Monkton Wood beeches

Princes Risborough to Great Missenden walk

16-Nov-16 • Saturdaywalker on Flickr

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Near the start

Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

09-Nov-08 • moontiger on Flickr

book1 swcwalks walk45

Lacey Green Windmill

Oldest smock mill in the country (though not on its original site). Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

09-Nov-08 • moontiger on Flickr

book1 swcwalks walk45

Monkton Wood

Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

09-Nov-08 • moontiger on Flickr

book1 swcwalks walk45

Monkton Wood

Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

09-Nov-08 • moontiger on Flickr

book1 swcwalks walk45

Monkton Wood

Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

09-Nov-08 • moontiger on Flickr

book1 swcwalks walk45

Monkton Wood

Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

09-Nov-08 • moontiger on Flickr

book1 swcwalks walk45

Walk Directions Comments Map GPS Weather Photos Videos History Download Walk (pdf)

Princes Risborough to Great Missenden walk

Hilly. The Chilterns, and Bryant's Bottom

Buckinghamshire Chilterns

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Updated: Mon, 21-Oct-19

Date # Post
Wed, 23-Oct-19

Marcus
Wednesday walk Princes Risborough to Great Missenden - the Chilterns, a windmill, Monkton Wood and Bryant's Bottom

Book 1, Walk 45 - Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

 Length: 15.7 km (9.8 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10 [a steep incline either side of the lunch pub (which can be by-passed) but otherwise relatively flat]

London Marylebone: 10-13 hrs Aylesbury service
Arrive Princes Risborough: 10-59 hrs

Return
Great Missenden to Marylebone: 15-59; 16-29; 16-42; 16-59; 17-26 and 18-01 hrs

Rail ticket: buy a day return to Aylesbury any route permitted (where the two Chiltern branch
lines converge).

The beech trees in Monkton Wood should be displaying some leaf colour by now to add to your enjoyment of this lovely Chilterns walk, a favourite autumnal walk of many a SWC walker.

The walk contains a nice variety of woods, farmland and open land with some features (not water) along the way, such as the windmill in Lacey Green. Lunch is best taken in Bryants Bottom at the Gate Inn, much improved since being taken over by the former proprietors of the Polecat Inn, Prestwood, just over a year ago. If four or more of you wish to dine, best 'phone ahead to make a booking: tel: 01494 488632. Your e.t.a is 13-30 hrs.
After lunch you have an incline up to Denner Hill then down to Perks Lane to walk up through a hamlet and upwards to the Polecat Inn - your alternative, late-lunch option - your e.t.a here would be 14-15 hrs.
After the Polecat Inn you have to negotiate Peterley Woods, where route following can be tricky if you do not take care when reading the Directions. Onwards then through more woods to the outskirts of Great Missenden. Some nice tea options in Great Missenden are listed in the Walk Directions.
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Your walk directions are here L=1.45
Sat, 01-Dec-18 2

Dirk
Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

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Length: 16km / 10m
Toughness: 6 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:43 from London Marylebone, arriving in Princes Risborough at 10:27. Return trains from Great Missenden are at xx:59 and xx:29. The walk introduction suggests to buy a day-return to Aylesbury.

A pretty walk in the Chilterns through some now post-autumnal woods passing a historic windmill in the morning.
Anonymous, 30-Nov-18
hi guys anyone attending this walk? Hope to see some of you at MYB or PRR station otherwis eits solo for me. Chiltern trains more reliable for me. Weather only very light rain till late morning then dry.

Monica
Dirk, 02-Dec-18
2 walkers on this walk in initially rainy and windy then bright and dry weather. At the cosy lunch pub "The Gate" one enjoyed a wonderful pheasant dish while the other moved on with her sandwiches. Lots of kites dancing in the air, or they where just looking for food.
Sat, 03-Mar-18 6

PeteG
Saturday Walk Princess Risborough to Great Missenden

Princess Risborough to Great Missenden T=1.45

 A great Chilterns walk.

