If you are a fan of circular walks, especially ones that reward you with panoramic views over the Chilterns at the end then the Coombe Hill Woodland Walk is the one for you! It isn’t too long, 3.5 miles, and you walk through sheltered woodland, from the mysterious coppiced beech of Low Scrubs to the towering beeches of Linton’s Wood. You will also join The Ridgeway for part of the walk, a treat in itself as 2023 is The Ridgeway’s 50th anniversary.
The various types of woodland are delightful in all seasons but there is something particularly satisfying about wading through autumn leaves, and little ones will enjoy kicking them up or hearing them scrunch underfoot too.You will relish the wow factor walking from woodland to Coombe Hill and taking in the wide-ranging views. At 852 feet above sea level, Coombe Hill is the highest point in the Chiltern Hills. With extensive views over the Aylesbury Vale, on a clear day you can also see all the way to the Cotswolds. You will also see Chequers (the PM’s country retreat) quite clearly to your left too.
Top tips for this walk: Take pictures of the route directions on the National Trust website as there is limited phone reception up there. I navigated using my OS app offline (I pay for OS Maps Premium for this functionality) and I was glad I did as I walked right past a few of the way markers and had to double back on myself. This isn’t the only walk in the area, check out the National Trust website for more, or simply visit for the views and a tear around from the top of Coombe Hill. Very, very popular spot with dog walkers I noticed too – maybe I should start a new Top 5 Dog Walks for Bucks!
