Wed, 21-Oct-20
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SWC 140 - Wendover Circular via the Lee and Swan Bottom
Length: 20.2 km (12.6 miles) Options to shorten by 3.2 miles before lunch, and 1.1 mile after lunch Toughness: 6 out of 10 Lots of ups and downs to remove the cobwebs London Marylebone: 09-56 hrs Chiltern service to Aylesbury Vale Parkway Arrive Wendover: 10-45 hrs Return 16-23, 16-36, 16-53, 17-20, 17-55, 18-26, 18-52 and 19-23 hrs Please see - and comply with - our Covid Rules and Track and Trace - and practise Hands-Face-Space Our last longer walk of the season before clocks go back to GMT. The rewards for the ups and downs are some good views from vantage points, and hopefully some good autumn leaf colour in the many woods which we walk through. The first pub which we pass today is the Cock & Rabbit Inn at The Lee. I leave it to individual walkers to call in if you are comfortable having a drink or dining under latest Covid guidelines and directives, which prohibit mixed households from meeting indoors - and applies to Londoners, now in a Tier 2 area - even though we are walking in a Tier 1 area. The later pub option on this walk, the charming Old Swan at Swan Bottom, is not serving food during Covid-19 times, nor does it open weekdays for a tincture until 6 pm, but its location Swan Bottom makes for a good place for picnickers to stop for lunch. On arriving back in Wendover after today's exertions, you have Wendover's usual suspects for tea - again, having regard to latest Covid guidelines and directives. Individual chocoholics make for Rumseys whilst the rest of us usually head for the Shoulder of Mutton pub, despite its more than strict Covid rules which are a bit intimidating. T=swc.140 Walk Directions are here: L=swc.140
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Sat, 26-Oct-19
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Length: 21.6 km (13.4 mi) Ascent/Descent: 360 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours Toughness: 6 out of 10 or Length: 16.4 km (10.2 mi) Ascent/Descent: 290 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours Toughness: 4 out of 10 Take the 09.27 train from Marylebone to Aylesbury (Harrow-on-the-Hill 09.39, Rickmansworth 09.49 etc.), arrives Wendover 10.15, for the full walk. Or the 09.57 Aylesbury Vale Parkway service, if walking the short version. Return trains: xx.29 and xx.59 hours (51 minutes journey time). Buy a Wendover return ticket. This fairly energetic walk combines some of the finest elements of the Chiltern Hills, while having very little overlap with other walks in the area. After leaving Wendover in a south easterly direction on the Ridgeway the walk rises into woods. It then passes along fields to get to the picturesque green in The Lee, a conservation area village. From there it continues through woodland and the beautiful Lee Common to a 16th century lunch pub at Swan Bottom. The afternoon offers constantly changing scenery. It completely avoids settlements and roads, mostly following grassy fields, while still passing through a variety of varied and characterful woods. Several beautiful valleys are crossed in between and the finish is a scenic descent into Great Missenden. Lunch: Cock and Rabbit Inn with its reassuringly (or frighteningly, depending on your perspective) traditional Graziemille Restaurant (7.3 km/4.6 mi) or The Old Swan in Swan Bottom (10.0 km/6.2 mi, food to 14.30). It is advisable to book ahead for the latter. For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. t=swc.140.a
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Sat, 22-Dec-18
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Length: 21.6 km (13.4 mi) Ascent/Descent: 360 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours Toughness: 6 out of 10 or Length: 16.4 km (10.2 mi) Ascent/Descent: 290 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours Toughness: 4 out of 10 Take the 09.27 train from Marylebone to Aylesbury (Harrow-on-the-Hill 09.39, Rickmansworth 09.49 etc.), arrives Wendover 10.15, for the full walk. Or the 09.57 Aylesbury Vale Parkway service, if walking the short version. Return trains: xx.02 and xx.32 hours (48 minutes journey time). Buy a Wendover return ticket. This fairly energetic walk combines some of the finest elements of the Chiltern Hills, while having very little overlap with other walks in the area. After leaving Wendover in a south easterly direction on the Ridgeway the walk rises into woods. It then passes along fields to get to the picturesque green in The Lee, a conservation area village. From there it continues through woodland and the beautiful Lee Common to a 16th century lunch pub at Swan Bottom. The afternoon offers constantly changing scenery. It completely avoids settlements and roads, mostly following grassy fields, while still passing through a variety of varied and characterful woods. Several beautiful valleys are crossed in between and the finish is a scenic descent into Great Missenden. Lunch: Cock and Rabbit Inn with its reassuringly (or frighteningly, depending on your perspective) traditional Graziemille Restaurant (7.3 km/4.6 mi) or The Old Swan in Swan Bottom (10.0 km/6.2 mi, food to 14.30). It is advisable to book ahead for the latter. For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. t=swc.140.a
