Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire & Berkshire

Exploring the Chiltern Escarpment

Chequers Knap on the Chequers Estate — The View from Chequers Knap | © Hugh Mothersole

This 10-mile (16km) walk takes in panoramic views across the Chiltern Escarpment and the Aylesbury Vale. It passes through historical and archaeological sites, as well as the pretty 'chocolate box' village of Ellesborough, and with views of the Prime Minister's country retreat at Chequers. The walk includes important ecological habitats, ranging from rare chalk grassland to archetypal Chiltern beech woodlands, and the largest remaining area of natural box woodland in Britain.

Near to

Chilterns Countryside

Start point

Coombe Hill car park, grid ref: SP 851062

Maps

We strongly recommend using the local 1:25000 Ordnance Survey map (Explorer 181) in addition to these instructions.

Address
Coombe Hill, near Butlers Cross, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
Directions via Google Maps
By train
The nearest railway station is in Wendover on the Chiltern Railways line. From here, follow signs for the Ridgeway and start the walk at Bacombe Hill Nature Reserve, Step 13 on the trail.
On foot
Coombe Hill is on the Ridgeway long distance footpath.
By bus
Bus routes to Wendover from nearby towns including Aylesbury, Amersham, High Wycombe and Chesham. From Wendover High Street, walk westwards to the mini-roundabout where you join Pound Street. Continue westward, past the Shoulder of Mutton, across the railway bridge and up Ellesborough Road. From here, follow signs for the Ridgeway and start the walk at Bacombe Hill Nature Reserve, Step 13 on the trail.
Cycling
Coombe Hill is on the 170-mile circular Chilterns Cycleway. Please note that no cycling is allowed on this trail.
By road
Coombe Hill is 3 miles west of Wendover and 5 miles east of Princes Risborough. From Risborough, head east towards Ellesborough. Carry on to Butlers Cross then turn right onto the Missenden Road. From Wendover, head west towards Butlers Cross and turn left onto the Missenden Road. Drive for 2 miles up the hill until you reach a summit, where you need to turn left up Lodge Hill for a further mile until you reach the car park in front of you, on a tight right-hand bend. Satnav: nearest postcode for Lodge Hill at HP17 0UR. An alternative National Trust car park can be found at Pulpit Hill, between Step 3 and Step 4 on the walk. Grid ref: SP834046. You can also start the walk from the Whiteleaf Cross car park (grid ref SP 823046) close to Step 4 on the walk.
Despite the hilly terrain there are no steep climbs, unless you choose to explore the summit of Beacon Hill. The altitude varies between 120m and 260m above sea level, and there are two prolonged uphill stretches over 1km. There is one quite steep descent on the Ridgeway at Whiteleaf Hill, although the path surface here is well managed. There are five road crossings, a small number of stiles and two very short stretches of country road. Some paths can be muddy and slippery after prolonged or heavy rain. Stout walking shoes or walking boots are strongly recommended. A walking pole is not essential but may be useful when the paths are slippery.

