Free Guided Walks

Free guided walks programme

We organise a popular programme of twice-weekly free guided walks throughout the year, designed to explore this wonderful area, the Chilterns, as well as improving both physical and mental health. These circular walks are led by our experienced and enthusiastic walk leaders, are mostly 5-6 miles in distance and take approx. 2½ hours to complete. Well behaved dogs are welcome.

The latest walks programme is listed further down on this page. We require online pre-booking for all of our walks as outlined below.

These walks are open to all members.  Non-members are welcome to join us as guests for two or three walks, though if you walk with the group regularly you will be expected to join the Chiltern Society to support our work in caring for the Chilterns. Join here.

If you’re interested in becoming a walks leader please contact our Walks Coordinator, Paul Cooke, on 01494 778024, or…

Sunday walks

These walks, suitable for all the family, usually depart at 10am (unless otherwise advised in the walk’s description), and require you to be at the meet point 10 minutes before the start for the welcome briefing.

Due to the variability in numbers attending the Sunday walks, we use the booking system to assess the demand for the walk. The booking window closes at noon on the Saturday, the day before the walk. In the rare event of no bookings being received the walk leader may cancel the walk.

Wednesday walks

Due to the popularity of the mid-week walks, we frequently offer two walk groups. The first group ‘The Groovers’ walk at a relaxed pace and/or a slightly shorter distance, departing at 10.15am. The second group ‘The Movers’ walk at a slightly faster pace and/or a slightly extended distance, departing at 10.30am. Meet up for the welcome briefing at least 10 minutes prior to the departure time for the respective group.

To assess the demand and necessity for both groups, we require walkers to pre-register via the online booking system shown within each walk. During registration you advise which of the 2 groups you want to join. If total registered attendee numbers are below or around 20 we may amalgamate the groups into one combined group.

The registration window opens in calendar month blocks, and registration will open by the last Thursday of the previous month. Registration for individual walks closes at noon on the day before the walk.

After booking

For all walks, if, after booking for a walk, and the booking window is still open, you’re unable to come on the walk, please email the office. If the booking window has closed, please contact the walk leader directly on the telephone number advised.

The walks
Sunday 19 January

Wooburn, Bucks

Meet at the free Wooburn Park public CP (turn off the A4094 by St Paul’s Church into Wooburn Town road), Wash Hill, Wooburn , HP10 0PN. This largely open walk...
Wednesday 22 January

Peppard Common, Oxon

Meet opposite the Red Lion PH, Peppard Common, RG9 5LB. Parking roadside on the triangle of lanes just off the B481 by the pub. The walk of just under 6...
Sunday 26 January

High Wycombe, Bucks

Meet at The Guildhall, High Street, High Wycombe, HP11 2AG (suggested parking at Wycombe Swan car park : £1.20 on arrival) A chance to see where the Chiltern Society started...
Wednesday 29 January

Redbourn

Meet on Redbourn common car park adjacent to the cricket pavilion, West Common Road, nearest post code AL3 7ND. This 5.5 miles walk is reasonably flat with a gentle climb and...
Sunday 02 February

Bovingdon, Herts

Meet in the  large free car park of Little Hay Golf Club, off Box Lane/B4505, Bovingdon, HP3 0DT. This 5-mile walk follows the Chiltern Way and then drops down to...
Wednesday 05 February

Flamstead, Herts

Meet at the free Recreation Ground Car Park at the junction of Hollybush Lane, Friendless Lane and Chapel Road, Flamstead, AL3 8DE (nearest). a 5.8 mile undulating walk to the...
Sunday 09 February

Frieth, Bucks

Meet at the free public car park next to Frieth Primary School RG9 6PR for a hilly stile-free 5.5 mile walk to Skirmett, Turville and Fingest. The walk, a favourite...
Wednesday 12 February

Cowleaze Woods, Oxon/Bucks

Meet at Cowleaze Wood car park (free), Christmas Common Road, (nearest postcode OX49 5HX). This 5.5-6m mile walk has breath-taking views of the Oxford vale, includes a section of the Icknield...
Sunday 16 February

Berkhamsted, Herts

Meet at the front of Berkhamsted Station, Lower Kings Road, HP4 2AJ Free parking either along New Road (at the back of the castle) or 4 hrs parking nearby at...
Wednesday 19 February

Bovingdon Green, Bucks

Meet at The Royal Oak PH, Frieth Road, Bovingdon Green (nr Marlow), SL7 2JF. A 6.2 mile walk heading from the pub into the pretty town of Marlow and then...
Sunday 23 February