Length: 9.8 miles (15.7km ) Difficulty 5/10

Trains: Get the 1013 Aylesbury train from London Marylebone arrive Princess Risborough at 1102. Buy a return to Aylesbury. Return trains from Great Missenden are xx02 & xx32 up to 1802, then hourly 1902 etc. This reduced service is apparently to provide extra trains to Wembley.

Lunch: the friendly Gate Inn (tel. 01494 488 632) at Bryant’s Bottom, 5.7 miles (9.3km) into the walk. Food all day.

Tea: Cafe Twit or The Cross Keys. There is also at the junction of the High Street and Station Approach a Costa coffee shop. Next door to Costa is a recently opened cafe called Matildas




PeteG, 01-Mar-18
Note that there is a reduced train service after 1802 this Saturday.
Anonymous, 02-Mar-18
What are the chances of the trains running on time in morning & evening?
Anyone definitely going?
PeteG, 04-Mar-18
6 Enjoyable walk through the snow covered countryside. A log fire & friendly welcome at The Gate, but slow service given that it wasn't very busy. Tea at Matildas with the cake rated as excellent and again a friendly welcome, and only 4 minutes from the station. They are also licensed, but we all had tea.
Sun, 22-Oct-17 14

Mr M Tiger
Sunday Walk - Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

Princes Risborough to Great Missenden Book1 walk 45
15.7km 9.8 miles
Difficulty 5/10

Yay, autumn! A classic chilterns walk with sloping fields, beech woods, three steep bits (one avoidable), fine views and chances of autumn colour.
Trains: get the 10:13 Aylesbury train from Marylebone, arriving Princes Risborough at 11:00.
Trains return from Great Missenden at xx:59 and xx:29.
A return to Aylesbury covers both journeys.
Directions: Get your directions here.
Lunch is at the walker-friendly Gate in Bryants Bottom 01494 488 632 phoning advised.
A later option is the Polecat serving till 3pm 01494 862 253.
Tea: The twit-friendly Cafe Twit, attached to Great Missenden's Roald Dahl museum, last orders 4:45.
The cafe at the station, The Pantry on Platform 1, may be open but, when I peered out of my first class compartment on a recent Sunday, it wasn't.
There's also the Cross Keys pub.

Cross keys



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Anonymous, 15-Oct-17
Love the art work!
Anonymous, 16-Oct-17
Sounds good.
Anonymous, 19-Oct-17
Sunday weather forecast is much better than Saturday, this walk will be a big hit as it also offers autumn color but hopefully in sunshine instead
Anonymous, 21-Oct-17
Weather definitely better Sunday.Shall be attending. See you at Marylebone. Monica.

PeteB, 23-Oct-17
14 on this excellent walk with the weather bright and breezy. Conditions underfoot good but with one or two muddy patches.

A fine walk with some excellent views but not much autumn colour; most of the trees just looking a bit "singed". The Gate is a lovely, cosy pub but here the group split up with the sandwich eaters departing before the "sunday roasters" had been served.

There's quite a tricky bit through Peterley Wood where the drifts of autumn leaves makes the route hard to find. We reached Great Missenden around 3.15 where all except me went to catch a 15. 29 mins train but I went for a drink in the excellent Cross Keys and met up with the others for the 13.59. (the two trains an hour don't start on Sundays until after 4pm! A classic autumn Sunday Chilterns outing.

Pedantic point: this 9.8m walk is rated 5/10 but I found it much tougher than the 13.4m Penshurst circular rated the same and which I did last Sunday. I think our toughness ratings has gone a little awry since the Book 1 days or is this a sign of increasing age! Interesting to hear from anyone who also did both walks.
Anonymous, 23-Oct-17
I agree with Pete B that the Great Miss walk is tougher: three or so demanding hills make for a lively workout. Those who dined in the characterful Gate had a long wait, but the fine quality of the food made up for that. One sub group had tea/coffee and café in Café Twit. Distinctive and tasty cakes, though the plastic cutlery and recyclable (?) plates suggest a staff canteen adjusting as it undergoes a deep clean. One lady walking with her friend at the rear, had trouble with her back, and I hope she rallied. Great walk in fine company: thanks to the author and editors.
Anonymous, 23-Oct-17
...and cake in Café Twit...
Marcus, 02-Nov-17
Noting the comments below on the walk's toughness rating, I book checked the walk's directions again yesterday, on a lovely sunny day, with leaf colour in Monkton Wood coming on nicely, and I agree the current rating is a little shy. It should be between 6 and 7, so in all probability I will show it as a 6 in the update on the website.
Wed, 16-Nov-16 15