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Sat, 06-Oct-18
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Length: 20.1km (12.5 miles), but shortcuts of up to 5.9km (3.5 miles) possible Toughness: 6 out of 10 9.57 train from Marylebone to Wendover, arriving 10.45 For walk directions click here. For GPX click here. Autumn is the time for the Chilterns, and while we are some weeks away yet from full autumn colour, the cold nights of the last week of September should now be producing some minor tinting. This very walk should show this to good effect with plenty of woodland (though some fields too) and characteristically hill Chilterns territory. It is also a good while (nearly three years) since it had a Saturday outing. If you prefer a shorter walk, there are three possible shortcuts outlined in the text. There are two choices for lunch - the Cock and Rabbit with its Italian food and the Swan, with basic pub classics well done (apparently). In Wendover, Rumsey's is a chocolate cake-lovers heaven, if you can get there before it closes at 6pm, and the Shoulder of Mutton is a cosy pub choice, which also does nice hot desserts. Trains back are at 26 and 56 past the hour. T=3.140
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Sun, 08-Jul-18
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Wendover Circular via The Lee and Swan Bottom Length: 20.2km (12.6 miles) Toughness: 6/10 09:57 Aylesbury Vale Parkway train from Marylebone arriving at Wendover at 10:45. Return trains are at xx:26 and xx:56 (journey time 54 minutes). This Chilterns walk covers an entirely different area from the original Wendover Circular. It runs along the Ridgeway, through many splendid woodlands, a conservation village and the beautiful Lee Common. Shortcuts are available, one of which cuts 5km from the length of the walk. The recommended lunch pub is The Old Swan in Swan Bottom (01494 837239), 6.2 miles into the walk. An earlier option is The Cock and Rabbit Inn at The Lee (01494 837540), 4.6 miles into the walk. For either pub it is essential to ring them from Wendover to reserve tables. You will need to download the Walk Directions. T=swc.140
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Sat, 23-Dec-17
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Length: 21.6 km (13.4 mi) Ascent/Descent: 360 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours Toughness: 6 out of 10 or Length: 16.4 km (10.2 mi) Ascent/Descent: 290 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours Toughness: 4 out of 10 Take the 09.27 train from Marylebone to Aylesbury (Harrow-on-the-Hill 09.39, Rickmansworth 09.49 etc.), arrives Wendover 10.15, for the full walk. Or the 09.57 Aylesbury Vale Parkway service, if walking the short version. Return trains: xx.02 and xx.32 hours (48 minutes journey time). Buy a Wendover return ticket. This walk combines some of the finest elements of the Chiltern Hills, while having very little overlap with other walks in the area. After leaving Wendover in a south easterly direction on the Ridgeway the walk rises into woods. It then passes along fields to get to the picturesque green in The Lee, a conservation area village. From there it continues through woodland and the beautiful Lee Common to a 16th century lunch pub at Swan Bottom. The afternoon offers constantly changing scenery. It completely avoids settlements and roads, mostly following grassy fields, while still passing through a variety of varied and characterful woods. Several beautiful valleys are crossed in between and the finish is a scenic descent into Great Missenden. Lunch: Cock and Rabbit Inn with its reassuringly (or frighteningly, depending on your perspective) traditional Graziemille Restaurant (7.3 km/4.6 mi) or The Old Swan in Swan Bottom (10.0 km/6.2 mi, food to 14.30). For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. t=swc.140.b
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Sun, 03-Sep-17
