Several Walks to try out in The Chilterns.

The Walks go through excellent countryside and involve Greensand Ridge, Clifton Hampden, Wittenham Clumps & Hill Fort, Shillingford and Dorchester Abbey.

3Locks-Old Linslade-GreenSand Ridge-Great Brickhill-3Locks This 11 mile circular walk takes you along the Grand Union Canal, then into the woodland of Rushmere Park (with it's Redwoods), down to a small pleasant lake to stop for a quick lunchtime sandwich, then heads off along via the GreenSand Ridge to Great Brickhill and finally back along the Grand Union to the pub at the 3 Locks at Soulbury. The walk is not very hilly but note that in the winter it can be very cold and windy out along here - of the 6 times we have walked this route we have been lucky enough to be snowed on 3 times and rained on the other times. The map relevant to this walk is OS Explorer 192. The walk starts from a car park where the Soulbury road meets the A4146 at grid reference [ SP 89220 28290 ].

Leave the car park and turn right to go over the bridge and then right again onto the towpath of the Grand Union Canal. Follow the canal along going under two small bridges and eventually the church at Old Linslade comes into view ahead of you. Climb the steps by the bridge to get onto the road (if you go right and across the bridge you can visit the nice church next to Old Linslade Manor - it is well worth a diversion from the main walk) and then go left - just after the road crosses a narrow bridge (this is the second bridge) over a stream take a small path in the hedgerow on the right and follow this as it heads diagonally up across the field to the far corner by the tree line - you have now joined the Greensand Ridge Walk. Continue into the woods and stay on this pleasant path as it wanders through the woods to eventually arrive back on the road at Rushmere.

Cross this sometimes busy road onto a small road ahead - almost immediately take a marked path on the right into woods - there are some magnificent redwood trees here - also as you walk along note the large lake on the right which often has wildlife on it. The path - which is Greensand Ridge - soon climbs through trees slowly bending left - ignore any side tracks and paths - eventually the path comes out onto more open ground with views down to the left. Stay on the same path as it enters Oak Wood and drops down to cross a stream / boggy area and a small pond on the right, then climbs up to reach a cross track, go right (still on the marked Greensand Ridge Walk).

    

Carry on up this now very wide track through the woods to arrive at another main cross track** marked to Scotsgrove Park 1/2 Mile. Go right here and walk down to reach a track junction by a concreted area, go left taking the climbing path - the path levels out more and there is a coral wooden fence now on the left. Eventually arrive at a gate, go on through and stay ahead as the path soon drops down to meet a path on the left, take this path to carry on down to the lake. There are quite a few paths round here and you can walk round the lake - for the purposes of our walk instructions we went anti-clockwise. When you are nearly round the like there is an old brick boating house to look at - then a little further on the path splits with one path going on round the lake. There are two bench seats here which are ideally placed to stop for a picnic/drink. At the previously mentioned path junction go straight ahead to walk through pine trees - there are several smaller ponds and boggy areas on the left. The path rises up a little to meet the original inbound path.

Turn right and walk back up the track to reach the track junction** again, turn right to continue walking along the GreenSand Ridge and to eventually join a small dirt road at Vane. Continue along this small road to a junction, go right and then as the road bends take the marked path going off to the left into the woods. Continue on this narrow, enclosed and sandy path - the path joins a wide track - always stay in the same direction through more woodland to eventually walk down to reach farm gates which is where you finally leave the Greensand Ridge Walk - Rammamere Farm is directly ahead. Go through the gates and then go half left to cross a stile on a bank at the field corner - follow this path up the field and as it levels off look out for and cross a double stile in the hedgerow on the left - this can be quite obscured but it is located just after passing a nearbye telegraph pole.

Continue on half right across the field more or less following the line of the telegraph poles to reach another stile in the hedge. Continue across the next field heading for a group of pine trees (Hillbottom Spinney), the now grassy path winds through the Spinney and then becomes a track as it passes stables and then reaches a road. Take a stile on the right and continue up the field with the hedge on your right, cross another stile in the hedge and then up the field to a path between houses and the school. On reaching the road (you are now in Great Brickhill) go straight across into Rotten Row and continue along until you reach the main road junction. Turn right to go to the church.

Go left in front of the church on the small road - after a short distance go through a gate on the right and then soon over a stile into open ground - the path is quite obscure but simply go half right to walk down hill gradually merging with a very old stone and brick wall on your right.. As you reach the bottom of the slope continue over the stiles and then the path turns right with woods now on the right - this green path soon comes to a field edge, go half left across it to reach a road with Westfield Farm opposite. Turn left and continue along the road - passing over a river with several weirs - to arrive a the Grand Union canal. Go down to the canal towpath and turn left - continue along the towpath eventually passing Stoke Hammond Lock and walk back to the start point at the 3 Locks.