Marcus
Wednesday Walk - the Chilterns, a Windmill, Monkton Wood and Bryant's Bottom

Book 1, Walk 45 - Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

 Length: 15.1 km (9.4 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10 (but see below)

London Marylebone: 10-13 hrs - Aylesbury train
Arrive Princes Risborough: 10-59 hrs

Return: Great Missenden to Marylebone: 15-59; 16-29; 16-59; 17-26; 18-01 & 18-32 hrs.

Rail ticket: as the two Chilterns stations are on different branch lines, the safest bet is to buy a day return to Aylesbury all routes permitted.

This is my favourite Chilterns walk, and the best time to do it is in late autumn (today !) when there should still be some leaf colour in Monkton Wood ( a beech wood).

Please do not be put off by the Toughness rating. There is a short, steep incline just before lunch (which can be avoided by some road walking) and, per usual, an incline immediately after lunch. Otherwise, the walk rates no more than 3 out of 10.

Leaving Princes Ris you walk along a short section of the Upper Icknield Way, then over open farm land to Monkton Wood and onwards to your lunch stop, the usually reliable Gate Inn in Bryant's Bottom. Your e.t.a is 13-30 hrs, and best 'phone ahead with numbers.

After lunch your afternoon leg ( one and a half hours) is equally nice - a mixture of open spaces, lovely views and woods. It's easy to get lost in the woods after you pass the Polecat Inn, so please follow the directions with care.

Entering Great Missenden via some final woods, you should head for the Cafe Twit, the suggested tea stop and part of the Roald Dahl museum. The cafe is "swizzfigglingly flushbunkingly gloriumptious " - so its got to be good, then, hasn't it ?.

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Walk Directions: L=1.45

Next Week, Wednesday 23 November: Book 1, Walk 53-Wye Circular

Walker, 16-Nov-16
15 on this walk, including one on an earlier train who we met up with at lunch. It proved to be an inspired pick by our walk poster because the colours in the Chilterns beechwoods were simply stunning a riot of yellow and gold (see the SWC Facebook page): I have never seen them so good. For the connoisseur there were also golden larches and bright yellow field maple, and quite a lot of golden oaks. Definitely autumn's last gasp I would say.

The weather was quite sunny in the morning but grey later. Nine of us had a cosy lunch by the fire in The Gate. For tea most sailed past the Cafe Twit (where three of us were the only customers) and went to the pub. Quite a few of us were on the 4.59 train.
Sun, 22-Nov-15 18

Mr M Tiger
Sunday Walk 2: A classic chilterns walk

Princes Risborough to Great Missenden Book 1 walk 45
15.7km 9.8 miles
Difficulty 5/10

Sloping fields, beech woods, two steep bits (one avoidable), fine views and maybe still some chances of late autumn colour. The Gate Inn is friendly and popular with walkers.
Trains: get the 09:40 Banbury train from Marylebone, arriving Princes Risborough at 10:25.
Trains return from Great Missenden at xx:01 and xx:31.
The stations are on different lines. A return to Aylesbury covers both journeys.
Lunch: is at the Gate in Bryants Bottom 01494 488 632
There is a later pub, the Polecat.
Tea: Any twits out there, this walk's for you. The tea stop is Cafe Twit, attached to Great Missenden's Roald Dahl museum, last orders 4:45. There's another cafe on the station platform that reputedly stays open late. And let's not forget the Cross Keys pub. (I don't know what's made the keys cross, perhaps they're just easily rattled). The other pub mentioned, the George, has closed.
Directions: Get your directions here - or in Book 1.
PeteG, 21-Nov-15
I've used a different route from Spleen to the pub and from the pub afterwards to continue the walk, reasonably obvious from the map as I think the pub is where the telephone symbol is.
Ian T, 23-Nov-15
18 on this, plus another 6 walking independently. dry chilly some sun The dreaded m word was in evidence during today. The monosyllabic slippy m word, that is. Particularly in the early fields. And touches of ice too. But nothing we couldn’t cope with. Hurricane Barney had seen off most of the the autumn colour. The occasional russet sprig here some gold leaves there and that was it. There were enthusiastic mumblings about the quality of the holly berries but I didn’t notice. The Gate seemed fine. Some sat inside with the roaring fire, I sat outside with the hardnuts. I can’t comment on the food but the beer was OK. After a switchback of an afternoon, we were back in Great Missenden for 3.30. Cafe Twit for most, Cross Keys for me.
A good day and, I think it’s safe to say, an enjoyable one.
Wed, 20-May-15 6

