Walks you can reach from Stoke Mandeville by train

Highly recommended

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Chilterns Woodlands (National Trust; 1h in)

View of Chequers (1h15 in)

1 lunch spot: the Russell Arms (2h15 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: Really beautiful rolling woodlands with a cosy family-run pub lunch and a saunter through Chequers. Mostly secluded.

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

Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.

View of Chequers (2h in)

2 lunch spots: Buckmoorend Farm Shop (1h45 in; outdoor seating and light meals only, e.g. burgers, sausage rolls, ice cream, hot drinks), but really high quality!), or the Swan (2h45 in; cosy old family-run pub with great food)

1 end-of-walk reward: the Bird in Hand

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.

1 lunch spot: the Partridge (3h 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.

Open Chilterns farmland, beech woods, rolling fields, quiet villages and a ridge approach to old Amersham.

3 lunch spots: the Crown Inn (1h45 in), the Hit or Miss (2h45 in), or the Potters Arms (3h15 in)

Warnings: Can be muddy.

Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.

Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.

Misbourne Valley countryside and woodland, with an optional extension to the National Trust hilltop of Coombe Hill and the Ridgeway.

Coombe Hill: A National Trust hilltop above Wendover giving spectacular views across the Aylesbury Vale.

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

Sloping fields, beech woods, hamlets, upmarket farms, cottages and two short steep hills with fine views.

Warnings: Can be muddy.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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

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

Undulating Chilterns, sloping fields, woods, hamlets, village greens and beech woodland on Frith Hill.

St John the Baptist Church: Historic parish church.

Warnings: Steep descent into Great Missenden.

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