Explore Henley : this varied walk through the Chilterns takes in parkland, farmland and woodland. Starting in Henley, this 21 km circular walk includes the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust’s (BBOWT) Warburg Nature Reserve.
Description
(S/E) From Henley-on-Thames railway station, turn right on to Station Road and follow Thameside beside the river, then bear left on to New Street.
(1) Turn right onto Bell Street and at the double mini-roundabout, bear left onto the A4130 Northfield End. After 350 metres, take the footpath to the right next to the school playing fields, climbing through wood, then across parkland to Henley Park. (A)
(2) Carry straight on past Henley Park and on to Pond Cottage (B); cross the road and continue over the pasture, between paddocks, then through a gap in the hawthorn hedge before descending over the pasture to a wooded path. Turn left at the lane and follow it to the B480 at Middle Assendon.
(3) Turn right, past the Rainbow Inn and take the second road on the left. Follow the road along the valley bottom for 2 miles passing Little Bix Bottom Farm and Valley Farm. On the left, the remains of St James Church are worth a stop. The ruined church dates from the 12th century and was abandoned in 1875. It is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade II listed building. Continue up the lane to Warburg Nature Reserve (C).
(4) From the visitor centre, take the road back out towards Bix and after 100 metres turn right beside Pages Farm onto the restricted byway. Follow this flinty track uphill, keeping left as the track forks, past Soundness House. Continue past the turn for Crocker End to the next road junction under the large oak. Bear right for Nettlebed village, or straight over (half left) to continue on the route.
(5) Take the track (Catslip) on the left beside the houses, then straight over the road (to Crocker End) onto the bridleway. Follow the bridleway straight on through the planted woodland and across the field to Bix village.
(6) Turn right on to Rectory Lane, past the church, carefully cross the A4130, go past Bix Manor and continue to the road junction.
(7) Take the bridleway into Lambridge Wood, turn right onto the footpath. Follow the footpath, beside an earth bank, down through beech wood. Go straight on at the cross-paths and at the next path junction. Just before the main path starts to descend steeply, take the smaller path to the right down to a large depression, then up following the edge of the wood, through a small plantation. Go straight across the golf course onto Lambridge Lane.
(8) Follow the lane round to the right and turn left onto Gravel Hill, which leads down to Market Place in Henley town centre. Turn right on to Reading Road, then left on to Station Road to Henley-on-Thames railway station. (S/E)
Waypoints
- S/E : km 0 - alt. 35 m - Henley-on-Thames railway station
- 1 : km 0.75 - alt. 37 m - Bell Street
- 2 : km 2.83 - alt. 104 m - Henley Park
- 3 : km 4.87 - alt. 61 m - Rainbow Inn
- 4 : km 8.38 - alt. 107 m - Visitor centre
- 5 : km 10.3 - alt. 188 m - Catslip
- 6 : km 13.11 - alt. 132 m - Rectory Lane
- 7 : km 14.28 - alt. 132 m - Lambridge Wood
- 8 : km 16.85 - alt. 85 m - Gravel Hill
- S/E : km 18.86 - alt. 35 m - Henley-on-Thames railway station
Useful Information
Start : Henley-on-Thames railway station. Postcode: RG9 1AY. Grid ref: SU 764 823
By bus: Check www.traveline.info for information about
local buses
By train: This walk starts at Henley-on-Thames railway station. Check www.nationalrail.co.uk for train times
By car: There are car parks at Henley railway station and Warburg Nature Reserve and street parking in Nettlebed and Bix
By bike: There is cycle storage at Henley railway station and a bike rack at the reserve
- There is a shorter 8 km/5 mile circular section which can start from Nettlebed or Warburg Nature Reserve
- There are additional paths through the reserve to explore further, including a Wildlife Walk; and also a visitor centre and picnic area
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.
During the walk or to do/see around
Warburg Nature Reserve
Spectacular is a word often used to describe this reserve, which is set in a charming patchwork of woods, scrub and flower-rich grassland in a secluded dry valley. With a huge range of plants, fungi and invertebrates, it’s easy to see why.
Beech trees stretch high above an open forest floor to form a peaceful, cathedral-like space. Coppice woods provide a sea of bluebells and chorus of birdsong in spring. Cowslips begin the annual sequence of flowering herbs that provide a carpet of changing colour in the sheltered glades.
Stars of this floral display are the orchids such as fly, bee and pyramidal. Fifteen species can be found here. Some of the rarer orchids, such as narrow-lipped and violet helleborines, prefer the shadier woodland.
The wide, sunny rides and open glades with chalk grassland are full of wildflowers in summer, including the Chiltern gentian and aromatic marjoram and thyme. The flowers attract numerous butterflies and other insects before the woodland turns a glorious gold, orange and brown in autumn.
(A) Look for evergreen box trees in the wood, and green woodpeckers in the parkland.
(B) Look for whitebeam in the lane.
(C) Listen for red kites calling while soaring over the tree covered ridge, and look for the many orchids on ‘The Range’ at WARBURG NATURE RESERVE in summer.
Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT)
BBOWT relies on the support of our members to help us look after local wildlife. By joining BBOWT you can help to secure the future of special landscapes like Warburg Nature Reserve.
