Walks from Beaconsfield

Gently rolling wooded hills, open fields, Buckinghamshire countryside, parkland and golf course.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Milton's Cottage

Chalfont Saint Giles

Time: 5h–10h

2 lunch spots: Chalfont Saint Giles (2h30–5h in) — the White Hart, or the Feathers

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

An absolutely delightful route; some lovely views. A varied Chiltern Hills walk with a nice mix of town, woodland and farmland, including extensive woodland outside Beaconsfield and gentle climbs. A short stretch of road walking on Magpie Lane, rough footpaths with tree roots underfoot that can be muddy and boggy after rain and especially in the woods. No stiles. Crosses the Chiltern Way. Chenies-area deer and other wildlife are often seen.

Time: 2h30–5h

1 lunch spot: the Harte & Magpies

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Some beautiful sights, wonderful woods and pleasant paths; some great views and many bluebells. Mostly footpaths, many narrow and overgrown with barbed-wire or high fences on one or both sides, plus quiet roads, a golf course crossing and lovely beech woods. Some short and steep hills and stiles; can be muddy in wet weather. A long flight of stairs at the Beaconsfield end. Passes through Jordans, a Quaker village, and touches on Seer Green.

Time: 2h30–4h30

Warnings: A roughly 100m section runs along a fairly busy road (Bull Lane) with no verge or pavement; care needed, or detour right along Bull Lane where there is a pavement. The route crosses a golf course where balls may come head-on. Narrow paths likely muddy in wet weather.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Rewarded with a semi-circular bench with stunning views. Attractive stretches of the Thames Path and the Chiltern Way through woods, bookended by urban walks, with some lane walking and woodland mud and steep rooty woodland paths and steps. Mostly shaded by trees. Follows part of the Thames Path and the Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop. A short, very steep detour leads to Hedsor Church of St Nicholas for views to Lord Boston's Folly.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 4h–8h

Lunch: Cookham makes a good midway break with shops, cafes and public toilets.

Warnings: There is a stretch along the busy A40, which must be crossed without a pedestrian crossing. Narrow kissing gate and steep rooty paths.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

A varied walk through changing landscapes: urban alleys ('jitties'), forest, farmland and a long section beside water along the Wye valley into High Wycombe. Some short, steep and muddy sections and several stiles and kissing gates. Largely follows the Chiltern Way and then the Berkshire Loop.

Time: 2h30–5h

Warnings: The lower part of Hammersley Lane has no footpath where it passes under the railway bridge; this short section can be avoided via Kingsmead Rec.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Rewarded with good views; Some stunning parts; the walk through Mill Wood was lovely. A varied route taking in stretches of the Thames Path and Chiltern Way, with a flat, often muddy riverside flood-plain section to Bourne End, then a gentle rise along a dismantled railway before a steep climb onto undulating wooded hills, finishing with an urban walk into Beaconsfield. Many stiles, some rickety and muddy when wet; narrow in places. Takes in the Thames Path and Chiltern Way National Trails, plus a dismantled railway that once ran to High Wycombe. Count the corners in Seven-Corner Alley by The Two Brewers, the towpath taken by horses unharnessed from their barges. Red kites overhead; egret and muntjac deer seen on the railway section. The station is about an eight-minute walk from the route's end at Marlow church.

Time: 3h30–7h

2 lunch spots: the Bounty, or the Old Bell

End-of-walk reward: Amenities on Station Road in Beaconsfield.

Warnings: The Thames Path section is flat but quite muddy, with several very muddy kissing gates. The Chiltern Way climbs steeply, up to 20% in places, with stiles and steps. A short stretch on the busy A40 crosses the M40 motorway bridge. A narrow, unlit passage round the back of an industrial estate at Bourne End could feel dodgy after dark.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

The woods (Burnham Beeches and Egypt Woods) were stunning. A largely urban or semi-urban route between two towns, with a reasonable amount of greenery through woods and parkland. A significant amount of traffic-free tarmac, plus kissing gates and stiles and some very uneven terrain. Passes through Burnham Beeches and Egypt Woods, Farnham Park (the national baseball and softball centre) and Slough's Salt Hill, Godolphin and Baylis parks. Near the hamlet of Egypt.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 4h–8h30

Warnings: Some sections involve walking in the road. A short stretch at the top of Burnham Beeches needs care during the school run or rush hour. Some on-road sections were quiet on a Sunday but may be busier at other times.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Wooded hills, open fields, Chiltern countryside, historic museum grounds and residential lanes.

Source: An alternative variant of Beaconsfield Circular – the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Gently rolling wooded hills, open fields and Buckinghamshire countryside.

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Source: A shorter variant of Beaconsfield Circular – the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).