Section 1 of 2, A long walk in the Chilterns, Central Chilterns
National Trust at Watlington Hill to Turville
7 miles (11.2 km). About 2½ hours, moderate.
Start: SU 690 928. Finish: SU 767 911. OS grid.
Take it with you: download this section's GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Up and down
About 285 m of climbing and 337 m of descent; highest point 242 m.
Getting there
The section starts at National Trust at Watlington Hill.
No bus stop or station within a kilometre of the start. Nearest: the bus stop at Gorwell, 1.6 km away (Directions); Somersham station (heritage railway), 9.5 km away (Directions).
Getting back
The section finishes at Turville.
No bus stop or station within a kilometre of the finish. Nearest: a bus stop, 1.8 km away (Directions); Bourne Again Junction station (heritage railway), 5.2 km away (Directions).
Planning the A long walk in the Chilterns, Central Chilterns
- Planning the whole trail: nationaltrust.org.uk.
What to expect
Underfoot: earth, rock and mud 42%, grass 33%, gravel and tracks 15%, paved or flagged 10%.
About 11% on roads with traffic.
On the way: 8 kissing gates, 6 gates, 4 flights of steps.
Steepest climb: about 90 m in a kilometre (1 in 11), starting 4.5 miles in.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Pub
- The Fox & Hounds, Christmas Common: 2 miles in, about 250 m off the way. Food, real ale, seats outside.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
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Something wrong or missing?
Tell us what to change about this section: a wrong distance, a moved start, a path that's closed.