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Chalk stream with frosty grass
Chalk Stream in winter at Hughenden, Buckinghamshire | © Hugh Mothersole
Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire & Berkshire

Boundary walk at Hughenden

This energetic 4-mile walk broadly follows the outer boundary of the Hughenden Estate. It allows you to explore beautiful woodland, open parkland, farmland and a rare chalk stream.

How to follow the walk

In places, this walk is waymarked with red National Trust arrows, but you may find it more reliable to follow the route on a hand-held device, or to print out a copy of these directions to use as you walk.

Total steps: 10

Total steps: 10

Start point

Visitor welcome kiosk, Hughenden, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP14 4LA. Grid ref: SU859955.

Step 1

From the visitor welcome kiosk, follow the path uphill towards the main car park. At the T-junction of paths by the Dew Pond, just before the car park, turn right then turn left up the road for 40 metres before turning right onto a path, with a small plantation of young trees on your left. Continue downhill into Woodcock Wood. 50 metres after entering Woodcock Wood turn left at a crossing. Soon you pass a sawpit on your right. Continue straight ahead through to the end of the woodland, ignoring any crossing paths.

Step 2

Go through a gate then continue in a leftward direction across the field towards a gate in the field boundary, with views of Hughenden Valley to the right. Go left through the gate and walk up the right-hand edge of a field. Cross a path and through another field, with a hedge now on your left. At the end of the field, turn right along the woodland boundary until you see a metal gate on your left.

Step 3

Turn left through the gate to enter Flagmore Wood. After about 50 metres you pass chalk pits on either side of the path. Continue straight ahead, until you reach a junction. Take the right-hand fork and follow the path downhill, ignoring any joining or crossing paths. At the bottom of the hill, turn left on the bridleway until you reach a gate leading into a field.

Step 4

Don't go through the gate but turn right uphill into Common Wood (signposted to Downley). When you reach the crossing boundary ditch, turn left keeping the ditch on your right. Go downhill to a crossing track. Cross the track and continue steeply uphill until you leave the wood between two fences. Take care here as the route meets a busy public road.

Step 5

Cross the road (Coates Lane) into Littleworth Road and walk along the pavement on the left. Just after house number 78 (and opposite a brick and flint cottage) join a public footpath on the left. This footpath is quite narrow and can get overgrown in summer. Alternatively, continue another 40m and turn left into the drive opposite Narrow Lane. Cross a drive then continue along a narrow path towards Little Tinkers Wood. Enter the woods then immediately bear left downhill at a fork. After about 20 metres at the next fork continue straight ahead, then gently uphill until you reach a metal gate into a field. Go through this and to the Disraeli Monument.

Step 6

Leave the monument field through the same gate you entered by, then turn right to go down to the bottom of the woods. Turn right through a gate into a field then continue with a fence on your right until you reach a road, Coates Lane. Take care crossing the road and turn left for 30m.

View from Disraeli Monument
View from Disraeli Monument | © National Trust / Hugh Mothersole

Step 7

Turn sharp right on to a track and go through a metal gate. Follow the track uphill until you reach a gate with Middle Lodge on it. Turn left here and go through a set of metal gates into Hughenden Park. Turn sharp right then follow the path downhill, with a metal fence on your right and parkland on your left. Continue beneath some large field maples until you reach a stream, with an ornamental lake created by a weir.

Step 8

Turn left to walk along the left bank of Hughenden Stream until you reach the main drive that leads up to Hughenden Manor.

Step 9

Turn left to walk uphill, keeping to the left of the drive. Pass through the car park of St Michael and All Angels Church, then go into the churchyard.

Step 10

Follow the tarmac path up to the left of the church. Leave the churchyard through a small gate and continue uphill. Alternatively, if you prefer to avoid the cemetery, walk uphill across the grass meadow, keeping the church hedge on your right. At the top of the park go through the metal gate next to a cattle grid, join the main drive and walk straight along it until you reach the Stableyard and Walled Garden entrances on your right. Refreshments and public toilets are available in the Stableyard. Turn right here then take the lane to the left of the Stableyard entrance and follow the signs to return to the visitor car park and welcome kiosk

End point

Hughenden, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire HP14 4LA. Grid ref: SU859955.

Trail map

Map of Boundary walk route at Hughenden, Bucks
Map of Boundary walk route at Hughenden, Bucks | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP14 4LA

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