The Chilterns
The Chilterns lies
only a few miles to the north west of London and
yet it is a beautiful, unspoilt corner of England.
The gently rolling hills are swathed in woodland
and chalk downland and in quiet valleys attractive
villages with their traditional brick and flint
cottages nestle around medieval churches.
In 1965 800 square
kilometres, stretching from the River Thames near
Reading in the south to Hitchin in the north,
were designated as the Chilterns Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty, in recognition that the landscape
is amongst the finest in the country.
The most dramatic
feature of the area is the chalk escarpment, a
ridge running south west to north east, which
rises up steeply from the Vale of Aylesbury and
slopes gently south east towards London. The hills
dotted along the ridge, like Coombe Hill and Ivinghoe
Beacon to the north, provide dramatic viewpoints
along the escarpment and out over the flatter
land to the west.
The mosaic of fields,
hedges, woods, sunken lanes and streams creates
an intimate landscape of enormous variety and
charm. Prehistoric trackways such as the Ridgeway
and the Iron Age forts scattered along the hills
give a sense of the ancient history of the Chilterns.
Sunken lanes climbing steep hills, the remains
of medieval woodland and commonland and ancient
hedgerows marking parish boundaries are ancient
features you may come across on any walk.
Whatever time of
year you visit there is something to enjoy. Wander
through a Chilterns beechwood at the end of April
and marvel at the carpets of bluebells beneath
the spring green leaves. The Ashridge Estate near
Berkhamsted or Ipsden Heath in south Oxfordshire
are among the best of the Chilterns’ bluebell
woods. In June open grassland sites such as Aston
Rowant near Watlington or the Barton Hills north
of Luton are covered in orchids and other chalk-loving
flowers. Autumn sees the woods turning dramatic
shades of red, gold and orange, especially after
a long, hot summer. Crisp winter months are the
best time to see the red kites, re-introduced
to the area over 10 years ago, as they soar over
woods and fields and even people’s back
gardens!
For thousands of
years people and goods have travelled along the
natural highway provided by the hills. Today,
the extensive network of footpaths and bridleways
that criss-crosses the area is well-used by walkers.
Getting out of the towns and onto the well-signposted
paths is one of the best ways of appreciating
the beauty and tranquillity of this lovely countryside.
Across the whole
area there are promoted walking routes which you
can follow using individual printed guides and
rights-of-way markers. The routes vary from 1.5
miles to 10 miles and there are ones to suit all
abilities from keen walkers to those with limited
mobility. Some of the walks start and finish at
train stations and town centres, making it easier
to enjoy a day out without the car. Within a relatively
short distance you can enjoy both the drama of
a viewpoint on the hills and the peace of a quiet
valley far from traffic. Most local towns have
information centres stocking plenty of leaflets
on local walks, or you can download them from
the website below.
For those who appreciate
a longer hike there are two long distance routes
in the Chilterns: the Ridgeway and Thames Path
National Trails. The Ridgeway follows the spine
of the hills, ending at Ivinghoe Beacon near Tring.
This is an ancient route, in use for around five
thousand years by people travelling from South
West England to East Anglia. Today it provides
several days of very enjoyable walking through
the Chilterns, with plenty of opportunities to
stop at country pubs for refreshment. Along the
southern boundary of the Chilterns the Thames
Path National Trail provides gentle walking and
lovely vistas of the Thames Valley.
While in the area
you will probably spend time in one of the local
towns such as Henley, High Wycombe, Wendover or
Tring. These offer plenty of opportunities to
do some shopping, eat at a good restaurant or
visit the local Tourist Information Centre. Outside
the towns the area is dotted with charming villages,
built out of local brick, flint and timber. Places
such as Lilley and Aldbury in Hertfordshire, Cholesbury
and Turville in Buckinghamshire and the memorably-named
Christmas Common in Oxfordshire all have great
character and, perhaps more importantly, great
pubs serving local beer and tasty food.
There are some well-established
countryside sites with plenty of space for walks
and picnics as well as toilet and information
facilities. Dunstable Downs in Bedfordshire, the
National Trust Ashridge Estate in Hertfordshire,
Wendover Woods in Buckinghamshire and the Warburg
Wildlife Reserve in Oxfordshire are all attractive
and popular sites.
If you fancy
some history there are a number of interesting
places to visit. Hughenden Manor, near High Wycombe,
was the home of the Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli
and has been restored to its Victorian elegance
by the National Trust. Chequers, the country residence
of Prime Ministers since the 1920s, is not open
to the public but its landscaped grounds can be
seen from the Ridgeway National Trail. Other large
houses include Greys Court near Henley-on-Thames
and the ornate Waddesdon Manor near Aylesbury,
both National Trust properties.
More information
can be found here:
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