Walks through time
Walks through time
You think after living somewhere for over 20 years, that you know the place, you know the best bits....you’re a local after all. How wrong I was.
The Chilterns Walking Festival has once again been surprising and delighting us. Hosting a mix of wildlife walks, film location discoveries, art & design and just the sheer pleasure of being out in the beautiful rolling Chiltern Hills, the local guides lead you to places that other trails typically don’t go.
During the spring festival, I went on two walks: the first with Andrew and Becky who led us on a daisy and buttercup-infused walk in the Hertfordshire Chilterns - see video below and then on a walk through time with Cath who led a small group from Chinnor to the Radnage Valley in the central Buckinghamshire Chilterns. Two different areas with landscapes linked by the chalk downland that hosts beautiful orchids, butterflies and beechwoods. And people doing amazing things!
A picture paints 1001 words
Above Chinnor, deep into Hedgerley wood, follow their walk along their time trail to the One Climate Centre HQ. Here we met Anuradha Vittachi and Peter Armstrong are still making films, hosting events in their secret cinema, writing about climate action and developing websites since 2004. What a spot. But the walk just got better.
The trail descends along a tunnel of spring loveliness, with pastures and new crops emerging on either side and into the Radnage Valley. On a bank holiday weekend and we had the place almost to ourselves.
Through the Radnage valley and up to the new Yoesden Reserve with a swathe of chalk grassland undamaged by ploughing, fertilisers and intensive grazing, packed with rare butterflies and wild flowers, topped by a hanger woodland of beech, yew and whitebeam woodland on the slopes of a steeply sided valley. Reason enough to pause.
This valley feels isolated, far away from the urban sprawl of High Wycombe, Princes Risborough, Thame and even Aylesbury. Let’s keep it that way - a space to stop and enjoy the views, listen to the meowing kites (watch your sandwiches), and lie back and watch the clouds overhead.
The circling red kites, already notorious for swiping picnic food in Marlow, decided to dive bomb our picnic and steal a cheese sandwich out of someone’s hand. Very sneaky. And Quick!
The walk finishes off along the Ridgeway National Trail through the beechwoods above Chinnor. This National Trail follows the contours of the chalk ridge from Avebury in Wiltshire to Ivinghoe Beacon in Buckinghamshire.
The Chilterns Walking Festival has finished for this year. Hope to see you on the Trail in the autumn, if not before.
We need your help
Amersham is seeking feedback about what visitors find appealing about the market town: what is special and what makes it different from other towns across the country, not just in the Chilterns?
If you could please share here one thing that you like about Amersham that makes it special or different from other market towns? Thank you.
Links you will need
We have walked past the Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, en route between Nettleden, Frithsden and Ashridge. Read about this special place to go and sit quietly in the gardens or even visit the temple for peaceful reflection.
The One Climate Centre HQ in Hedgerley Wood hosts film and conversation events in their secret cinema for ideas and practical climate change action.
It’s all about the bananas! A rowdy crowd turn out for the annual village pig race to watch Leicester Pigget and Spongehog Porkpants race through Bishopstone village.
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Chilterns landscape photographs and gifts are always available from our online shop.
