The Ridgeway: Chinnor to Wendover

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Walk directions

Leaving the road, The Ridgeway begins to ascend gradually beneath the wooded slopes of Wain Hill, at the same time taking the opportunity to show its cunning by contouring around the heads of the steep-sided combes which cut into the northern slopes.

For the last 10 miles (16km) the path has followed the course of the Upper Icknield Way, but at the edge of Thickthorne Wood there is a parting of the ways as the ancient route plunges straight across the valley towards Princes Risborough, leaving The Ridgeway to seek out a more interesting line across fields and to climb the grassy slopes of Lodge Hill. The view from the summit of the hill is far-reaching; on a clear day it is possible to make out the white triangle of Whiteleaf Cross in the distance.

Nearer at hand is Lacey Green with its 17th-century windmill, which is believed to be the oldest surviving smock mill in Britain. The ridge from Lacey Green continues southwards towards Hughenden Manor and High Wycombe.

The Ridgeway itself swings northwards to cross the High Wycombe–Princes Risborough railway line and join the Upper Icknield Way once more.

The route then follows the A4010northwards for 0.5 miles (800m) to reach a track on the right.
Despite its size, Princes Risborough is passed by almost unnoticed on this track, before The Ridgeway bears right, away from the Icknield Way, to begin the ascent to Whiteleaf Cross through Brush Hill Nature Reserve. This is one of the steepest climbs on the route but the effort of the climb is well rewarded by the wonderful view from the grassy clearing above the cross. Looking out westwards, it is possible to trace your route across the valley all the way from Chinnor, while in the distance the
line of the North Wessex Downs is visible behind.

Directly below where you stand are the deeply carved arms of Whiteleaf Cross itself. First recorded in 1742, the cross may have been the work of monks in the 15th or 16th centuries. It is the oldest of the Chiltern hill figures but its purpose is uncertain. One can speculate whether it was scoured as a landmark for travellers or perhaps to obscure a more obviously pagan figure which may previously have occupied the site.

If you are spending the night at The Red Lion in Whiteleaf, come off The Ridgeway here to walk down the path to the village.

Leaving the cross, the path now descends steeply to The Plough public house at Lower Cadsden (which also offers accommodation), before entering the nature reserve of Grangelands and Pulpit Hill, which contains fine areas of chalk grassland.

The Ridgeway leaves the reserve by climbing up steps over Chequers Knap and enters the grounds of Chequers, where it goes on to cross the drive of the house. There are good views of Chequers from the path, and in the background rises Coombe Hill, with its golden-topped monument, which The Ridgeway goes on to climb, through an area of attractive beech woodland.

The open grassland around the Coombe Hill monument – dedicated to those who died in the Boer War – is popular with local residents and The Ridgeway then follows a footpath down Bacombe Hill to the attractive little town of Wendover.

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Location

Nearest postcode:

Additional information

Terrain - Dirt footpaths, grassy paths, some road

Landscape - Sweeping vistas over downs and vales, woods, Chequers parkland

Dog friendliness - With very little roadway or livestock to negotiate this route is very dog-friendly

Parking - By the edge of the track at start

Toilets en route - In Wendover

Walks in Buckinghamshire Dog-friendly walks in Buckinghamshire

About the walk

For much of its route, The Ridgeway National Trail follows part of an ancient track, the Great Ridgeway, which once ran from Dorset to Norfolk and which has been dubbed ‘the oldest road’ in Britain. The route of the trail initially follows the northern edge of the North Wessex Downs and finishes on...

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Been on this walk?

Send us photos or a comment about this route. Or recommend a route of your own.

Find out more

Walking in Safety

Read our tips to look after yourself and the environment when following this walk.

Learn more

Get an AA guide

Explore our range of ‘50 Walks in’ guides - they’re the ideal companion for a ramble.

Learn more

About the area

Buckinghamshire is a land of glorious beech trees, wide views and imposing country houses, such as Stowe and Waddesdon Manor, set amid sumptuous gardens and dignified parkland. The Vale of Aylesbury is a vast playground for leisure seekers, and rising above it are the Chiltern Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where you can also find the woodland rides of Burnham Beeches.