Skip to content
Path leading uphill towards monument in the distance with figures of people at its base
The Boer War monument at Coombe Hill, Chilterns | © National Trust Images/Hugh Mothersole
Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire & Berkshire

Coombe Hill Woodland Walk

This gentle circular walk passes mostly through sheltered woodland, from the mysterious coppiced beech of Low Scrubs to the towering beech standards of Linton’s Wood. The final section of the walk takes you up Coombe Hill, with far-reaching views over the Chilterns from its summit.

Total steps: 6

Total steps: 6

Start point

Entrance to Coombe Hill car park, grid ref: SP851062

Step 1

Enter the Low Scrubs woodland on the signed path at the right-hand side of the car park entrance. Continue ahead on the winding path, following the orange marker signs. About 150m from the car park turn right along a crossing sunken path, now leaving the orange marker signs. Continue gently downhill for another 300m, passing an open bracken area on your right. Turn next left and walk uphill on footpath past a wooden marker post; there are occasional yellow arrow markers on some trees. You will come to a wooden fence ahead.

A wide path through woodland trees with orange and brown autumn leaves covering the ground and the trees.
Autumn colour at Low Scrubs, Chilterns countryside, Buckinghamshire | © National Trust Images/Hugh Mothersole

Step 2

Turn right on the path with the fence to your left. After 150m continue ahead when a track joins from your right. You now leave Low Scrubs and enter High Scrubs. Continue in the same direction until you reach the village of Dunsmore. You will come to a road crossing with the Church of the Resurrection diagonally left ahead.

Step 3

Turn right on the road in the direction signed to Kimble and Princes Risborough, passing the pond on your left. Follow the lane downhill to a junction with a no-through road on your left that leads to Dunsmore Old Farm. Cross the road here and join a footpath by a sign that heads diagonally left uphill through Fugsdon Wood. Follow occasional yellow markers on trees. The path levels out and bends right. Now continue in broadly the same direction on the flat, ignoring any crossing paths. The woodland you first pass through is mostly mixed, dense and young but eventually you enter an area with the towering beech trees at Linton’s Wood. You next come to a T-junction of paths.

Step 4

Turn right along the Ridgeway. After about 400m bend left next to a concrete drive (Lodge Hill Game Farm) to meet a road. Cross the road and head back into woodland on an unmarked footpath only about 10m uphill from the drive. The path takes you into Lodge Hill, passing some coppiced beech trees, then bends right uphill. Towards the top and the edge of the woodland bear left to re-join the Ridgeway. Go through a metal kissing gate to enter Coombe Hill.

Wooden signpost for the ridgeway footpath
Signpost for the Ridgeway, Chilterns | © National Trust Images/Hugh Mothersole

Step 5

Turn left downhill on the Ridgeway, which soon bends right and starts heading gently uphill, with woodland to your right and the open, steep slopes of Coombe Hill to your left. Back and to your left you will soon be able to see Chequers, the Prime Minister’s country retreat. There are several benches along this section from which you can enjoy wide views of the Oxford Plain and the Chiltern Escarpment. Eventually you come to the Boer War Memorial at the top of Coombe Hill.

Step 6

From the memorial, turn right along the distinctive gravel track, with excellent views to the left over Aylesbury Vale and Wendover. Head for 250m beyond the memorial until the track turns sharply right. Follow this path, keeping the fence to your left. At the end of the path, go through a gate leading onto a lane. Turn left to return to the car park where you started.

End point

Entrance to Coombe Hill car park, grid ref: SP851062

Trail map

Coombe Hill Woodland Walk, Chilterns trail map
Coombe Hill Woodland Walk, Chilterns | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

You made it

Share your experience

More near here

The Boer War memorial on Coombe Hill in the summer with purple flowers in the grass
Trail
Trail

Coombe Hill and Chequers trail 

Enjoy a moderately energetic circular walk from Coombe Hill, taking in views across the Aylesbury Vale. You'll wander through woodlands, past rare chalk grassland and the pretty village of Ellesborough.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 5 (km: 8) to miles: 7 (km: 11.2)
Hambleden Mill on the River Thames in Buckinghamshire
Trail
Trail

Hambleden Mill to Henley-on-Thames circular river walk 

This circular Thames walk takes in a historic watermill, the Henley Regatta course, views across the Thames Valley and quiet stretches of river with the chance to spot wildlife.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 6.1 (km: 9.76)
Tree-bordered fields slope down towards a church and beyond it treetops are visible above a low blanket of mist
Trail
Trail

The best of Coombe Hill walk 

Take a gentle circular stroll to see Coombe Hill highlights on rare chalk grassland, with panoramic views across Aylesbury Vale and Chequers, the prime minister’s retreat.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 1 (km: 1.6)
A distant view of West Wycombe Park taken from a nearby hill, Buckinghamshire
Trail
Trail

Chiltern Hills three-in-one walk 

Discover a challenging 8½-mile scenic walk linking three National Trust places in the Chiltern Hills: West Wycombe, Bradenham and Hughenden. Longer and shorter routes can be completed depending on your choice.

Activities
Walking
DistanceMiles: 5.5 (km: 8.8) to miles: 8.5 (km: 13.6)

Get in touch

Chilterns Countryside, c/o Hughenden estate, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4LA

Our partners

Cotswold Outdoor

We’ve partnered with Cotswold Outdoor to help everyone make the most of their time outdoors in the places we care for.

Visit website 

You might also be interested in

Walkers climbing rocks against a bright blue sky with the mountains in the distance at Sugarloaf, Monmouthshire

Walking 

Explore some of the finest landscapes in our care on coastal paths, accessible trails, woodland walks and everything in between. Find the best places to walk near you.

The leafy green view of Beacon Hill from Coombe Hill, showing the distinctive white chalk line
Article
Article

Visiting Coombe Hill in the Chilterns Countryside 

Explore the walking trails, play area and wildlife of Coombe Hill, the highest point in the Chiltern Hills.

An aerial view of an adult and baby walking a dog along a path at Baggy Point, Devon
Article
Article

Staying safe at National Trust places 

The special places in National Trust care sometimes come with a few risks for visitors, be it coastline or countryside. Find out how to keep safe throughout your visits.

A visitor carrying a backpack and walking along a footpath at Divis and the Black Mountain with stone walls either side, the countryside visible in the background.
Article
Article

Follow the Countryside Code 

Help to look after National Trust places by observing a few simple guidelines during your visit and following the Countryside Code.

A group of people in a hiking group are being guided on a hike by rangers at Marsden Moor, West Yorkshire
Article
Article

Cotswold Outdoor: our exclusive walking partner 

Find out more about the National Trust’s ongoing partnership with Cotswold Outdoor as our exclusive walking partner.

A winter's day at Cock Marsh, Maidenhead and Cookham Commons, Berkshire

Walking in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire 

From gentle strolls for little legs to longer hikes through the rolling Chiltern hills, these are some of the best walks in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.