lat: 51.7617044
lon: -0.747461
Bluebell wood
Valley view
By train: This walk is linear with the start and endpoints on the same rail line and parking available at both stations, both on street and at station car parks. This creates many options for getting to and from the walk, with the rail connection to return to the start point in any case. Trains run at least every half hour, and at most times leave Great Missenden for Wendover at :23 and :53, the trip taking 6 minutes.
By car: In addition to parking at or near stations, there are also parking opportunities along the route, including on the road near the Black Horse pub, which is only 10 minutes walk from Great Missenden station.
Wendover station: Upon leaving front door of station building, turn right and walk toward main road. Turn right on main road, crossing bridge and passing a terrace of houses on the right, then continuing up hill. Turn left off road and go through gate following signs for Ridgeway national trail (acorn symbol). Continue up past former quarry nature reserve, following signs for ridgeway.Keep to top of ridge with slope down on right, following Ridgeway signs. Try to cross road where traffic can been seen in both directions, as vehicles come down/round the bend at speed.
Arrive at monument. A few metres past the monument, turn south (left) and continue to follow Ridgeway signs. Continue along well worn path with slope on right. When path forks, keep to left along Ridgeway (turning up hill into wood) and then turning right through kissing gate in fence. (A) Coombe Hill Monument - This monument is dedicated to those who fought in the Boer War (1899-1902)From the monument, there are panoramic views over the Aylesbury Vale, and as you walk south, views of Chequers to the right below.The South Bucks Way begins at the Coombe Hill Monument and follows the same path as the Ridgeway for some distance, so you will begin to seen signs for it as well.
Right on road then left following signs for South Bucks Way, Ridgeway, and/or national trail (acorn symbol) through wood.
Reaching a sign showing the Ridgeway going right and a footpath going left and with a 2 metre deep pit ahead and just to the right, follow unmarked path to right of pit and continuing in the same direction as before (generally south). This unmarked path continues without branches or junctions through the wood for 1/3 mile before rejoining the South Bucks Way when you see a tree with a white arrow, in the direction of the arrow (slight left turn). The Ridgeway goes west from here and is not rejoined. The South Bucks Way also goes west downhill, but turns left and climbs the hill again. Our walk rejoins the South Bucks Way in 1/3 mile at the next waypoint. You may as an option follow the South Bucks Way down the hill and back up.(B) Several patches of bluebells appear along this path.
Follow sign showing public bridle way to left, then soon follow sign for South Bucks Way into wooded common, keeping to right side of common but within the wood. At end of common continue southeast on a broad earthen track downhill. After some distance, this becomes a sealed road with houses on the right. One of these houses used to be the Rising Sun pub which may still be marked on ordnance survey maps.
Reaching a three way road junction follow signs for South Bucks Way and Chiltern Way to left along track into wood. After about one hundred metres follow path and signs for South Bucks Way to the right. Emerge from wood and follow hedge east, switching sides of hedge at bottom of valley. Continue up and into wood, continuing up steep hill until emerging from wood into field. Turn slight right and cross field on a diagonal toward gate to right of nearest house. Go right on gravel lane, follow lane, cross road, and continue straight ahead following South Bucks Way signs throughout.
At a 4-way junction of lanes, see signs for South Bucks Way into field ahead on right. There is an option to follow path along left side of field or continue on lane. These ways are parallel and rejoin in a few minutes. If following path in field, you may continue to the far left corner of the field before crossing a style back onto the lane. Continue following South Bucks Way generally southeast keeping left and then right when footpaths branch off, then left again into a wood. (C) There is a large area of bluebells in this wood.
Emerge from wood through a gate into a field and follow the fence line to the right and down hill. Leave the woods behind and continue down the hill, passing through gates, finally crossing a level field with a small stream that must be forded.
On far left side of level field, go through gate and through tunnel under railway. Go straight on, passing to the left of a pond and continuing to the road with a pub opposite. Turn right on road and walk to center of Great Missenden. (D) This pub is the Black Horse, a pleasant country pub with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.There is also parking available along the road in front of the pub, so if you park there and walk to the Great Missenden station (about 10 minutes) to begin your walk, you will finish the walk near the pub.
Turn right, following signs for rail station. Turn left into station car park.
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