Please note that most of the route, with the exception of Coombe Hill and Pulpit Hill, is not on land in our care. As such, we don't check for hazards on these sections of the walk. Walkers therefore follow this route at their own risk.
Elevation profile | © National Trust / Martin Oetiker
Total stages: 14
Total stages: 14
Start point
Coombe Hill car park, grid ref: SP 851062
Stage 1
Enter the property through the gate by the car park entrance. Take the left of the three distinct footpaths, running roughly parallel with the property boundary fence. Stay left and pass between two cattle troughs. The path soon passes through an area of scrub woodland. After 200m, turn left through a metal gate and join the Ridgeway path. Follow this waymarked path for another 200m through the woodland to a road. Turn right, following the road downhill for 100m. Immediately after a fenced driveway (Lodge Hill Game Farm), turn left at the Ridgeway signpost. Follow the Ridgeway signposts and waymarks south through the woodland for 600m, ignoring several crossing paths. The Ridgeway then turns right, heading downhill for a further 500m until you reach a road.
Stage 2
Staying on the same side of the road, cross the lane that leads to Buckmoorend Farm and pick up a signposted bridleway, the Icknield way, that starts just to the left of the hedgerow in front of you. Follow this path, which runs along the edge of a field, with the hedgerow and the road on your right. After 250m, the path curves to the left then enters a narrow belt of woodland and follows it between a field on your left and the road on your right, eventually emerging on the road opposite a track. Cross the road with care and follow the track uphill, passing to the right of a metal gate. Continue uphill into Pond Wood, with views of Chequers on your right. You reach two closely spaced footpath markers. Cross the track just past these and take a small path, roughly keeping in the direction of the two markers then continue downhill to meet a track next to a metal gate.
A 16th-century mansion, Chequers is used as a country retreat by the Prime Minister | © National Trust / Hugh Mothersole
Stage 3
Turn right uphill along the track for 35m then turn left on a signed footpath. Follow this path parallel to the road for 400m until you reach some steps. Descend the steps and turn immediately left to meet a road. Cross the road and follow the bridleway opposite, marked as the Icknield Way. Follow the bridleway through the woodland, with fields to your left for 800m. Ignore any crossing paths. At a T-junction, take the bridleway to the right then almost immediately swing to the left to join an uphill track. After about 30m uphill, at a path crossing, turn right then join the path to the left of a metal field gate. This takes you up to join a path close to the top of the woods.
Stage 4
Bear right along the joining path. This meanders through the woodland, with a field to your left and a steep wooded downhill slope on your right. You will eventually meet the Ridgeway once more at a T-junction. Turn right onto this broad path. After 200m you will meet a gate and enter an open area at the top of Whiteleaf Hill, overlooking Princes Risborough. This is a nice spot for a picnic, with expansive views south along the Chiltern Escarpment and west across the Oxford Plain.
Whiteleaf Hill
A large area of chalk grassland and woodland on top of the Chiltern Escarpment, Whiteleaf Hill also has the chalk hill-figure of Whiteleaf Cross and a Neolithic burial mound (or barrow). Whiteleaf Cross dominated the local landscape for several centuries, becoming a cultural focus associated with many aspects of local life. It was first officially noted by Francis Wise in 1742, but is still the subject of much local speculation and folklore.
Stage 5
When you're ready to leave Whiteleaf Hill turn right, through a gate to continue following the Ridgeway path. This descends quite steeply through Giles Wood, eventually emerging at a gate by The Plough pub. Turn left in front of The Plough, and then join Cadsden Road. When the narrow, roadside path ends, cross the road following the footpath sign. The path passes through woodland before reaching a gate into the Grangelands and Rifle Range Nature Reserve.
Stage 6
Bear left to follow the Ridgeway path along the north-west edge of the nature reserve. Please keep to the footpaths to minimise damaging this rare chalk grassland habitat. Go through two gates and continue to follow the Ridgeway, past the Rifle Range on your right, and up a short slope to reach another gate.
Grangelands and Rifle Butts Nature Reserve and Pulpit Hill
An area of open access chalk grassland and woodland, which also has the remains of an ancient hillfort. Designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, there is a mixture of high forest and open grassland. The grasslands are particularly rich in invertebrates, including the marbled white and chalk hill blue butterflies and populations of glow worms. The now disused Rifle Range was once used for target practice during the Second Boer War.
Grangelands is a great place to discover chalk grassland species | © National Trust / Hugh Mothersole
Stage 7
Go through the gate and up some steps to meet a sunken track. Turn right, then after 30m, left up some more steps to another gate. Go through the gate, but instead of following the Ridgeway path, bear left for a few metres, up the small grassy hill in front of you. From Chequers Knap, turn back to meet the Ridgeway again, following it to your left across an area of open woodland and grassland.
Stage 8
Just after passing a fenced, steep wooded slope on your left, go through a wooden gate on your left. The path is signposted as part of the Outer Aylesbury Ring. Follow the path along the top of a slope, with fine views of the Aylesbury Vale, Great Kimble Warren and Happy Valley on your left. After 200m, reach a small summit then turn right, heading downhill to meet a wooden gate in the corner of a field. Go through the gate, heading along the edge of the field and beneath trees to another wooden gate. Continue through the gate and cross a concrete track, then follow a wide woodland track to a gate. Go through the gate and follow the path across a field, with Beacon Hill ahead of you, until you reach another gate that enters an area of low box woodland.
Stage 9
Go through the gate and down a series of steps. At a further gate, you will emerge into an area of access land that surrounds Beacon Hill. The footpath skirts around Beacon Hill, eventually reaching another gate. (If you would like a challenge, and some fine views, you can make a short detour to the top of Beacon Hill using one of the several steep, informal paths.) Go through the gate following the path towards Ellesborough, which you will see ahead of you.
A steep but rewarding climb awaits you at Beacon Hill | © National Trust / Hugh Mothersole
Stage 10
Go through the gate to reach a road, turn right along the footpath then cross the road to the church. Take great care crossing this road, as there is a blind hill to your right. Go through the church gate and follow a footpath to the left of the church. The path descends steps to the left of the graveyard. There is a bench just to the left of this path with a view towards the Aylesbury Vale. Follow this path to a gate, which enters a field. The path continues straight ahead down the slope of the field to a metal gate and stile. Turn immediately right after these then go through a kissing gate to reach a narrow lane (Springs Lane) by a thatched cottage. Follow the lane (part of The Aylesbury Ring path) until it turns sharply right. Here, follow the footpath straight ahead between a house on the right and a field on the left. Continue on this path until you reach a road.
Ellesborough
The village's name is derived from the Old English for 'hill where asses are pastured'. In the Domesday Book of 1086, it was recorded as Esenberge. The road from Wendover to Princes Risborough, which takes a detour around the hill on which Ellesborough church stands, follows the route of the Icknield Way, which ran from Norfolk to Avebury in Wiltshire. Ellesborough Church is a distinctive flint-faced building originating from the 12th century.
Stage 11
At the road turn left for 60m and then cross it, and go through a metal gate onto a footpath (part of the Aylesbury Ring Path). At a gate, the path continues in the same direction along the edges of three fields to a stile. Cross the stile and turn immediately right. You will soon reach another stile, which takes you into the grounds of Ellesborough Golf Club. The path continues fairly straight in the same southerly direction, waymarked by the golf club (keep to the right of the clubhouse). Just after the clubhouse, cross the road and take the left of the two paths ahead of you. This path, which soon becomes sunken, heads gently uphill. After 200m, look out for some rough steps at a crossing path. (Shorter route: continue up the sunken path. At the top of the hill, turn right through a metal gate and head for the Boer War Memorial ahead of you. You can then re-join the route at point 14.)
Stage 12
At the crossing path, turn left up the steps. Do not turn right uphill, but cross some tree roots to a path, which soon becomes more obvious. Go downhill to join an access road. 20m further downhill, turn right onto a path by a black lamppost. The path passes between private gardens, horse stables and crosses driveways. Please follow the yellow waymarkers. After 200m, continue on a fairly level course with a steep wooded slope on your right and a mixture of private gardens, woodland and small fields on your left. After a further 800m, you reach a gate into Bacombe Hill Nature Reserve (not signposted). Go straight ahead, through the gate, and follow an obvious path until you meet a T-junction with the Ridgeway path.
Bacombe Hill Nature Reserve
Bacombe Hill Nature Reserve is a valuable area of downland, scrub and woodland. It has a mix of mature beech woodland, particularly to the top and the south of the reserve, also with large areas of open chalk grassland. It is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (for its chalk grassland). There are some rare chalk grassland butterflies and flowers, including orchids. The depressions and mounds in the lower part of the reserve are the workings of the old chalk pits.
Stage 13
Turn right, following the Ridgeway path uphill. Ascend some wooden steps, and continue uphill. To your right, you will soon be able to overlook some of the landscape changes brought about by the HS2 railway construction. You will eventually meet a metal gate, leading to a sunken track. Continue across the sunken path and through a second metal gate. This will take you back onto the land in our care Coombe Hill. After the second gate, bear right and head for the Boer War Monument, which you will see ahead of you.
Stage 14
On reaching the Boer War Monument, turn left across a wide grassy plateau, which offers excellent views back to Beacon Hill and Ellesborough, where you were earlier. After 350m the grassy path narrows and heads through a gap in the trees. This will lead you back to the entrance gate by the car park, where you started the walk.
Coombe Hill and the Boer War Monument
At 260m (852 feet) above sea level, Coombe Hill is the highest viewpoint in the Chiltern Hills. It affords panoramic views over the Aylesbury Vale, and on a clear day you can see as far as the Cotswolds. The viewpoint is marked with a monument, erected in 1904, dedicated to the 148 men from Buckinghamshire who gave their lives in the South African War (1899–1902).
End point
Coombe Hill car park, grid ref: SP 851062
Trail map
Map of the route to walk for the Chiltern Escarpment | © Hugh Mothersole
You made it
Share your experience

