Start : Shoulder of Mutton pub, Wendover
(S/E) Head uphill on the Ellesborough Road. Immediately after crossing the bridge over the A413 bypass there are two routes available to get to Waypoint 2 on Bacombe Lane, depending on the state of excavation works for HS2.
Until Spring 2024: Immediately after crossing the bridge take the footpath to the left through a gate. Initially this path runs parallel to the bypass, but after passing through a second gate (at the entrance to the Memorial Wood), follow the HS2 diversion between fences round to the far side of the field where you pass through two gates to join Bacombe Lane. Turn right up the lane for 150m.
After Spring 2024: Immediately after crossing the bridge follow the diverted Ellesborough Road to the right over the Bailey bridge over the HS2 Green Tunnel cutting. Continue to the top of the field. Turn left at the junction and pass between the houses on each side of the road. Continue straight ahead on the temporary road over to Bacombe Lane. Turn right up the lane for 50m.
(1) Turn left on the footpath running on a broad track between gardens. It curves right around the bottom of the gardens then continues between hedges across a field. Pass straight ahead through a gate in a large hedge and continue downhill in the same direction cutting across the corner of an open field. Pass over a stile through the next hedge and cross the next field in the same direction.
Pass through the next hedge and cross the next field in the same direction. The path climbs to the edge of a wood of large beech trees. Look back at the view across the valley before entering the wood. Turn right after 100m at the first fork in the path heading steadily uphill through the wood.
(2) After the path drops steeply, bear right and the path starts to climb again to the left of a single stranded wire fence. The path is joined by a bridleway from the left and becomes a wide bridleway. Keep on the main path which soon leaves the wood crossing an open field between fences.
Bear left into woods again. The path runs between fences then gardens and eventually becomes a road which brings you out by the Dunsmore (A) village pond.Turn right on the Kimble road. Look out for a footpath to the left after 70m.
(3) Cross a stile beside a gate into an open field. There are two footpaths here: you take the rightmost heading towards the cluster of houses in the valley. After crossing several stiles you reach the lane in the valley bottom.
Cross straight over the lane and up a broad stony track on the other side. The track becomes rougher after passing the houses then becomes a bridleway climbing steadily up a hollow in the slope. Where you come to a major junction of paths, keep straight on up the footpath, leaving the bridleway which now forks right. The footpath continues up the bottom of the hollow for a stretch before curving left and climbing more steeply. The path becomes a broad track again near the top of the hill.
(4) Keep straight on where you join the Ridgeway and follow it as it descends on a broad stony path to the junction of a road and a lane leading left to Buckmoorend Farm Shop (50m, open Wed-Sun, coffee, tea, etc).
Cross the lane, pass through the hedge and follow the bridleway that runs parallel to the road. Follow the bridleway round to the left at the corner and soon pass through the hedge to emerge beside the road again. Follow the little path winding through the roadside bushes until you reach a bridleway to the right after 200m.
(5) Take the bridleway heading West uphill. The bridleway initially climbs between fences and hedges. If you look to the right here you will get some glimpses of Chequers and its estate houses. The path becomes more open as it enters a narrow strip of mature trees.
Continue steadily uphill through Pond Wood and shortly after the path starts downhill, you reach a junction of paths (about 700m from the road). Turn sharp right up a broad track (marked as a Byway), still climbing gradually up the ridge. Look out for a footpath to the left after 250m. Take this path down the side of the ridge towards a road.
After crossing a track, the path descends more steeply to meet a bridleway just before the road. Turn right here. The bridleway drops down some steps to join a broader track which runs at the back of a parking area on the Cadsden Road.
(6) Just beyond the parking area you will see a steeply climbing footpath to the right of the broad track heading towards Pulpit Hill Fort. Take this path as it climbs very steeply up the hillside.
At the top of the slope you meet a broader track. Turn left on the track signposted 'Pulpit Hill Fort'. After around 200m, before the track starts to descend, turn right on a path also signposted 'Pulpit Hill Fort'. (B). This path runs along the back of the earthworks of the fort. At the end of the bank turn left through the fort, continuing to the edge of the hill. When you come to a broad path at the top of the steep slope, you turn right. (Note that if you go about 50m to the left here, there is a gap in the trees where you get a view over the Vale of Aylesbury.)
(7) Follow the clear path descending, gradually at first, away from the hill fort. Bear slightly left after exiting the National Trust area of Pulpit Wood. Cross straight over a stony bridleway on a footpath which soon emerges from the trees. Go through the gate and bear left as the path descends diagonally across an open hillside to a fence. Turn left along the fence for a short distance.
(8) You will come to junction where the Ridgeway crosses your path. Instead of crossing the fence into the open field as indicated by the footpath sign, continue to the left of the fence by crossing a stile into a small patch of nature reserve. Walk along the top of the grassy ridge with the fence to your right. Where the fence curves away to the right, keep straight ahead to the top of the grassy knoll. Here is a good point to pause and look at the view.
From here turn right down the north side of the ridge and you will see a gate in the corner of the field. Pass through the gate and take the footpath ahead of you running a little to the right of the fence into trees. Bear round to the left and pass through a gate to shortly cross a road and then follow the footpath on a broad track through a belt of trees.
(9) The path crosses an open field and on the far side you go through the gate and into box woodland. Take the path down the steps and when you emerge from the woods you are on the edge of an open hillside. A few yards after the gate turn right and head straight up to the top of the hill. This is access land so there are no formal paths, but you should see signs of a walked path about 10m left of the fence.
(10) At the top of the ridge walk left to the tumulus at the north end of the ridge and look all around at the view. From here, head straight down the steep hillside aiming for a gate in the hedge below (the direction is just to the left of the white cottages beyond). Pass through the gate and cross the field heading for the church. Cross the road and pass through the churchyard to the left of the church.
(11) Take the path past the church tower, down some steps, through the second part of the churchyard then continue in the same direction across the first field. Turn right and you soon come to a tarmac lane and pass a few cottages on your left.
Where the lane turns sharp right keep ahead on a grassy track, later becoming a narrow path between fences, which brings you to Chalkshire Road by some houses.
(12) If you are in need of refreshment, turn right on the road and after 250m you will find the Russell Arms pub at Butlers Cross. Otherwise, turn left on the road for 50m then take the footpath to the right. Follow it along the edge of several fields for about 600m until you meet a crossing path at a stile where you turn right. Follow it along the edge of several fields until you meet a crossing path where you turn right.
You are now heading directly towards Coombe Hill, 'though it is largely obscured by trees. You soon enter a golf course. Ignore the golfers’ path round to the right and instead continue straight ahead across the first fairway and after passing through a narrow belt of trees the path passes to the right of the club house and brings you to the Ellesborough Road.
(13) Cross the road. Ignore the first bridleway on your left and continue straight ahead through a wooden gate. Immediately after the gate, there is a path on your left - this is your route to the top. The path climbs directly up the slope. Initially through the trees it is very steep. As you emerge from the trees the gradient eases and you see the gilded top of the monument in front of you.
(14) From the monument (E), turn left on the grassy path heading East towards Wendover. You follow the Ridgeway into Wendover so look out for the signs. The path descends steadily and there are fine open views over Aylesbury Vale and Wendover.
After a mile you reach the Ellesborough Road, which is due to be diverted by HS2 in late 2023. Until then, cross the road and turn right on the pavement and head downhill and you will soon be back at the starting point.
From 2024: When you reach Ellesborough Road turn left and after 60m turn right onto the temporary diversion. Then head downhill over the Bailey bridge and follow the road turning right then left over the A413 Wendover bypass and Chiltern Railway line to be back at the starting point. (S/E)
