Discover more at Hughenden
Find out when Hughenden is open, how to get here, the things to see and do and more.
The estate at Hughenden
Explore the parkland with its carefully designed views, rare chalk stream and medieval church. In the 18th century, limes, horse chestnuts, walnuts and sycamore were carefully planted to enhance the setting of the manor and create a landscape which reflects the setting of the estate in the Chiltern Hills. Wander further and take in 680 acres of countryside on a waymarked walk.
Cow conservation
From April to September the parkland is home to a herd of Aberdeen Angus crossbreed cattle and thanks to their grazing the grassland is an ideal natural habitat where wildflowers and insects flourish.
The open pasture they create means butterflies and beetles thrive, and the cow pats they leave bring flies which in turn attract swallows and spotted flycatchers swooping across the park on summer evenings.
Please keep dogs under close control at all times.
Countryside walks
Three colour-coded waymarked walks can help you discover more of the estate, from a gentle one-mile stroll to a two-mile trail, beginning from the visitor welcome kiosk.
They are a great way to start exploring and our café in the stableyard makes a good start or finish point. Hughenden’s codename during the war was Hillside for good reason: most walks will include a slope or two but the reward for climbing higher is a spectacular view.
Woodcock Wood walk at Hughenden | Bucks | National Trust
Monument walk at Hughenden | National Trust
Caring for Hughenden’s wildlife and landscape
Our Rangers are at the heart of looking after Hughenden’s landscape and the wildlife that depends on it. Their work changes with the seasons and covers everything from practical conservation and habitat management to monitoring the plants and animals found across the estate.
The team carries out regular bat, bird and butterfly surveys, helping us understand which species are living at Hughenden and how their habitats are changing. They also inspect and care for the estate’s trees, including carrying out tree surgery when needed, while considering the important habitats trees provide for birds, bats, insects and other wildlife.
Alongside this, our Rangers manage grassland, woodland and other habitats, maintain paths and boundaries, control invasive vegetation and carry out seasonal conservation work. They work across the estate throughout the year and in all weathers, helping to protect Hughenden’s natural environment for future generations.
Next time you visit, look out for the work they’ve been doing – and keep an eye out for the wildlife they’re helping to protect.
Bees at Hughenden
Hughenden has its own working apiary, with several active hives cared for by a team of expert volunteer beekeepers, continuing a tradition dating back to the Disraelis, who kept bees to help increase the yield of the walled garden and fruit trees. Today, our volunteers keep this tradition alive while helping to care for these precious pollinators, which face modern threats including the varroa mite, reduced forage and predators such as the Asian hornet. In spring and summer, visitors can learn more about the bees and the craft of beekeeping through scheduled talks, including the chance to explore a full-size model hive and try specialist equipment without the fear of being stung.
Meet the National Trust volunteers who care for bees at Hughenden
Visit the beehives at Hughenden in Buckinghamshire in this behind-the-scenes video from the National Trust. Discover the importance of beekeeping, both ecologically and as a craft, and meet the volunteer beekeepers who dedicate their time and knowledge to help the National Trust care for these precious pollinators.
This video is hosted by YouTube
Hughenden's tree-lined parkland
First created in the early 1700s, today’s formal parkland was originally set out in the 1820s and featured limes, horse chestnuts, walnuts and sycamore. Disraeli added significant trees from around the world, with styles and silhouettes carefully chosen to contribute to the landscape and views of the beautiful sweeping hills across the valley.
Medieval church
Early records show that a church has existed on this site since the early 12th century. Today it has a Victorian Gothic appearance following restoration and extension works in 1874-5 by Disraeli. Unusually for a Prime Minister he is buried here as he left instructions that he wanted to be buried quietly at Hughenden alongside his wife Mary Anne.
Inside the church, behind the pulpit, is the monument erected by Queen Victoria to Disraeli. It is the only known example of a memorial by a reigning English monarch to a subject. Royal protocol did not permit the monarch to attend the private funeral, but Victoria visited the tomb a few days later to pay her respects to her favourite prime minister.
St Michael and All Angels is still used today as the parish church for the village of Hughenden Valley.
Rare chalk stream
The Hughenden estate stream rises from springs in Hughenden Valley and flows through the parkland before it joins the River Wye in the centre of High Wycombe.
Chalk streams are very rare habitats, with only 3% of streams in the UK on chalk. They are unique because they flow on top of an aquifer, so the water table needs to be above ground level for water to be present in the stream. This is known as a ‘winterborne’ as the rainfall during winter dictates whether the stream flows in the summer.
There is still evidence of modifications made by Disraeli, including weirs to provide pools for trout fishing, and a small lake to accommodate his two swans named Hero and Leander, after the Greek tragedy.
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