Chiltern Way
301 km / 187 miles
Created by the Chiltern Society as its Millennium Project, the Way originally took in all of the Chilterns from north to south across the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in a 125-miles circuit extending from Ewelme in the south west, Chorleywood in the south east and Sharpenhoe Clappers and Great Offley in the north east. It was based on an earlier unofficial route, the Chiltern Hundred.
The Way passes through some of the most attractive parts of the Chilterns, including the Bovingdon Plateau, the Chess valley, the Misbourne valley, Penn Country, the Hambleden valley, Stonor Park, Ewelme, Swyncombe Down, Bledlow Ridge, Hampden Country, Bulbourne valley and Dunstable Down.
The original 200km (125 miles) Way took in Hemel via Chalfont St Giles, the edge of Marlow, Hambleden, Bix Bottom, Ewelme, the Ridgeway, Stokenchurch, Great Hampden, Aldbury, the Dunstable Downs, Sharpenhoe Clappers and Harpenden.
Two extensions have been added in 2003: the southern adds a loop of 50km (35 miles) from Bix Bottom via Mapledurham on the Thames and the northern extension 44km (27 miles) from Sharpenhoe Clappers via the Icknield Way and the outskirts of Hitchin. A short cut from Bix Bottom creates a 16km (10 miles) loop via Ewelme.
Although officially starting at Hemel Hempstead Station, the walk can be started at many other places on the route. The Way also has links with other routes including Chiltern Heritage Trail, Ridgeway National Trail, Icknield Way Path, Oxfordshire, Swan's and South Bucks Ways and Grand Union Canal, Lea Valley and Chess Valley Walks.
An outline map of the Way including the extensions is shown on the Chiltern Society weblink below, overlaid to show the coverage of the Chiltern Society's own footpath maps. Apart from a small section in Bedfordshire, these cover most parts of the route. A wildflower guide, with 18 shorter walks, to which Society members contributed expertise, is also listed.
Additional Images: |
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Connected Paths:
Details:
| Waymark: | Name in green on white discs | |
| Attributes: | Forest/Woodland; River; Downland/Wolds | |
| Start and Finish: | TL043059 - Hemel Hempstead, Herts  |
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| User Group: | Chiltern Society Office | |
| White Hill Centre, White Hill, CHESHAM, Bucks, HP5 1AG | ||
| 01494 771250 | ||
| http://www.chilternsociety.org.uk/content/shop-books.htm | ||
| Email: office@chilternsociety.org.uk | ||
| Web Sites: | Chiltern Society |
Maps:The map to the right is from the Ordnance Survey. You can use the interactive controls to zoom in and out and to move around the map, or click on a marker for more info. (interactive map help) |
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| Ordnance Survey Maps (path is named on OS maps): | |
| OS Landranger: | 164, 165, 166, 176, 175 |
| OS Explorer: | 171, 172, 181, 182, 192, 193 |
| OS Explorer Active: | 171, 172, 181, 182, 192, 193 |
Route Profile:
| 214.9 Km (133.5 miles) 4,032 m (13,228 ft) ascent 250 m (820 ft) maximum height |
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Group Accommodation within 5 Km of this Path:
| Hostel Accommodation: | Jordans YHA, Welders Lane, Jordans, Beaconsfield, Bucks | 3 Km |
| Hostel Accommodation: | Ramblers' Retreat, Wendover House, Wendover, Bucks | 3 Km |
Publications, Badges and Certificates:
| Paperback: | Chiltern Way & Chiltern Way Extensions: A Long-distance Circular Walk Round the Chilterns (Chiltern Society Office - 2003) |
| Leaflet: | Chiltern Way (Chiltern Society Office - 2001) |
| Paperback: | Wild Flowers: And Where to Find Them in the Chilterns (Frances Lincoln - 2007) |