Thame Circular Walk

20.9 km (13.0 mi), with 115m ascent/descent. For a shorter or a longer walk, see below Walk Options.

2 out of 10, with 4 1/2 hours walking time. For the whole outing, including trains, sights and meals, allow at least 7 hours.

This is a scenic and easy ramble north of The Chilterns through the Thame Valley on the Oxfordshire - Buckinghamshire border that involves a short bus ride (on a frequent service) at the start and the finish of the walk. Set off in a westerly direction from the charming market town of Thame through the Cuttle Brook Nature Reserve and soon pass through a beautifully laid out golf course to join the Oxfordshire Way through the ancient Rycote Estate, then head north with fine views across the Thame Valley to the hilltop villages of Long Crendon, Chilton and Brill, to lunch in Worminghall or Ickford.
After lunch continue easterly through pastures-with-views, largely following the waymarked Thame Valley Walk, to the numerous tea options in Thame and the return bus to Haddenham & Thame Parkway.

A Shortcut cuts out the outlying villages and pubs to descend to the Thame River – partly along a dismantled railway line – and follows the river to a lunch pub in Shabbington (cut 5.7 km).
An Shortcut in Ickford cuts the outlying village and lunch pub in Worminghall (cut 2.0 km).
An Extension iin the morning leads through the pretty villages of Tiddington and Waterstock (add 3.3 km).
Bus Line X20 continues westbound along the A418, stopping at Tiddington, The Fox; which is close to both the Main Walk route and the Extension.
Bus Lines 110 and 111 (Mon-Sat, limited service) connect the outlying villages on the route (Worminghall, Ickford, Shabbington) to Thame.
An Alternative Ending, from Shabbington to Thame, replaces the sequence of pastures at the end with a more varied route, first along the Thame then back through the golf course of the outbound route, along some different paths though. This adds 2.8 km.
An Alternative Ending at Haddenham & Thame Parkway Station adds 4.4 km.

OS Explorer: 180 (Oxford)
OS Landranger: 165 (Aylesbury & Leighton Buzzard)

Thame Town Hall Bus Stop, map reference SP 705 059, is 14 km south west of Aylesbury, 20 km east of Oxford, in the county of Oxfordshire, and 71m above sea level. It is a 9-minute bus ride from Haddenham & Thame Parkway station’s forecourt, on on lines 111, 112, 120, X20 and 121, with a bus running at least every 15 minutes Mon-Sat and every 30 minutes Sundays (return tickets are not necessarily mutually accepted). Haddenham & Thame Parkway station is on the London Marylebone to Oxford main line. Journey times are from 37 minutes, with at least two trains per hour. The exit from the platform is near the rear of the train.

Saturday Walkers’ Club: Take the train closest to 9.00 hours (later for the short walk).

The Fox and Goat Oxford Road, Tiddington, Oxfordshire, OX9 2LH (01844 338 777). The Fox & Goat is located 400m off-route 8.9 km (5.5 mi) into the extended walk.
The Clifden Arms 75 Clifden Road, Worminghall Buckinghamshire, HP18 9JR (01844 338 090). The Clifden Arms is located 11.9 km (7.4 mi) into the full walk.
The Rising Sun 36 Worminghall Road, Ickford Buckinghamshire, HP18 9JD (01844 396 174). The Rising Sun is located 13.3 km (8.3 mi) into the full walk, or 11.3 km if taking the in-walk shortcut.
The Old Fisherman Mill Road, Shabbington, Buckinghamshire, HP18 9HJ (01844 201 247). The Old Fisherman is located 9.5 km (5.9 mi) into the walk if taking the Shortcut.

Plenty of options in Thame, both pubs and cafés. Check the walk directions text for details.

After the walk, please leave a comment, it really helps. Thanks!

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National Rail: 03457 48 49 50 • Traveline (bus times): 0871 200 22 33 (12p/min) • TFL (London) : 0343 222 1234

Jun-26 Thomas G