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A village scene with bight green grass in the foreground, a path running through it and a horse chestnut tree in flower behind the path but in front of several houses.
The village of Cookham Dean | © National Trust Images/David Sellman
Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire & Berkshire

The short Wind in the Willows walk

Enjoy this shorter 3-mile walk through the attractive, unspoilt village of Cookham Dean before passing the boyhood home of Kenneth Grahame, author of 'The Wind in the Willows'. The walk then continues through Quarry and Fultness Woods, which were the inspiration for Kenneth Grahame's 'Wild Wood'.

Total steps: 10

Total steps: 10

Start point

Cookham Dean Common National Trust Car Park, Cookham, Maidenhead SL6 6PJ. Grid ref: SU862838

Step 1

From the National Trust car park, head out across Cookham Dean Common and follow the path that skirts around the left hand edge of the common. Continue following the path to the left of the large house and grounds at the northern edge of Cookham Dean Common and turn left by a yellow grit salt bunker. Take the lane to the right after passing the striped fingerpost to Combe End.

Step 2

After 120 metres, pass to the left of the triangle of grass and lone silver birch tree and onto the path ahead, turning right before the kissing gate. Follow the woodland path up a gentle hill for 8 minutes until you reach Bigfrith Common meadow and the red telephone box on the corner.

A red phone box full of books in a green landscape
The community library phone box in Cookham Dean | © Hugh Mothersole

Step 3

Continue past the restored red telephone box on the corner of Bigfrith Common and take the road on the right followed by the sharp left onto Church Road.

Step 4

Continue along Church Road for 150 metres past the blue plaque commemorating Sir Henry Walford Davies on your right, until you reach the Jolly Farmer pub on your left, then St John the Baptist Church on your right. From here continue ahead along Church Road until you reach the Cookham Dean Village war memorial.

Step 5

From here take a left at the village war memorial, skirting around Cookham Dean Cricket Common past the sign for Sanctum on the Green restaurant and bar. Join the Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop, taking a left at 'Quarry Edge' and continue down the track past Cookham Dean Quarry on your left. At the bottom of the hill take a right at the Old Stables following the Cookham Bridleway Circuit. After 50 metres, take the footpath on your left.

Step 6

Continue uphill until you reach Dean Lane. Take a left and continue up Dean Lane. After 40 metres you will see Herries Preparatory School on the right.

Step 7

Keep following Dean Lane and skirting along the edge of Tugwood Common, crossing at the junction between Dean Lane, Quarry Wood Road and Grubwood Lane, and entering Bisham Woods at the Woodland Trust car park.

A woodland in winter with bare trees and sun glinting through the branches
Quarry Woods near Cookham Commons | © Hugh Mothersole

Step 8

Take the footpath straight ahead from the Woodland Trust car park then follow the blue-topped posts, make sure you don't take the path on your left by the bench after 250 metres and continue to follow the track and the blue-topped posts for a further 360 metres. Here you will find another bench, opposite which is a fine view of the Thames Valley towards Marlow.

Step 9

From the seat and viewpoint continue along the path, keeping the steep slope on your right. After 280 metres take the right fork past another blue-topped post downhill for a further 180 metres where you join up with a bridleway. Following the waymarker for the bridleway downhill for a further 170 metres will lead you to a five-way crossroad.

Step 10

At the five-way crossroad take the track to the left by the waymarker post. You are now leaving Quarry Wood and entering Fultness Wood. After 200 metres leave the bridleway, following the footpath waymarker to climb the earthen bank on the right. Continue up the steep slope until it levels out, before crossing another footpath and passing through the kissing gate. Follow the hedge line on your left into the arable field ahead. Continue for 360 metres then take the stile and small ramp through the trees on the left. Straight ahead at the end of the trees is Winter Hill Road, and beyond it, the National Trust car park where you started.

End point

Cookham Dean Common National Trust Car Park, Cookham, Maidenhead SL6 6PJ. Grid ref: SU862838

Trail map

The Wind in the Willows short walk around Cookham Dean and Commons route map
The Wind in the Willows short walk around Cookham Dean and Commons route map | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey

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