Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire, a county of delightful varied landscape, sits astride the beech covered Chiltern Hills which effectively divide it's northern and southern areas. The Chilterns are designated an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The grandeur of a dramatic scarp along the north-west edge contrasts with landscape of a more intimate nature in the south; woods, hedge-rows, deep valleys and charming villages.To the north of the Chilterns lies the Vale of Aylesbury, a rich well irrigated agricultural region with clay soils and many dairy farms. Here the county town of Aylesbury has retained some of the character of a market town within it's historic centre. The narrow alleyways and courtyards around the market square, church street and the churchyard of St. Mary's provide a pleasant stroll.

To the north of the Vale of Aylesbury lies the valley of the Great Ouse River and the original county town of Buckingham. It was Alfred the Great who made Buckingham a county town in 888AD, a distinction it retained until 1725 when, during a period of decline after a terrible fire, it lost out to Aylesbury. Nevertheless the old town has charm and is worth a visit; it also provides a good base for walking in The Claydons, a particularly quiet and lovely area just south of Buckingham.

To the south of the Chilterns are the Thames and Colne valleys where the Buckinghamshire border is crowded by the urban sprawl of Slough and Maidenhead. Villages and towns in the south of the county are London commuting communities but many have retained an authentic Chiltern character. With the exception of the Thames valley most of southern Buckinghamshire comprises the low chalk ridge of the Chiltern Hills, famous for glorious beechwoods. Cool and shady in summer with a canopy of dense green foliage, and providing a stunning blaze of flaming russets and golds in autumn, it's no surprise that the Chiltern's many footpaths are a walker's paradise. In springtime too, when the woodland floor is carpeted in bluebells, and shafts of sunlight create a blue mist, the Chilterns are a joy to walk.

Long Distance Paths Traversing Buckinghamshire
Grand Union Canal Walk
Icknield Way
Midshires Way
An Oxbridge Walk
Ridgway National Trail
Thames Path National Trail

