Walks you can reach from Great Missenden by train

Highly recommended

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 3h30–6h30

1 lunch spot: the Russell Arms (2h–4h30 in)

3 end-of-walk rewards: the Shoulder of Mutton, the White Swan, or the Bel & The Dragon at the Red Lion

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Highly recommended: Beech woods, chalk downlands, high ridgeline, nature reserves, escarpments with wide views and a pleasant old market town.

Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

Time: 4h–8h

1 end-of-walk reward: the Shoulder of Mutton

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Flat canal towpath, reservoir banks, open arable fields, wooded Chilterns hills and steep descents.

Woodland: a third under tree cover.

Time: 6h–12h

1 lunch spot: the Partridge (3h–6h in)

1 end-of-walk reward: Wendover Woods Café

Warnings: Steep chalky descent.

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Reverse direction: Walk by Rail.

Brilliant views over the Chess Valley; the unique yellow gold of autumn beeches shining in the low sun. A wooded Chilterns walk crossing open land, field edges and well-made farm tracks, with great views over the Chess Valley. Underfoot is variable — soft mud or grass in the open, exposed and sometimes hidden tree roots in the woods, tiring stony bases on the farm tracks. Can be deeply muddy when wet and but no long climbs. Spectacular for snowdrops, bluebells and daffodils in season; muntjac deer present. No facilities between the two towns apart from benches.

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

The Chess Valley: A scenic Chilterns valley carved by the chalk-stream River Chess, threaded by footpaths between Chesham and Rickmansworth.

Time: 2h30–5h

Lunch: No facilities between the towns apart from benches; shops at either end.

Warnings: Slippery, sometimes deep mud after wet weather — good boots advised. One fast-traffic crossing of the A404 (Amersham Road). Confusing signposting near Whitelands Wood at the Chorleywood end.

Walk details: Walk by Rail (tips and local insights).

Similar walk: Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

The chalk-stream Chess Valley, valley-side footpaths and woodland, through the villages of Flaunden and Sarratt to Chorleywood.

The Chess Valley: A scenic Chilterns valley carved by the chalk-stream River Chess, threaded by footpaths between Chesham and Rickmansworth.

Walk details: Walk by Rail (tips and local insights).

Chess Valley, Chiltern Hills, hill climbs, panoramic views, woods, celandine and bluebell woods, valley rim permissive path and suburban finish.

Warnings: Can flood after rain.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Rolling hills, pastures, hay meadows, river valleys, quiet hilltop villages and a long canal towpath stretch into a historic town centre.

Time: 5h30

Warnings: Can be muddy. Avoid midsummer.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Similar walk: Walk by Rail.

Flat Thame Valley farmland, tranquil hamlets, pastures, community woodland and stately mansion grounds.

Time: 5h

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Mostly just a succession of unremarkable fields.

Milton's Cottage

Chalfont Saint Giles

Time: 4h–8h30

1 lunch spot: the Merlins Cave (2h–4h in)

5 end-of-walk rewards: the Chequers Inn, the Saracens Head, the Elephant and Castle, the Eagle, or the Swan

Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Really quite stunning; a lot more scenic than I expected; bluebell woods. A beautiful but poorly plotted route through fields, lanes and bluebell woods, with steep hills, some muddy sections and a crossing of the River Chess with a small waterfall. Several busy fast roads must be crossed without clearly marked footpaths, one path is reached through a narrow, steep, muddy gap in a hedge. The plotting draws straight lines where turns exist and so it is longer than stated; allow extra time. Fairly demanding.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Time: 4h–7h30

Warnings: A couple of very busy, fast roads (including the A41 and B4505) must be crossed without clearly marked footpaths, with some verge walking; the path on the far side can be a hidden gap in the hedge. A neglected kissing gate has a big step down. Steep hills and muddy sections. The route is under-plotted, so allow more time than the stated distance suggests.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Very beautiful, an idyllic walk. A mostly flat walk through the open Misbourne valley with steep hills at both ends, following the South Bucks Way along compacted-mud field paths with tree roots and stones and between beech woods and across fields. The paths can be muddy and slippery after rain; a steep paved climb leads up through woods at the Amersham end. Largely follows the South Bucks Way along the River Misbourne. There are gates but no stiles. Can be broken at Chalfont St Giles or Chalfont St Peter.

Time: 3h–6h30

Lunch: Places to stop for refreshments at Gerrards Cross, Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles and Old Amersham.

Walk details: Slow Ways.

Around 70% off-road, following the Chilterns Heritage Trail and the Chiltern Way through countryside, with the road sections (in High Wycombe and Tylers Green and Coleshill) likely to have pavements or grassy-verge pavements. A footbridge crosses the busy A413. Follows the Chilterns Heritage Trail and the Chiltern Way, well-tended long-distance paths. Good selection of mid-route stops and bus stops at Tylers Green, Winchmore Hill and Coleshill.

Woodland: a fifth under tree cover.

Time: 4h–7h30

Lunch: Mid-route stops at Tylers Green, Winchmore Hill and Coleshill, though the Coleshill pub is a 25-minute walk from the bus stop.

Walk details: Slow Ways.