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Wendover Circular via The Lee and Swan Bottom Length: 20.2km (12.6 miles) Toughness: 6/10 09:57 Aylesbury Vale Parkway train from Marylebone arriving at Wendover at 10:45. Return trains are at xx:26 and xx:56 (journey time 54 minutes). This Chilterns walk covers an entirely different area from the original Wendover Circular that was recently done as a Saturday walk. It runs along the Ridgeway, through many splendid woodlands, a conservation village and the beautiful Lee Common. Shortcuts are available, one of which cuts 5km from the length of the walk. The recommended lunch pub is The Old Swan in Swan Bottom (01494 837239), 6.2 miles into the walk. An earlier option is The Cock and Rabbit Inn at The Lee (01494 837540), 4.6 miles into the walk. For either pub it is essential to ring them from Wendover to reserve tables. You will need to download the Walk Directions. T=3.140
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Sat, 03-Dec-16
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SWC Walk 140 – Wendover Circular (via The Lee and Swan Bottom) Length: 20.1 km (12.5 mi) Ascent/Descent: 437 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 ¾ hours Toughness: 6 out of 10 or Length: 15.0 km (9.3 mi) Ascent/Descent: 369 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 3 ¾ hours Toughness: 4 out of 10 Take the 09.27 Aylesbury train from Marylebone, arriving Wendover 10.15, for the full walk. Or the 10.27 train, if walking the short version. Return trains: XX.23 and XX.53 hours (57 minutes journey time). This fairly energetic walk combines some of the finest elements of the Chiltern Hills, while having very little overlap with other walks in the area. After leaving Wendover in a south easterly direction on the Ridgeway the walk rises into woods. It then passes along fields to get to the picturesque green in The Lee, a conservation area village. From there it continues through woodland and the beautiful Lee Common to a 16th century lunch pub at Swan Bottom. After crossing some more fields, the afternoon section then leads entirely through woods right up to the outskirts of Wendover: it re-joins the Ridgeway for a while and then descends steeply off the escarpment down an ancient Holloway. Only to rise again, on forest tracks with some magnificent panoramic views , until getting to the highest point of the walk in the middle of Wendover Woods. From there the route to Wendover meanders through the woods, passing a wildlife hide and an ancient hill-fort site, before descending steeply to the plains. Lunch is at The Old Swan in Swan Bottom (10.0 km/6.2 mi). A table has been booked for 12.30 hours. For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.140
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Sat, 02-Jan-16
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SWC Walk 140b – Wendover to Great Missenden Length: 21.6 km (13.4 mi) Ascent/Descent: 360 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 5 hours Toughness: 6 out of 10 or Length: 16.4 km (10.2 mi) Ascent/Descent: 290 m; Net Walking Time: ca. 4 hours Toughness: 4 out of 10 Take the 09.27 Chiltern Railways train from London Marylebone to Aylesbury, arrives Wendover 10.15, for the full walk. Or the 09.57 Aylesbury Vale Parkway service, if walking the short version. Return trains: XX.04 and XX.34 hours (46 minutes journey time). Buy a Wendover return ticket. This walk combines some of the finest elements of the Chiltern Hills, while having very little overlap with other walks in the area. After leaving Wendover in a south easterly direction on the Ridgeway the walk rises into woods. It then passes along fields to get to the picturesque green in The Lee, a conservation area village. From there it continues through woodland and the beautiful Lee Common to a 16th century lunch pub at Swan Bottom. The afternoon offers constantly changing scenery. It completely avoids settlements and roads, mostly following grassy fields, while still passing through several varied and characterful woods. A few beautiful valleys are crossed in between and the finish is a scenic descent into Great Missenden. Lunch is either early in The Lee at the Cock and Rabbit Inn with its reassuringly (or frighteningly, depending on your perspective) traditional Graziemille Restaurant (7.3 km/4.6 mi) or at the thoroughly recommended The Old Swan in Swan Bottom (10.0 km/6.2 mi). This has been awarded Cask Marque accreditation for its ales, and serves sandwiches as well as a limited but diverse menu of high quality dishes at reasonable prices. This pub has gone ever so slightly upmarket over the last years. It is advisable to book ahead, unless you are happy with a place in the bar area or in the large garden. For tea in Missenden, the rightly popular Cafe Twit has now got competition beyond the Cross Keys pub, in the shape of the Coffee Approach, on the roundabout just before the station (as well as a Costa Coffee next door to that). There’s also the Pantry on Platform 1, as you wait for the train, but in my experience it’s a bit of a hit-and-miss to actually see it open. For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=swc.140.b L=swc.140
