This walk passes four pubs during opening hours (plus a 5th one a little off-route in Stone), while offering flexible lengths as the route crosses the A 418 several times, where the 200/280 Oxford to Aylesbury Bus runs frequently to get you back to Haddenham or on to Aylesbury.
Length: from 10.3 km (6.4 mi) to 23.3 km (14.5 mi)
Ascent/Descent: up to 180 m; Net Walking Time: from ca. 2 hours to 5 hours
Toughness: from 1/10 to 4/10
This pleasant walk through the scenic heart of Aylesbury Vale passes through the tranquil Thame Valley in the morning, linking up several unspoilt and picturesque hamlets with gentle views to the surrounding hills, while passing three good village pubs en-route. After lunch several grassy fields and a substantial, newly planted community woodland are passed through. Later the stately mansion of Hartwell House is rounded, before the route heads into Aylesbury for tea.
The regular Oxford to Aylesbury bus service is never far away from the route, making it easy to choose a shorter option.
Take the 10.00 Oxford train from Marylebone (High Wycombe 10.25), arrives Haddenham & Thame Parkway at 10.42.
Return trains from Haddenham: xx.14 and xx.38 hours (55 mins and 43 minutes journey time resp.).
Return trains from Aylesbury: xx.18 and xx.48 hours (61 mins journey time) via Amersham, your ticket is not technically valid, but there are usually no ticket inspectors on that line; and xx.34 via Princes Risborough (87 mins journey time, your ticket is valid from Princes Risborough onwards).
Buy a Haddenham & Thame return, this covers the return journey to London from Princes Risborough. You then need to buy an Aylesbury to Risborough single at Aylesbury station and travel via Princes Risborough, or argue with the ticket inspector…
Befuddled by the ticket arrangements? (As Anonymous says:) Take the 09.43 Warwick Parkway train (stops Gerrards Cross, Beaconsfield, High Wycombe, Princes Risborough), arriving Haddenham & Thame Parkway at 10.36. Buy an Aylesbury (Any Route) Return, you then have to buy a one-stop Princes Risborough – Haddenham single on the train (if you can find a ticket inspector).
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The handful of arable field crossings yielded some clay packs clinging to boots, else the ground in the pastures and along the paths was firmish. Mostly clear views of The Chilterns and the hills to the North, with the fast moving bands of clouds at higher levels. The dark clouds moved in again late in the afternoon though, but by then we had stopped to have tea at The Bugle Horn and then took the bus from there. 17.18 train.
Unfortunately there was no staff at Aylesbury station or on the train, so we had no way to check the ticket validity situation. largely dry if very overcast at times