The Best of Coombe Hill walk
This gentle circular stroll takes in the best Coombe Hill and has much to offer, from panoramic views across the Aylesbury Vale and Chequers, the country retreat for the serving Prime Minister. You will also see rare chalk grassland filled with wildflowers and butterflies during summer months. In the winter, this is the ideal walk if you are seeking some fresh air to blow away the cobwebs.
The walk is way-marked with orange arrows mounted on wooden posts at all major changes in direction.
Map
Start:
Near car park, grid ref: SP851062
1
As you enter the car park, you will see an information board and a picnic area on the left. Follow the path that runs along the right side of the picnic area to reach a gate and a crossing gravel track. Turn right onto the track. Follow the track, with a fence on your right. Look out for the orange way-markers along the route and follow these.
2
About 60m after the picnic area you will see an entrance to the Natural Play Trail on your right hand side. You can either have a go now or come back at the end of the walk. Continue along the stone track with the fence on your right.
Natural play trail
The natural play trail is made from recycled larch trees harvested just a few hundred yards away. Trees are felled for a number of reasons, for example of they are old, dangerous or diseased, or if they are overcrowded or blocking the sunlight to other plants. The trail is a zone where children of all ages can get back to nature and play on the obstacles. Please note that anyone who uses the natural play trail does so at their own risk.
3
Follow the gravel track around to the left in the direction of the finger post. Soon, panoramic views over the Aylesbury Vale open up on your right. Continue along the track until you reach the monument.
4
As you reach the Boer War Monument, you have reached the highest view point in the Chilterns, 260m above sea level. Take a moment to look at the toposcope which will explain what you can see in the landscape. On a clear day you can see Aylesbury and the National Trust’s Waddesdon Manor perched on a distant hill. When you are ready to move on, turn your back to the view of Aylesbury and walk towards an orange waymarking disc on your right just in front of some bushes. You are now on the Ridgeway National Trail and the path turns from stone into a well-worn grassy/flinty track. Warning: this path can be very slippery after heavy rain or in icy conditions.
The monument (not NT)
The monument was built in 1904 in memory of the 148 men of Buckinghamshire who gave their lives in the South Africa War 1899 - 1902. The monument was almost completely destroyed in 1938 by a lightning strike but was rebuilt the same year. A full restoration took place in 2010 when the bronze tablet was replaced and all the stone work was cleaned up and re-pointed. It was unveiled at a dedicated ceremony held on 20 October the same year.
5
You will reach a slight rise in the path which gives you a moment to view Chequers, the Prime Minister's country retreat. It is the large house party hidden in the trees at a 1 o'clock direction to your path ahead. In the distance, just above Chequers, you can see Pulpit Hill which is another National Trust property. Carry on along the path following the orange arrows
Chequers
The current mansion was built around 1565 by William Hawtrey. Soon after its construction, Hawtrey was asked to act as custodian at Chequers for Lady Mary Grey, the younger sister of Lady Jane Grey and great granddaughter of King Henry VII. Lady Mary remained at Chequers for two years from 1565 to 1567, and the room where she slept is still kept in its original condition. The house is also well known for this connection to the Cromwell family, and it still houses one of the largest collections of art and memorabilia pertaining to Oliver Cromwell. Chequers was given in trust to the nation as a country retreat for the serving Prime Minister under the Chequers Estate Act 1917 and Lloyd George was the first Prime Minister to use the property.
6
You will see along your right hand side an excellent example of rare chalk grassland with its numerous mound-shaped anthills. Continue along the path until you meet a fence at the end.
Chalk grassland
Chalk grassland is one of our rarest habitats and a reason why Coombe Hill is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. During the summer months you can expect to see over 40 different species of wild flowers and up to 15 different species of butterfly on these slopes. The large bumps you can see are home to the Yellow Meadow Ant and the ant hills themselves provide a fantastic home to many of the wild flower species. During winter months the ant hills really stand out after the summer grazing.
7
Once you reach the fence line at the end of the path, turn left up a slight incline. Ignore the kissing gate on your right, this is where you leave the Ridgeway path behind. Keep going straight on weaving through trees and bushes roughly parallel to the fence on your right. The orange waymarking disc on your right hand side will keep you on track.
8
At the large gate turn left past the picnic area and then turn right to re-join the path back to the car park. If you haven’t done so already, why not have a go on the natural play trail.
End:
Near car park, grid ref: SP851062
