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Disraeli's 'German Forest'
Disraeli's 'German Forest' | © National Trust / Hugh Mothersole
Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire & Berkshire

German Forest walk at Hughenden

This 1.5-mile walk explores the dark evergreen woods inspired by Benjamin and Mary Anne Disraeli's visits to the Northern Bohemian forests on the German/Czech border. The walk includes a mix of woodlands and gently rolling valleys with views across a mixture of grazed and ploughed fields divided by hedgerows.

Waymarkers

To help you to follow this walk, please look out for the purple waymarker arrows.

Total steps: 9

Total steps: 9

Start point

Hughenden visitor welcome kiosk. Grid ref: SU860955.

Step 1

From the visitor welcome kiosk, retrace your steps towards the main car park. At the T-junction of paths by the Dew Pond, turn left. There is a purple waymarker on a post. After about 25m turn right along a more or less level path at another purple waymarker .

Step 2

The National Trust Rangers at Hughenden have recently been clearing diseased ash trees on this path. The gaps this has created allow views across Echo Valley towards Manor Farm and the D'Israeli Monument. Continue on relatively the level path through the German Forest for another 500 metres until you reach a crossing of five paths.

View across open countryside with a glimpse of the D'Israeli Monument
View across open countryside with a glimpse of the D'Israeli Monument | © National Trust / Hugh Mothersole

Step 3

At the junction of paths, take the first path on the left that heads downhill. (This path can be very rutted in places as it is used by vehicles for forestry work.) Ignoring any crossing paths and bearing left at a fork after 50m, follow this path until it reaches the base of the slope and meets a bridleway running along the bottom of the valley.

Disraeli's 'German Forest'
Disraeli's 'German Forest' | © National Trust / Hugh Mothersole

Step 4

Turn left on to the bridleway and follow it along the bottom of the valley towards a field gate 100m away.

Step 5

Turn left off the bridleway just before the field gate, following the footpath uphill between the trees. At the T-junction, turn right along an open path which skirts the lower edge of Hanging Wood. On your right you can get a good view of the D'Israeli Monument and of Echo Valley towards High Wycombe. In spring and summer look out for the colourful wildflower banks on both sides of the path.

Banks alongside the path are carefully managed to encourage a wide range of wild flowers.
Banks alongside the path are carefully managed to encourage a wide range of wild flowers. | © National Trust

Step 6

Continue straight ahead along the path into an area of woodland, keeping to the main path.

Step 7

On reaching a wooden signpost, follow the route ahead and uphill towards Hughenden Manor and tea-room.

Step 8

On reaching the top of a short, steep slope, follow the narrow sunken road ahead of you between flint walls. Please take care as vehicles use this road. You will soon reach a junction of roads and paths with the gates to Hughenden Manor and its gardens on your right, and the stableyard and walled garden on your left.

Step 9

When you are ready to continue, take the road that curves uphill to the left of the stableyard, with the apple orchard picnic area on your left, to reach the visitor welcome kiosk.

End point

Hughenden visitor welcome kiosk. Grid ref: SU860955.

Trail map

Trail map for the German forest walk at Hughenden
Trail map for the German forest walk at Hughenden | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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