Farm. Cross the busy road to go ahead on the minor road. Cross the bridge and take the footpath on the right to rejoin the route at waypoint (7).

Terrain : Wet and muddy underfoot as much of it is on hard surfaces.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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During the walk or to do/see around

- Chiltern Valley Winery & Brewery

Reviews and comments

3.8 / 5

Based on 3 reviews

Clarity of route description
3 / 5

Clarity of route map
4 / 5

Walk interest
4.3 / 5

Delphinium

28 Dec 2022 at 05:01 EST

Hi,
Thank you both for the great feedback. I just amended the walk following what you shared.
I only mentioned one of the diversions for now.
Enjoy your walks.

aardvarkkrill

27 Dec 2022 at 05:45 EST

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 26/12/22
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

This is a lovely and easy walk, through some very pretty, gentle valleys and evergreen and deciduous woods. To avoid at least part of the long, fast road section between 5 and 6 (see earlier comment) we took the public footpath from opposite Luxters farm through Cadmoor wood. As we emerged from the trees there is a fabulous view and even a couple of benches for a coffee stop -- I would highly recommend this diversion.
Also, if arriving by car, start from the village -- there's plenty of parking around the church, and none at the marked start point.

vbconstable

09 Jun 2020 at 03:46 EDT

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : 08/06/20
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Think I may have muddled the Shakespeare and Chiltern Ways on my previous comments! Ooops!

vbconstable

09 Jun 2020 at 02:56 EDT

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : 07/06/20
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Found this walk a little disappointing.

The section between points 5 & 6 is along a narrow country road - fast moving vehicles and no footpath
There are 2 ways of removing or reducing this - from Luxtors Farm take the footpath on RHS through Cadmoor Wood and cut down the amount of road walking - OR - at the end of Dudley Lane take the road opposite and join the Shakespeare Way after about 250m. To be honest - I've not done these alternatives, but they look good from the map.
One alternative I have done is at point 2 to take the Chiltern Way on RHS for a short way before taking the footpath on the LHS through Barn Wood and by Bacres Farm and rejoining the route at point 6. This reduces the walk to 5.3 miles (8.5km) if using the car park start point noted below.
There's no parking at the start, so I parked at the Mill End car park 0.5km south of the start point and used the footpath behind the opposite hedge to walk to the start.
Will be an excellent walk if wet and muddy underfoot as much of it is on hard surfaces.
Social distancing is easy for the most part except for a short section between the gardens at Pheasant's Hill

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Hicksey
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