Walks in the High Wycombe Buckinghamshire area
The High Wycombe area has excellent facilities for those that enjoy spending time in the countryside. Walking is a very good, low impact way of keeping fit and has positive benefits both physically and mentally. Here are a few of the options available (check all routes before setting off):
West Wycombe Woods and Caves (3 Miles from High Wycombe)
Description: Plenty of variety, mostly circular routes, some great views down to West Wycombe Park and a good chance of spotting a deer or two. There are two main paths - one behind the church car park and the other down the hill from the church that heads over the road, then over the rail tracks and into the woods beyond.
Location: Just beyond West Wycombe on the West Wycombe Road from High Wycombe (A40 / Church Lane) Route planner
Features: Woodland, caves with cafe, very good cafe also at the nearby garden centre, church, West Wycombe Park (National Trust)
Wildlife: Muntjac deer, red kites, can be affected by horse flies in Summer, slow worms, squirrels
Rating: 4/5 *****
Rye River and Woods
Description: Good short walk in close proximity to High Wycombe town centre
Location: A40 London Road
Features: River, woods, park-land, outdoors swimming pool, visiting fair / circus sometimes
Wildlife: Ducks, swans, coots, moor hens, squirrel
Rating: 3/5 *****
Hughenden Woods (1.4 Miles)
Description: Several circular routes with real variety and good scenery
Location: On the A4128 (HP14 4LA) Route planner
Features: Manor house, woods, fields, ponds (in the making), tea shop, toilets, National Trust shop, walled garden near the manor, WWII communications room (when open)
Wildlife: Cows, sheep, badger dens, possibly 1 (lost) deer
Rating: 4/5 *****
Hambleden Lock (10 Miles)
Description: Scenic and dramatic with fast flowing water, but no circular routes
Location: A4155 / After Mill end - between Henley and Marlow Route Planner
Features: River, lock, wier, white water
Wildlife: Ducks and swans
Rating: 3/5 *****
Cliveden - Woods and River (5 to 8 Miles)
Description: Excellent circular walks in idyllic surroundings immaculate gardens and great fun getting lost in the maze
Location: Near Taplow (SL6 0JA) Route planner
Features: Manor house (NT), river, woods, ornamental gardens, maze, coffee shops (avoid the huge savory scones), fish ponds
Wildlife: Ducks, Egyptian geese, fish (carp in ponds)
Rating: 5/5 *****
Bradenham / Naphill Common (4 Miles)
Description: An area of mature woodland with some great circular walks
Location: Near Bradenham (HP14 4HF) Route Planner
Features: Woodland, at least one very photogenic tree (directions above)
Wildlife: The Stag Beetle
Rating: 4/5 *****
Marlow Common / Pullingshill Woods (6 to 8 Miles)
Description: A large area of woodland with multiple circular routes and WWI history
Location: Just outside Marlow in the direction of Henley (SL7) Route Planner
Features: Woodland, WWI trench warfare training camp
Wildlife: Minimal
Rating: 3/5 *****
Marlow River
Description: Non-circular routes up and down the river bank in either direction
Location: Marlow
Features: River
Wildlife: Swans, ducks
Rating: 3/5 *****
Wendover Woods (14 Miles)
Description: A large area of mainly pine woodland with good facilities and bluebells in Spring
Location: Near RAF Halton (HP22 5NF) Route Planner
Features: Cafe (Excellent bacon sandwiches (before the cafe decided that bacon sandwiches should only be consumed at breakfast time)), toilets, picnic facilites, a GoApe is supposed to be nearby
Wildlife: Minimal
Rating: 3/5 *****
Burnham Beeches (8 to 11 Miles)
Location: Near Taplow (SL1) Route Planner
Features: Woods, stream, ponds, excellent bacon sandwiches
Wildlife: Ducks
Rating: 5/5 *****
Brush Hill - Princes Risborough (8 to 11 Miles)
Location: Near Princes Risborough Route Planner
Features: Woodland, gentle hills, views, excavated long barrow
Wildlife: Kites
Rating: 3/5 *****
Swinley Forest (26 Miles)
Description: A very large area of forest with good facilities at the Lookout, a fire in 2011 did not affect any of the areas of forest that are accessible to the public, pine is the predominant tree
Location: Near Bracknell (RG12 7QW) Route Planner
Features: Iron age hill fort, lake, cafe, The Lookout (hands-on science exhibition), mountain biking, Go Ape
Wildlife: Ducks, squirrels
Rating: 5/5 *****
Cowlease Woods / Aston Rowant Woods (Bluebells in Spring) (Approx 12 Miles)
Description: A large area of woodland with carpets of bluebells in the Spring and many circular routes, the nearby Aston Rowant circular path has some great views but is a little too close the M40 for some
Location: Near Stokenchurch / Lewknor off the A40 (Grid ref SU 726 957) Rough Route Planner
Features: Woods, bluebells in Spring in Cowlease wood
Wildlife: Red kites (aparently)
Rating: Spring 5/5 *****, Summer *****, Winter *****
Hanger Woods near Freith / Turville
Location:
Features:
Wildlife:
Rating: ?/5 *****
The Living Rainforest - Newbury (38 Miles)
Description: Transports tropical rain-forest into rural Berkshire, a great day out when it's raining
Location: Near Newbuy (RG18 0TN) http://www.livingrainforest.org/ Route Planner
Features: Tropical jungle, cafe, toilets, free return trips for 1 year
Wildlife: Dwarf crocodile, toucan, butterflies, basilisk lizard, snakes, basilisk lizard, marmosets
Rating: 5/5 ***** (At its best in summer months)
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