Clifton Hampden - Wittenham Clumps and Hill Fort - Shillingford - Dorchester - Clifton Hampden. Another circular walk this time of just over 14 miles - the walk starts by the River Thames then crosses countryside to Long Wittenham - continues up to the hill fort at Castle Hill and the Clumps themselves then onto Shillingford. From there its over to the Roman Town of Dorchester with it's Abbey and finally back down to the River Thames for a walk back to the start. The walk is basically quite flat with only a couple of short ascents by the Hill Fort and Wittenham Clumps. The walk starts from the large (and at time of writing free) parking area opposite the Barley Mow pub (by Clifton Hampden bridge).
Turn right out of the car park to head back towards the bridge - after a few metres a path on the right takes you off the road and heads on down to the River Thames. Follow the river bank (going away from the bridge) and cross two more fields to reach a path junction - turn right going inland - this path can be quite wet and boggy initially but is much dryer after a while and becomes a wide hedge lined green track. Continue along to eventually reach a track junction, turn right and head on to and past New Barn Farm - to eventually arrive at Long Wittenham.

Turn right to reach the main village road - turn left here and after about 100 or so metres turn right to walk up and have a look round the church. Return back to the road - cross it and take the track opposite between buildings - after just a few metres this meets a dirt road - go right and follow this dirt road for several 100 metres - keep a look out for and take a path going left away from the dirt road - (the last time we walked here this path was not marked as a public footpath although it is one). Now simply follow this path staying in the same general direction (the Clumps and Hill Fort getting ever more close to your left) going via fields to eventually join a small road, turn left uphill and this takes you to White Lees.

At the road junction turn left - shortly the road bears right - take a path on the left on the bend and follow this to Hill Farm and then onto a road - turn right and follow this small road along to the Wittenham Clumps car park on your left. Walk on up to the Hill Fort and have a look round as you wish, then head over to the Clumps and enjoy them too.
From the top of the clumps looking north you can see Little Wittenham and it's church some way below and to the right Dorchester Abbey is clearly visible. Leave the Clumps going down the steeper side and heading directly towards Little Wittenham - as the hill starts to flatten take a path going off to the right alongside a hedgerow which goes into Little Wittenham Woods - stay on this wide path though the woods and then eventually out into fields always keeping in the same basic easterly direction and passing LowerHill Farm on your left.

Just before reaching North Farm turn right and continue along a few 100 metres, then turn left alongside the paddock passing North Farm on your left to reach the road - now with The Thames visible ahead. Turn right and either take a path diving off half left which takes you over fields as it nearly reaches the river and comes out by the Shillingford Hotel or go left along the farm track/road which brings you more directly to the Hotel - in either case continue past the hotel to reach the road. Turn left and walk across the Thames via Shillingford Bridge - look out for and take a path marked Thames Path which goes off to the left and follow this signed path between houses and walls.

The path turns left to immediately reach a small road, turn right and continue past Shillingford Farm to reach the main road. Turn left and continue along the main road - look out for and take a path on the left (still marked Thames Path) and take this down towards the river. Turn right and head in a westerly direction along the river bank - Dorchester and it's Abbey are now clearly visible more or less in front of you. At a small foot bridge leave the river and head north to reach the Dorchester road, turn left and cross the really long bridge to enter the village - as you cross the bridge look out for a small and very picturesque Catholic Church quite hidden in the trees on the left. Take note of a small road on the left going sharply back just as you leave the bridge - this will be the next part of the walk but first of course Dorchester Abbey is ahead of you and certainly worth a look round - also there is a pub here should a drink be required. Walk back to the main road and take the previously mentioned small road - this soon passes the Catholic Church now on the left - a really nice building and well worth a few minutes diversion.

Continue past the Church and almost immediately go right into Wittenham Lane to pick up a path (marked to Wittenham Clumps) - go past several houses and then on reaching open ground Dyke Hills are now ahead of you - walk over to the mounds and turn right alongside them now with a fence on your left. At the end of Hills the path goes diagonally left down via high hedgerows towards the river - as it comes out into open ground the Thames is now visible in front of you - half way across the field the path splits - take the left fork to go to Little Wittenham Bridge i.e. don't yet head towards the lock. Cross the bridge and walk along the small road to visit Little Wittenham's delightful little church - and also it's welcome seat - from where you get a good view of the Clumps again.Walk back down to and cross the bridge, but now turn left to go over to Day's Lock. Cross the lock and the weir and then turn right to walk back the three miles along the Thames bank to reach Clifton Hampden Bridge and the original starting point.

For other walks in England which involve or incorporate English National Trails including The Ridgeway, The Oxfordshire Way, The Icknield Way and The South Bucks Way as well as parts of Grim's Ditch, The Thames Path and the Oxford Canal please check our English Walks Guides.

Find more walks on our Walking Guides for England or visit our Home Page for items about quite a few of our English Canals, Canal Arms and River Navigations, 100s of English Church and British Wild Flower Photographs.