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Sun, 01-Mar-15
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Wendover Circular, via Swan Bottom and The Lee
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Sat, 11-Oct-14
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Wendover Circular, via Swan Bottom and The Lee
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Sun, 13-Jul-14
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Wendover to Great Missenden
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Sun, 15-Jun-14
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Wendover Circular, with short cut I (omitting The Lee)
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Sat, 12-Oct-13
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Wendover Circular, via Swan Bottom and The Lee
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Sun, 07-Apr-13
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Wendover Circular, via Swan Bottom and The Lee
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Wed, 16-May-12
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Aylesbury Circular, via Waddesdon
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Sat, 05-May-12
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Wendover Circular, via Swan Bottom and The Lee
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Sat, 14-Apr-12
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Aylesbury Circular, via Waddesdon
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Wed, 04-Apr-12
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Wendover Circular, via Swan Bottom and The Lee
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Sat, 21-Jan-12
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Wendover to Great Missenden, with short cut
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Wed, 04-Jan-12
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Wendover Circular, via Swan Bottom (original version)
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Kieran
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk england beds bucks herts 54386394
Details of the closures are here:
https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/environment/public rights of way/changes to public rights of way/hs2 construction closures and diversions/
Kieran
Kieran
129 Berwick to Birling Gap
181 Lewes to Seaford
316 Winchelsea to Hastings
OK the weather could have been better. I was hoping to report brilliant, warm sunshine, with bikini clad nymphs a sunbathing in the meadows: but back in the real world, although it was not cold, it rained steadily for most of the day, only relenting briefly over lunch and for the last hour of our walk. No matter, we never encountered downpours and everyones waterproofs held up, so the weather did not spoil our walk.
We stopped at the Cock and Rabbit and the four of us dined as individuals in the otherwise empty pub and Italian restaurant. Service was very friendly they were glad to have some customers and we enjoyed some delicious pasta in the pub's very comfortable surroundings. It was a bit of a wrench to up sticks and leave, but the afternoon leg of the walk beckoned, so off we set as the rain returned. We found the walk directions taxing 1 km after Swan Bottom, and spent ages without success in figuring out the correct way ahead. Note to self: contact the walk author to ask him where we went wrong. After some "off piste" road walking we eventually found the Ridgeway path to continue back on the route proper, soon to enjoy the leg up into Wendover Woods in full leaf colour. The descent from the Woods to the outskirts of town can be slippery and after rain the path tends to be treacherous. Having just warned my colleagues to take care and avoid the chalky bits, I then did a somersault (score 5 out of 6) and came crashing to the ground. It took me ages to get back on my wobbly legs but fortunately I landed on my well padded trash can, so no harm done.
Back in Wendover, and now later than envisaged 6 pm we purchased takeaway teas and coffees from a tapas bar, to enjoy on the 18 26 hrs train home.
A lovely day's walking, despite the weather.