Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Luton, Oxfordshire
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 Chiltern Way Southern Extension adds a loop of 40km (25 miles) from Bix Bottom via Mapledurham on the Thames and the Chiltern Way Northern Extension 35km (22 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. The Chiltern Way Berkshire Loop adds 45km (28 miles) and marked on OS Mapping is a loop in Berkshire south of the Thames and uses two sections of the Thames Path.
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.
Details:
Path Type
Paths Marked on OS mapping
Waymark
Name in green on white discs
Attributes
Challenging; Downland/Wolds; Forest/Woodland; River
You can use the interactive controls to zoom in and out and to move around the map, or click on a path or a marker for more info.(interactive map help)
214.2 Km (133.1 miles) 4,025 m (13,205 ft) ascent 250 m (820 ft) maximum height
(click to enlarge)
Donate to LDWA
LDWA is run entirely by volunteers and we work hard to keep costs as low as possible. But costs are always rising so to help us avoid big increases in our modest membership fee, additional donations are always welcomed. Anyone who feels that LDWA has gone the extra mile to provide exceptional service is particularly encouraged to use this facility.
This website uses cookies
To comply with EU Directives we are informing you that our website uses cookies for services such as memberships and Google Analytics.
Your data is completely safe and we do not record any personally identifiable information.
Please click the button to acknowledge and approve our use of cookies during your visit.
Chiltern Way