Ballinger Common, Bucks

Meet at Ballinger Common Recreation Ground free car park, Blackthorne Lane, HP16 9LN (beside the cricket ground). A c.6 mile mainly flat walk passing through the surrounding villages of Chartridge,...
Wednesday 26 February

Longwick, Bucks

Meet at The Red Lion PH, Thame Road, Longwick, HP27 9SG. Park in the pub car park if lunching, otherwise adjacent in Chestnut Way. The 6 mile flat walk has...
Sunday 02 March

Lewknor, Oxon

Meet outside the Leathern Bottle PH, High Street, Lewknor, OX49 5TW. Parking along the High Street (or in the pub car park only iif lunching : no bookings but highly...
Wednesday 05 March

Coleshill, Bucks

Meet at The Harte and Magpies car park, Magpie Lane, Coleshill, HP7 0LU (along the A355 between Beaconsfield and Amersham). A 5.8 mile undulating walk, with a shorter version available for The...
Sunday 09 March

Marlow, Bucks

Meet at The Court Gardens car park, Pound Lane, Marlow, SL7 2AE (£2.70 for 4 hours). An easy 6.4 mile circuit around Marlow, with one stile and nothing too hilly....
Wednesday 12 March

Whitchurch, Oxon/Berks

Park and meet by the recreation ground (south side) at Whitchurch Hill, Goring Heath Road (off the B471), RG8 7PG (immediately south of the Church of St John the Baptist)....
Sunday 16 March

Great Hampden, Bucks

  Meet by the pavilion on Memorial Road, Hampden Common, Great Hampden, HP16 9RQ.  Park roadside alongside the common, or in Hampden Arms PH car park if lunching. A 5.5...
Wednesday 19 March

Whiteleaf, Bucks

Meet at Whiteleaf free car park, top of Peter’s Lane, Princes Risborough, HP27 0RP (nearest). The walk of 6 miles goes across Brush Hill Nature Reserve and down the Ridgeway,...
Sunday 23 March

Ashridge, Herts

Meet at the National Trust Ashridge Visitor Centre (free parking), end of Monument Drive, off the B4506 (near Berkhamsted), HP4 1LT. A 5.6 mile walk along Princes Riding to Ashridge House, then...
Wednesday 26 March

Longwick, Bucks

  Meet at The Red Lion PH, Thame Road, Longwick, HP27 9SG. Park in the pub car park if lunching (pre-order before departure), otherwise adjacent in Chestnut Way. A new...
Sunday 30 March

Frieth, Bucks

Meet outside Frieth Village Hall, (ample free car parking), RG9 6PR, for a classic and v. popular Hambleden Valley walk, taking in 3 picturesque villages with their local pubs, and...
Wednesday 02 April

Ashley Green, Bucks

Meet outside the Ashley Green Memorial Hall, Two Dells Lane (near to and opposite the church), Ashley Green, HP5 3RB. Free parking, and WC /light refreshments at the Glebe Café...
Sunday 06 April

Sarratt, Herts

  Meet on The Green, Sarratt, Herts, opposite The Boot PH, WD3 6BL. Plentiful free parking around The Green, or in the pub car park if pre-booked for lunch. A...
Wednesday 09 April

Asheridge, Bucks

Meet on The Green, Sarratt, Herts, opposite The Boot PH, WD3 6BL. Plentiful free parking around The Green, or in the pub car park if pre-booked for lunch. A walk...
Sunday 13 April

Old Amersham, Bucks

  Meet outside the Old Swan PH, 122 Old Amersham High Street, HP7 0ED. Plenty of free street parking in the High Street. A 5.8 mile walk from the High...
Wednesday 16 April

St Albans, Herts

  Meet at Verulamium Museum Car Park, St Michaels Street, St Albans, AL3 4SW (4 hours £5.40). A 5.6 mile semi-urban historical walk to Verulamium Park and Roman remains, the...
Sunday 20 April

Easter Sunday - No Walk

Wednesday 23 April

Ewelme, Oxon

  Meet at the (compact) car park at Ewelme Recreation Ground, High Street (intersection with Parson’s Lane), OX10 6PG. A 6.5 mile walk (with an option to reduce to 5...
Sunday 27 April

Lane End, Bucks

  Meet in the Lane End village car park (free at the bottom section), off the High Street / B482 (opposite Church Path), HP14 3ER. An easy 5 mile walk...

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How do we make a difference to the Chilterns?

Our Whiteleaf Hill reserve is well known for the 100m high chalk hill figure on its northern slope. It’s also the location of a Neolithic barrow and WW1 practice trenches