Activities at Chilterns Countryside

The Hampdens Trail

An eight mile walk takes you through undulating farmland and heavily wooded hillsides around the Hampden Bottom valley, one of the least populated and most beautiful parts of the Buckinghamshire Chilterns. You visit remote hillside hamlets and pass through the grounds of the stunning Hampden House.

• Moderate
• 4 hours
• 8.1 miles (13.0km)

Chiltern Hills Three-in-One Walk

A scenic walk linking three National Trust properties in the Chiltern Hills: West Wycombe, Bradenham and Hughenden.

• Challenging
• 3 hours 30 mins
• 5.5 miles (8.85km)

Watlington Hill short walk

This is a 1.5 mile walk around the Watlington Hill site, with opportunities to see rare and endangered chalk grassland and woodland habitats. The walk offers spectacular views over Watlington, the Vale of Oxford, and along the Chiltern Escarpment.

• Moderate
• 1 hour
• 1.5 miles (2.4km)

The Best of Coombe Hill walk

This gentle circular stroll, which takes around 40 minutes, takes in the best Coombe Hill has to offer. You can expect panoramic views across the Aylesbury Vale and rare chalk grassland filled with wildflowers and butterflies in the summer.

• Easy
• 40 mins
• 1.0 mile (1.6km)

Hambleden Mill to Henley-on-Thames – a circular walk

This circular, 6.1 miles (9.8 km) walk starts at the site of an extensive and Roman villa complex with a dark history. It then crosses the River Thames via a weir and a lock at Hambleden Mill, before heading upstream along the river bank alongside the regatta course to Henley-on-Thames. This stretch of river is usually busy with boats of many types, and a wide variety of geese, ducks, swans, cormorants and other water birds. In the summer months it is popular with numerous leisure boats.

• Moderate
• 3 hours
• 6.1 miles (9.8km)

Hambleden and Pheasant’s Hill Trail

This circular, 5.0 mile walk starts and ends in the flint and red brick village of Hambleden. The walk initially ascends the east side of the Hambleden Valley; it then descends through the hamlet of Pheasants Hill. The route then explores the west side of the Hambleden Valley, with its beech woods and distant views across the valley and towards Hambleden village below.

• Moderate
• 2 hours 30 mins
• 5.0 miles (8.0km)

Coombe Hill

Enjoy an easy walk to the monument (not NT) to expose incredible views across the Aylesbury Vale from the highest viewpoint in the Chilterns. Wonder back past chalk grassland alive with wildlife to the picnic area where you can explore the natural play trail.

Bradenham Bolt Running Trail

This is a 10 km run around the Buckinghamshire countryside near the village of Bradenham. It follows the route of the Bradenham Bolt, which is held in early October every year.

• Challenging
• 45 mins
• 6.0 miles (9.65km)

Bradenham countryside trail

This is a short walk around the Buckinghamshire village of Bradenham and neighbouring meadows.

• Easy
• 1 hour
• 2.0 miles (3.2km)

Bradenham Estate

You could explore acres of countryside, with beech woodland surrounding a village that clusters around a village green. The village also has a pub, church and seventeenth century manor house, which is now tenanted.

Bradenham Bolt useful race information

The when, where and how of the Bradenham Bolt 10k. All you need to know for a relaxed run-up to the big day.

Coombe Hill and Chequers trail

This moderately energetic circular walk offers panoramic views across the Aylesbury Vale. You’ll see rare chalk grassland, beautiful woodlands, the pretty village of Ellesborough and the Prime Minister’s country retreat at Chequers. Feel the fascinating history of the Chiltern Hills, inhabited by people for thousands of years.

• Challenging
• 2 hours 30 mins
• 5.0 miles (8.0km)

What's great about this run?

Designed by outdoor enthusiasts for outdoor enthusiasts, this 10k off-road run meanders through beautiful Chilterns countryside. There are plenty of things to do for family, friends and dog whilst you run. The entrance fee helps look after the woods and wildlife.

'Exploring the Chiltern Escarpment': a walk between Coombe Hill and Whiteleaf Hill

This 10 mile walk offers a range of panoramic views across the Chiltern Escarpment and the Aylesbury Vale. See a range of historical and archaeological sites, as well as the pretty village of Ellesborough and the prime minister’s country retreat at Chequers. With several important ecological habitats, ranging from rare chalk grassland to archetypal Chiltern beech woodlands, you’ll also pass through the largest remaining area of natural box woodland in Britain.

• Moderate
• 4 hours
• 10.0 miles (16.05km)

Watlington Hill - Greenfields and Saxon Roads

A 7-mile walk from Watlington Hill that explores chalk grassland and beech woodlands on the historic landscape of the Chilterns on the border between Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

• Challenging
• 3 hours 30 mins
• 7.0 miles (11.25km)

Watlington Hill

Discover fine views and fine wildlife as you walk to the top of Watlington Hill. The hill has a long, triangular shaped chalk white mark and is a SSSI. It's an especially good place for watching red kites.

Bradenham Bolt photos

Here are the photos from previous years. We always arrange for the sun to shine on the Bradenham Bolt.

Bradenham Bolt past results

Have a look at the winning times and plan where you’ll come in the pack.