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

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.

Hambleden Mill on the River Thames in Buckinghamshire

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.

Path leading uphill towards monument in the distance with figures of people at its base

Trail

Coombe Hill Woodland Walk

Follow this gentle circular trail in the Chilterns through beech woodland to the top of Coombe Hill, with far-reaching views from its summit.

View west from Watlington Hill, Buckinghamshire

Trail

Watlington Hill short walk

This walk offers memorable views over the Vale of Oxford and Chiltern Escarpment, as well as abundant wildlife and birdlife amongst the site's chalk grassland and woodland habitats.

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

01494755565

hughenden@nationaltrust.org.uk

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

Visit website

Trees in summer surrounded by long grasses in the parkland at Basildon Park, 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.

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

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.

Iron-age hillfort ramparts at Pulpit Hill

Article

Things to see at Pulpit Hill Iron Age fort in the Chilterns Countryside

Explore the ancient remains of a hidden Iron Age hillfort in this atmospheric woodland.

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

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.

Two female visitors standing on the rocks at Giant's Causeway, County Antrim

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.

Article

Cotswold Outdoor: our exclusive walking partner

Learn about the National Trust’s ongoing partnership with Cotswold Outdoor. Find out how they help us care for precious places and the exclusive discount available for National Trust supporters.

Near to

Start point

Trail information

Difficulty*

Full trail

Maps

Getting here

Facilities

Terrain and elevation

Trail route

Total stages: 14

Total stages: 14

Start point

Stage 1

Point of interest

Stage 2

Point of interest

Stage 3

Stage 4

Point of interest

Stage 5

Point of interest

Stage 6

Point of interest

Stage 7

Point of interest

Stage 8

Point of interest

Stage 9

Point of interest

Stage 10

Point of interest

Stage 11

Stage 12

Point of interest

Stage 13

Stage 14

Point of interest

End point

Trail map

Sign up to hear more from the National Trust