FREE HIKE 23km | The Ridgeway Loops - Coombe and Whiteleaf Hills | The Chilterns

SUMMARY:
🥾 23 km (14.3 miles) | Circular | Ascent: 708 m | ~7 hours
🚆 Direct train from London Marylebone
⛳️ Meeting Point: 2 Options
1- London Marylebone station Ticket Office | 08:40 (Train is at 08:57)
2- Wendover outside train station | 09:50
📍 Hike start: Wendover outside train station | 10:00
🏁 Hike finish: Wendover train station | approx. 17:00-18:00
⚠️ Steep and Uneven sections
📈 Grade: Moderate/Strenuous

ABOUT:
A 23 kilometre circular trail in the Chilterns from Wendover Station, Buckinghamshire.

The trail goes through woodlands and farmlands, featuring steady ascents and descents with great views including Bacombe Hill Nature Reserve, Coombe Hill summit, Beacon Hill, Whiteleaf Hill, Pulpit Hill nature reserve, and Goodmerhill Woods.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Bacombe Hill Local Nature Reserve
  This chalk grassland hill offers magnificent views over Aylesbury Vale. It is renowned for its rare wildflowers and butterflies, with orchids blossoming in spring.
• Coombe Hill
  As the highest viewpoint in the Chiltern Hills at 260 meters, Coombe Hill features the Coombe Hill Monument, which commemorates local men who perished in the Second Boer War. It provides extensive views over the Vale of Aylesbury and, on clear days, extends to the Cotswolds. The open grassland at the summit is an ideal spot for a pause and picnic.
• Beacon Hill
  This small, rounded summit with open grassy slopes is part of the Chequers Estate. Historically utilized for signaling with beacons, Beacon Hill offers panoramic views and conveys a sense of expansive open space.
• Whiteleaf Hill
  Whiteleaf Hill is home to the Whiteleaf Cross, a chalk hill carving that likely dates back to the 18th century or earlier. It contains a Neolithic barrow (burial mound), with excavations in the 1930s uncovering ancient remains and artifacts.
• Chequers Estate: A historic country house used as the official country residence of the British Prime Minister. It has been the designated retreat for Prime Ministers since 1917, when it was gifted to the nation by Sir Arthur Lee, a politician and former soldier, to provide future leaders a place to relax and host guests.
• Ninn Wood & Pulpit Hill Nature Reserve
  This area includes mixed broadleaf woodland with ancient trees and historic earthworks. Pulpit Hill houses an Iron Age hill fort, surrounded by banks and ditches that are now moss-covered and mysterious.

TIPS: 💡

• Scenic Points: Coombe Hill, Beacon Hill, and Whiteleaf Cross all offer great rest stops with views.
• Watch for red kites, deer, and ancient trees in Pulpit Hill and Goodmerhill Wood.
• Explore the Neolithic barrow on Whiteleaf Hill.

COST:
Free

TRAINS:

• Outbound: 08:57 from London Marylebone (direct train)
• Arrival: 09:46 at Wendover
• Visit National Rail for details

MEETING POINT & TIME:

• Meet: 2 Options
  1- London Marylebone station Ticket Office | 08:40
  2- Wendover outside train station | 09:50
• Hike start: Outside Wendover train station | 10:00
• Hike finish: Wendover train station | Approx. 17:00–18:00

DISTANCE AND DIFFICULTY:

• Total distance: approx 23km (14.3 miles)
• Ascent: 708 m
• Max elevation: 261 m
• Grading: Moderate/Strenuous
• Time: Approx. 7 hours (with breaks)
• Pace: 5 km/h (~3.1 mph)

GUIDE:
See attendee list

WHAT TO BRING:

• Water (2 litres recommended)
• Snacks and packed lunch
• Rainproof (ideally waterproof) clothing
• Sturdy shoes or hiking boots

SAFETY: ⚠️
As adults, you are fully responsible for your own safety and decisions throughout the walk.

• Steep and Slippery Sections:
  -Multiple hills (Coombe, Beacon, Whiteleaf, Pulpit) have steep ascents and descents.
  -In wet or frosty conditions, mud and chalk surfaces become very slippery, especially in woodlands.
• Sections like Little Hampden Common and parts of the nature reserves can feel isolated, with no mobile signal in some areas.
• Livestock and Farmland: You may cross grazing fields with sheep or cattle. Stay calm, keep distance.
• Always close gates behind you and stay on marked rights of way.

NOTES:

• This is a group hike led by volunteers. Everyone is welcome to join.
• A few wrong turns? That’s part of the fun!
• While you're free to “hike your own hike,” we encourage group participation, get to know one another, make new friends, and enjoy the journey together.
• Food options are limited en route, bring lunch.

DISCLAIMER:
Event Participation Disclaimer
By signing up for an event we host, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

• The organisers are not qualified hiking leaders, certified first aiders, or formally trained in navigation, survival, or any related disciplines.
• These hikes are informal, self-guided gatherings of like-minded individuals.
• The hosts expressly disclaim all responsibility and liability for any injuries, accidents, or safety incidents that may occur during participation.
• Participation is entirely voluntary, and all attendees are solely responsible for their own safety and well-being.
• These events are non-commercial and are organised purely as a recreational hobby, with no business or financial interests involved.
• Hiking and outdoor activities inherently carry risks of personal injury. By choosing to participate, you accept these risks and take full responsibility for your own actions and decisions.

GENERAL GROUP POLICY:

• Voluntary Participation: Attendance is at your own risk. The group and hosts bear no liability.
• No Professional Duty of Care: Hosts are volunteers, not trained guides or medical professionals.
• Insurance Is Your Responsibility: If desired, you must arrange your own personal insurance.
• Respect Nature: Follow Leave No Trace principles at all times.
• Emergency Preparedness: You are responsible for organising your own emergency plan.
• Weather and Safety: Events may be cancelled or changed if conditions are deemed unsafe.
• Self-Assessment Required: You must honestly assess your fitness and ability to keep pace with the group.
• No Guaranteed Rescue: While help may be offered, full rescue capabilities should not be expected.
• No Minors Without Guardians: Participants must be over 21.
• Right to Refuse Participation: Hosts may turn away any individual who appears unprepared or poses a safety risk to others.
• First Aid Preparedness Encouraged: It is highly recommended that each participant carries a small first aid kit for minor injuries such as cuts, scrapes, bites, and blisters.

FINAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
By attending this event, you confirm that you are participating voluntarily and at your own risk. Neither the host nor the group accepts responsibility for any injury, loss, or damage incurred.