	Guide Books: [For further information or to purchase]
	Walking in The Chilterns by: Duncan Unsworth. Includes the whole Chilterns, covering parts of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. Using some of a network of nearly 1,000 miles of footpaths and bridleways, this guide describes thirty-five walks in the area. The routes are mainly half day or gentle full day outings, designed to take in the best of the Chiltern landscape and to visit historical curiosities. A general introduction outlines geology, history and natural history of the area, and many more details about things of interest are given within each walk description. Sketch maps are included and the book is illustrated.
	Walking in Buckinghamshire by Robert Wilson. This guide gives 32 of the best walks in the county. They vary between 4 and 10 miles in length, are clearly described, and each is accompanied by a sketch map. The walks start locations are: Olney; Whaddon Chase; Stowe Landscape Gardens; Wing; The Claydons; Quainton; Waddesdon; Brill; Nether Winchendon; Bledlow; Great Kimble; Coombe Hill; Wendover Woods; Chesham Ridges; Chess Valley; Chalfont St. Giles; Little Missendon; Little Hampden; Hughenden; West Wycombe; Stokenchurch; Fingest; Hambleden; Lane End to Marlow; Wooburn; Cliveden; Boveney; Black Park and Langley park; Iver; Denham and the Grand Union Canal.
	Pub Walks in Buckinghamshire by: Trevor Yorke. Every walk begins and ends at a good local pub. They vary in length from 2.5 to 5 miles and each route is described in detail with its own, beautifully illustrated, sketch map. From the flat rich pastures around Clifton Reynes in the north to the beech-clad hills of the Chilterns in the south, Buckinghamshire offers a diversity of landscapes, villages and hamlets to explore. Visit the oldest building in the county at Wing, the 1200 year-old All Saints church; take a canalside walk at Three Locks near Stoke Hammond; and enjoy the medieval village of Ickford with its picturesque cottages and ancient bridge. All 20 pubs are described in full, with a photograph and details including their history and character, opening times, food and range of beers.
	100 Walks in Buckinghamshire and Herts compiled by Geoff Spreckley. This guide contains approximately 70 circular walks in Buckinghamshire varying in length from 1.5 to 8 miles and covering the whole county, including the best walking areas. It is ideal for family outings, as a reference for residents, and for visitors to Buckinghamshire. Maps and route descriptions are on facing pages for ease of use, and points of interest, places to eat and drink and where to park are included. It provides exceptional value.
	Best Walks in Buckinghamshire by Barry Totterdell. Here are sixteen linear walks through the best of the Buckinghamshire countryside. The routes are: Gerrards Cross to Langley; Beaconsfield to Gerrards Cross; Chesham to Little Chalfont; Amersham to Great Missenden; Great Missenden to Wendover; Wendover to Great Missenden; Little Kimble to Lacey Green; West Wycombe to High Wycombe; Lane End to Hambleden Mill; Stoke Mandeville to Wendover; Aylesbury to Wendover; Tring Station to Leighton Buzzard; Haddenham to Princes Risborough; Hartwell to Haddenham; Loughton Valley to Milton Keynes; Haddenham to Bicester.
	The Chilterns - Jarrold Short Walks by Terry Marsh. These lovely little pocket guides are the ideal companion for short walks that can be enjoyed by all. Walk locations are as follows: Hodgemoor Wood; Great Kimble; Black Park Country Park; Hughenden Manor and Millfield Wood; West Wycombe Hill; Marlow and the Thames; Leygrove's Wood; Hambleden; Stoke Poges; Watlington Park; Ellesborough and Chequers; Little Missenden; Stonor; Burnham Beeches Nature Reserve; Mapledurham and Chatzey Wood; Ivinghoe Breacon; Whiteleaf Hill and Hampden; Coombe Hill and Little Hampden; Stokenchurch and Sprig's Alley; Tring Reservoirs and Grand Union Canal.
	Chilterns & Ridgeway Rambler's Guide by: Martin Andrew. Thirty walks are described and illustrated. Locations include: Marlborough Downs - West Kennett; West Overton and Fyfield; Avebury Stone Circles; The Ogbournes; Liddington Castle and Bishopstone; Berkshire Downs; Uffington and the White Horse; Kingston Lisle; The Letcombes and Wantage; The Ilsleys; Blewburton Hill to Lowbury Hill; Goring, the Thames and the eastern Berkshire Downs. The Chilterns - North Stoke and Ipsden; Wallingford; Nuffield and Grim's Ditch; Britwell Salome and Swyncombe; Watlington; Stokenchurch; Bledlow and Radnage; Princes Risborough; Monks Risborough and Whiteleaf Cross; Beacon Hill and Chequers; The Hampdens; The Lee; Wendover and Halton; Cholesbury and St Leonards; Tring and the Grand Union Canal; Aldbury; Ivinghoe and Pitstone Hill.
	50 Walks in Berkshire & Buckinghamshire by: Nick Channer. Includes 50 themed walks of between 2 and 10 miles. There are clear, easy-to-follow route descriptions, including detailed sketch maps, for every walk. The walk locations include: Buckinghamshire - Stowe; Milton Keynes; Bletchley Park; Fenny Stratford; Addington; The Claydons; Mentmore; Quainton; Ivinghoe Beacon; Brill; Hartwell; Chequers; Coombe Hill; Chesham; Chalfont St Giles; West Wycombe; Turville; Hambleden; Marlow; Burnham Beeches; Stoke Poges; Dorney; Eton Wick. Berkshire - Windsor; Sunningdale; Windsor Great Park; Maidenhead Thicket; Cookham; Wargrave; Dinton Pastures; Wokingham; Finchampstead; Reading; Pangbourne; Frilsham; Stanford Dingley; Brimpton; Hermitage; Donnington Castle; Greenham; Farnborough; Chaddelworth; Combe Gibbet; Enborne.