Mike A
Mid-week walk - Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

Princes Risborough to Great Missenden

The Chilterns and Bryants Bottom

Book 1 Walk 45

Length: 16 Km or 10 miles
Toughness: 5 out of 10
Getting there: Catch the 10:18am from London Marylebone to Princes Risborough

Meeting point: Princes Risborough Station at 10:56 am

Tickets: Buy a Cheap Day Return to Aylesbury
Brief Description:
This walk across the Chilterns – the walker’s heaven – is through sloping fields and beech woods and hamlets, past upmarket farms and upgraded cottages. The walk is not difficult but it does have two short, steep hills (with fine views) near the lunch stop which account for the toughness rating , although the walk directions do offer an alternative route which avoids the first of the inclines. Small sections of the route can be muddy in wet weather, particularly the leg through Monkton Wood before the lunch stop.

You may find full details here


Suggested Lunch and Tea stops
The suggested lunchtime stop is the Gate Inn (tel. 01494 488 632) at Bryant’s Bottom, 9.3km into the walk, with an aviary in its garden. This walker-friendly and family-friendly pub serves reasonably priced food – main meals, pub favourites and light meals - until 2.30 pm, Monday to Sunday. The pub has a large outdoor dining area for summertime use, at the far-end of which is a refurbished children’s playground for the youngsters
The suggested tea place is the Café Twit part of the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre, open until 5 pm (last orders 4.45 pm), Tuesday to Sunday,

There remain two pubs in Great Missenden’s High Street which are still pubs and not wine bars or restaurants, which you pass on your way to the railway station and which are usually open during the afternoon for those who prefer a stronger drink at walk-end. In order as you pass them, they are: The George Inn (tel 01494 868 455) and The Cross Keys (tel 01494 865 373)

Explorer Maps 172 and 181
Return train times from Great Missenden:
16:49
17:02
17:19
17:46
18:18
Trains return to Marylebone via Harrow on the Hill and the journey time is about 45 minutes.

It looks like Strike Action on the Railways may occur occur on the late May Bank Holiday, but do keep an eye open to see if train travel to any of our walks will be disrupted
JohnE, 21-May-15
Wed 20 May 2015 Bk1/45 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden. 6 walkers (2 others, walking separately, started at the same time and soon outpaced the 6). Delightful walk on a very pleasant day. Before lunch we went somewhat astray in Monkton Wood, failing to stay close enough to the righthand edge of the wood. A light lunch at The Gate for 4 of us. Tea and excellent cakes at Café Twit. Nature/Agricultural note: many Red Kites, a few Buzzards, plenty of bird song, and a field full of unusual looking sheep.
Andrew, 22-May-15
6
Sat, 21-Feb-15 9 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Sun, 15-Feb-15 5 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Fri, 26-Dec-14 Princes Risborough Circular, via Lacey Green and Bledlow
Sun, 24-Nov-13 12 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Sun, 13-Oct-13 0 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Sun, 28-Oct-12 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Sat, 21-Jan-12 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Sat, 05-Nov-11 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Sat, 18-Dec-10 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Sat, 07-Nov-09 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Sat, 21-Feb-09 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Sun, 09-Nov-08 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Sat, 08-Mar-08 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Tue, 01-Jan-08 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Sun, 06-May-07 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden
Sun, 26-Nov-06 Princes Risborough to Great Missenden